The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has received a formal notice of Entergy’s plans to close its Palisades Power Plant in Michigan more than three years later than earlier scheduled.
Power operations will end in spring 2022, Charles Arnone, site vice president for Entergy Nuclear Operations, said in a Sept. 28 letter to the NRC. The letter, posted Friday on the regulatory agency’s website, was issued the same day that Entergy announced it would not close Palisades next October.
“A more specific date for permanent power cessation cannot be provided at this time due to fuel cycle duration variables,” Arnone wrote. “Assuming no material change to present circumstances, ENO will submit a supplement to this letter certifying the cessation date in accordance with 10 CFR 50.82(a)(1)(i) and 10 CFR 50.4(b)(8).”
The Sept. 28 letter specifically supersedes Entergy’s prior notice of its plan to close Palisades on Oct. 1, 2018, according to Arnone.
Entergy opted to keep Palisades open upon the mutual termination of a deal under which Michigan utility Consumers Energy was to buy their power purchase agreement. That deal was foiled when the Michigan Public Service Commission directed that Consumers Energy could have access to about $136 million in bonds for the contract buyout, roughly $35 million less than requested.
