PSEG: Nuclear Plants Will Soon Close Without Subsidies

Second largest nuclear facility in the USA. They have long ago started reducing the maintenance budgets on these pigs.

PSEG: Nuclear Plants Will Soon Close Without Subsidies
01/24/2019 | Darrell Proctor

Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) has again told New Jersey officials it needs subsidies to continue operating its three nuclear power units in the state, reiterating that without financial help it will begin closing its Hope Creek Generating Station and Salem Nuclear Power Plant as early as 2022.

The three reactors are the only remaining nuclear units operating in New Jersey, after the closure of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station in September of last year.

New Jersey regulators on Jan. 22 published applications sent by PSEG to the state’s Board of Public Utilities (BPU) in December, in which the company said it should qualify for as much as $300 million in yearly subsidies, or zero emissions credits (ZEC), under the state’s ZEC Act, which was approved in May 2018. Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signed legislation that requires the BPU to establish a program to help maintain the state’s nuclear plants, as part of the effort for the state to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050.
Permanent Closure Within Three Years

PSEG in its letter to the BPU regarding Hope Creek said, “As demonstrated in the materials and certifications provided to the Board as part of this application, PSEG has determined that it will permanently close Hope Creek within three years, absent a material financial change, as this plant is not projected to cover the hundreds of millions of dollars in annual expenditures required for safe operation and the inherent risks of running a nuclear power plant.” The utility said the same thing in its letter asking for subsidies for the Salem plant...