Palisades nuclear power plant shuts down early despite state's push to keep open (Michigan)

[progree]

Palisades nuclear power plant shuts down early despite state's push to keep open, WWMT Grand Rapids/Lansing, 5/20/22

Palisades Power Plant permanently shutdown Friday, 11 days ahead of schedule, according to the plant's operator, Entergy. The plant was expected to close May 31, but shutdown early due to the performance of a control rod drive seal, according to a Palisades Power Plant representative.

... On April 20, a month before Friday's early shutdown, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced a new effort to keep Palisades open until 2031.

"Keeping Palisades open is a top priority," Whitmer said, in a letter to Jennifer Granholm, U.S. Department of Energy Secretary, and former Michigan governor.

Whitmer's letter urged Granholm to allocate money from the Civil Nuclear Credit to Palisades.

The $6 billion dollar program was created in November through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

A bit more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/palisades-nuclear-power-plant-shuts-down-early-despite-state-s-push-to-keep-open/ar-AAXxCja?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=f9baa09fe26b4723a94a586a18a6ad80

Another article on the Palisades closure:

The U.S., Struggling To Curb Emissions, Just Lost Another Nuclear Power Plant, HuffPost, 5/20/22

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/the-u-s-struggling-to-curb-emissions-just-lost-another-nuclear-power-plant/ar-AAXxWZc?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=f9baa09fe26b4723a94a586a18a6ad80

In blow to Biden climate goals, Entergy shuts nuclear power plant, Reuters, 5/20/22
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/newsus/in-blow-to-biden-climate-goals-entergy-shuts-nuclear-power-plant/ar-AAXxxn3?ocid=uxbndlbing

Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palisades_Nuclear_Generating_Station

[Blues Heron]

1. It is important to have full control of the control rods

Correct decision here. Best to err on the side of caution when it comes to these aging nukes

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

2. The plant was old

It should have had a planned replacement years ago. Unfortunately, this is going to make the power situation in Michigan worse. We already got a warning that there could be a shortage across the state this summer since generating capacity is lower then the expected demand.

[roamer65]

7. We can probably just buy power from Ontario Power Generation.

[Calculating]

3. Stop shutting down nuke plants

Jesus, it's like these people want us to have power grid issues this summer. We can't push for EVs while simultaneously shutting down our reliable power generation.

[haele]

5. If there's a problem that makes it unsafe to continue, it has to be shut down.

For profit energy companies have been spending decades taking as many shortcuts as they could with nuclear plants - between attempts to capture the regulatory agencies at the states and Federal level, along with going with the lowest bidder for parts, refurbishment and plant "management".
There's no real reason that with good maintenance and regular upgrades and refurbishment, a nuke plant couldn't last a hundred years. But good maintenance is an expensive investment...

The companies don't care so long as they make their earnings call, and they'll happily force their customers to pay more for their mistakes so long as they don't face too much in the way of consequences themselves.

Haele

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

4. K&R

[roamer65]

6. Palisades is really old and really needs to be shutdown.

As a Michigander I want it shutdown. I don’t want a close call like Toledo Edison’s Davis Besse from 2002.

No thank you.