Entergy has slightly narrowed its new timeline for closure of the Palisades Power Plant in Michigan, according to a recent letter to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
The power provider had planned to close the nuclear facility next October, but last month pushed that back to spring 2022 following the dissolution of a deal for state utility Consumers Energy to buy the companies’ shared power purchase agreement. The deal was mutually terminated after the Michigan Public Service Commission limited the amount of bonds Consumers Energy could use in the acquisition to about $136 million, $35 million less than requested.
In an Oct. 19 letter to the NRC, Site Vice President Charles Arnone said Entergy Nuclear Operations would halt power production at Palisades by May 31, 2022. “A more specific date for permanent power cessation cannot be provided at this time due to fuel cycle duration variables,” he wrote.
There was no immediate additional information regarding the updated closure schedule. The Entergy-Consumers Energy power purchase agreement expires in April 2022.
