Losing millions of dollars a year at its power plants, Ohio-based FirstEnergy has asked the Trump administration for help. Though it may have the president’s ear, it’s unclear how much President Trump can do to help the company’s struggling coal and nuclear plants. FirstEnergy, which filed for bankruptcy last month, and plans to close three [...]
Citing “market challenges,” electric utility FirstEnergy says it will close three nuclear plants in Ohio and Pennsylvania, while at the same time asking the Department of Energy for immediate help to keep its fleet of coal and nuclear plants open. The company, which could be near bankruptcy according to a report at cleveland.com, gave regional grid [...]
If you missed it last week, here’s a snippet from WITF’s Smart Talk program on the future of the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant, and how that could be affected by a recent decision by federal regulators to reject a Trump Administration plan that would have propped up the coal and nuclear industries. Republican [...]
There are multiple efforts underway at the federal, state, and regional levels to try to boost the nuclear power industry. If they all materialize, Exelon might reverse its decision to close its Three Mile Island plant outside Harrisburg. But the stars would have to align for that to happen, and time is running out. Visiting [...]
Secretary of Energy Rick Perry continues to defend his plan to have ratepayers subsidize coal and nuclear production in the face of greater competition from cheap natural gas and growing renewables. Perry took his message to the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia Friday morning. He left quickly, without taking audience questions. Perry’s pitch followed [...]
Exelon Corp. has laid off 296 contract workers at its three nuclear power plants in Pennsylvania, though it says those workers will be hired back under a new contractor. At Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station in Delta, York County, 108 were affected, according to a notice filed with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. [...]
Exelon has announced it will prematurely close the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in September 2019—15 years before its license expires. The plant’s been unable to compete. Like coal companies, the nuclear power industry faces slowing demand for electricity, along with a glut of cheaper natural gas and renewables. Around the country, five nuclear plants have [...]
The nation’s nuclear power industry is having a tough time. Like the coal companies, it’s struggling amid slowing demand for electricity, and competition from cheaper natural gas and renewable energy. That’s why the industry has been turning to state legislatures, including Pennsylvania’s, for help.
State lawmakers have begun discussing ways to shore up Pennsylvania’s struggling nuclear power industry, while maintaining a reliable electric grid and low prices for consumers. That was the focus of a meeting Wednesday of the new, bipartisn Nuclear Energy Caucus. As the drilling boom continues to flood the market with cheap gas and electricity demand [...]
Amid slowing demand for electricity and a glut of cheap natural gas, the nuclear power industry is having a hard time competing. Last year Exelon’s Three Mile Island plant near Harrisburg didn’t clear an auction for the future sale of its electricity, fueling speculation it could shut down prematurely. In response, Pennsylvania lawmakers have formed [...]
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