Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station isn't financially sustainable.

[Ksheed]

Next possible shut down?

http://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2016-05-12/nebraska-utility-head-recommends-closing-nuclear-power-plant

[Rerun]

Sad

[Chimera]

Ten years ago, Fort Calhoun was considered to be financially viable enough to bet the farm on replacing steam generators, the Rx head, the pressurizer and the main transformers.  Now she's not financially sustainable?  Did something happen to the rate base or is this a case of yet another plant being regulated out of existence?

[Rennhack]

In general, with the entire nuclear fleet, there are several factors at play (in no particular order):

Less electricity demand from loss of manufacturing
Cheaper electricity from natural gas
Unrealistic INPO indicators that continually raise the bar for no reason other than to raise it. Which increases the cost per Mw
Knee jerk reactions from NRC to alter the design basis of nuclear plants.  Having an extra 150 security officers, and $400 million in security upgrades post 911, Fukushima mods...

How many OSHA recordable injuries do you think your local home depot has in a year? around 45

The best way to measure apples to apples is "Total Incident Rate" which averages OSHA's to hours worked.

Nursing   12
Construction   8.2
Utilities   4.8
Source: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/osh_10292015.htm

Last year, if our Total incident rate was <0.4 (Still 12 times lower than the utility industry) we were good to go.
This year, if my nuclear plant is >0.18, we are a failure in the eyes of INPO -- Why this change?  Because too many nuke plants achieve the unrealistic goal.

How much money do you think we spend to reach that number?  Do you think that makes us "Too cheap to meter"?

And how many injuries are being under reported as report only or first aids?

https://www.justice.gov/usao-edtn/pr/former-shaw-group-safety-manager-tva-nuclear-sites-sentenced-78-months-prison-major

[Rerun]

It aint local regulation. Fact is under the older style regulations it still wouldnt be viable because other types of electricity are comparatively too cheap for a smaller nuke to achieve. I am currently helping a Ft Calhoun person find another job.

[Bonds 25]

How the heck is it not regulation via NRC and INPO?

What other "types" of electricity are clean and more realiable than Nuclear? Gas (not a clean source of power) might be cheaper NOW.......but even you know that sh*t ain't gonna last.  This also goes against our "we need to reduce our carbon output ASAP" bullsh*t.

[Ksheed]

It's official, closed by the end of 2016:


http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/nebraska-utility-close-nations-smallest-nuclear-plant-39911149

[GLW]

It's official, closed by the end of 2016:


http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/nebraska-utility-close-nations-smallest-nuclear-plant-39911149

from the article:

"...The power district has amassed about $388 million for the decommissioning effort...."

when DnD'ng nuke plants, $388 million is not a mass of money,...

possibly enough, but just enough,...

FC should cost around 250 million to DnD, which leaves OPPD at about 1.5 times projected cost,...

so the math works for OPPD to move directly into DnD and terminate the license sooner rather than later,...

we shall see,...

[x6655]

SAFSTOR and DECON are the primary two decommissioning options the nuclear industry has implemented. OPPD will use the SAFSTOR method, which will provide both regulatory and financial flexibility as the plant is decommissioned. Both options have a similar path during the next five years. Read more about this process on OPPD's The Wire and at NRC.gov.

The cost to decommission FCS is estimated at approximately $1.2 billion. As of the end of May 2016, OPPD has approximately $388 million in total available decommissioning funds, and was pacing toward full funding for a 2033 decommission date.

To allow for decommissioning before 2033, OPPD will add to its decommissioning fund annually. The district expects to be able to cover the remaining costs without raising the existing rates.

[GLW]

SAFSTOR and DECON are the primary two decommissioning options the nuclear industry has implemented. OPPD will use the SAFSTOR method, which will provide both regulatory and financial flexibility as the plant is decommissioned. Both options have a similar path during the next five years. Read more about this process on OPPD's The Wire and at NRC.gov.

The cost to decommission FCS is estimated at approximately $1.2 billion. As of the end of May 2016, OPPD has approximately $388 million in total available decommissioning funds, and was pacing toward full funding for a 2033 decommission date.

To allow for decommissioning before 2033, OPPD will add to its decommissioning fund annually. The district expects to be able to cover the remaining costs without raising the existing rates.

thanks for the peer check,...    

http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/cfr/part050/part050-0075.html#N_1_5075

[Rennhack]

Another one bites the dust.

[GLW]

Another one bites the dust.

really need to be able to adjust the size on these youtube links,...

[hamsamich]

It's funny you mention incident rates.  My stepmother needed an MRI and was sent TWICE to the wrong type of MRI generator for a shoulder issue (wrong type because she wears a pacemaker).  By her doctor.  Twice.  The people running the MRI caught it both times at the last minute (two different MRI places).  Wonder what happens when a Senior RP makes a mistake that costs someone an extra 100 mrem, let alone making a mistake that could possibly kill or maim them (which the wrong type of MRI can do to someone with a pacemaker).  Interesting world we live in.