The nation’s smallest nuclear power plant could be closed by the end of the year. Located in Nebraska, the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station is no longer financially sustainable, according to Tim Burke, President and CEO of the Omaha Public Power District. He said recently it makes no economic sense to keep it open.
“It’s just not viable. It’s just not economically viable,” said John Green, a board member at the Power District. The board is expected to vote on whether to shutter the plant at its June 16 meeting, according to a report by the Associated Press.
The Omaha Public Power district provides power for 310,000 customers in 13 counties in southeastern Nebraska. Burke, Green and others say they spend $650 million a year to generate power for customers and $250 million is spent on Fort Calhoun. They contend by shutting down Fort Calhoun, the Power District would keep the utility’s rates low compared to the average power cost in the region.
Experts contend the older and smaller reactions are uneconomic but Fort Calhoun had other problems. The company spent $140 million on repairs after flooding and a small fire left the plant damaged in 2011. The plant finally resumed operations in 2013. As for the decommissioning cost, it could be around $884 million according to estimates by OPPD. The company has already set aside $373 million to carry out the shutdown, should it be granted.
