HomeWorldEnvironmentThe US could bring a shuttered nuclear power plant back to life next year | The Department of Energy announced a $1.5 billion loan to help restart a retired nuclear power plant.
The US could bring a shuttered nuclear power plant back to life next year | The Department of Energy announced a $1.5 billion loan to help restart a retired nuclear power plant.
October 1, 2024
The US could bring a shuttered nuclear power plant back to life next year | The Department of Energy announced a $1.5 billion loan to help restart a retired nuclear power plant.
This is great news. A nuclear revival gives us one more tool to lower carbon emissions, can can be great in places where other renewable sources are not as strong.
Nuclear also serves as a baseload energy source, like hydro, that can provide power 24/7.
Sounds like a Great idea.
This is a nothing article, the project is essentially dead. The loan award is pork and handouts to Holtec for a headline pre-election.
USNRC denied the permit request to reopen the plant as if it had never closed, this means a years long process of restarting, most of said process doesn’t exist yet (if it ever happens).
Also, last month inspectors found various flaws in steam generator tubes that will take years to address.
Add all this on top of the fact that the plant was never profitable to run – it will not be restarting.
From the 9/18 unusual occurrence report:
“During Holtec’s analysis of the inspection data, preliminary results identified a large number of SG tubes with indications that require further analysis and/or repair. Further data analysis is in progress with additional tube inspections, testing, and repairs to be completed over the next few months.”
The steam generator repairs are expected to take several years and >$500 million alone. This is just a small factor in the restart procedure.
3 comments
This is great news. A nuclear revival gives us one more tool to lower carbon emissions, can can be great in places where other renewable sources are not as strong.
Nuclear also serves as a baseload energy source, like hydro, that can provide power 24/7.
Sounds like a Great idea.
This is a nothing article, the project is essentially dead. The loan award is pork and handouts to Holtec for a headline pre-election.
USNRC denied the permit request to reopen the plant as if it had never closed, this means a years long process of restarting, most of said process doesn’t exist yet (if it ever happens).
Also, last month inspectors found various flaws in steam generator tubes that will take years to address.
Add all this on top of the fact that the plant was never profitable to run – it will not be restarting.
From the 9/18 unusual occurrence report:
“During Holtec’s analysis of the inspection data, preliminary results identified a large number of SG tubes with indications that require further analysis and/or repair. Further data analysis is in progress with additional tube inspections, testing, and repairs to be completed over the next few months.”
The steam generator repairs are expected to take several years and >$500 million alone. This is just a small factor in the restart procedure.