DoomsdaysCW<p>A tale of two <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/NuclearPowerPlants" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>NuclearPowerPlants</span></a> along <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/LakeMichigan" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>LakeMichigan</span></a>: Extended life and a revival? </p><p>WUWM 89.7 FM | By Chuck Quirmbach<br />Published January 10, 2025</p><p>&quot;This year could be a big year for the status of two nuclear power plants around Lake Michigan.</p><p>&quot;That includes a shutdown plant just 120 miles east of Kenosha that is seeking a first-of-its-kind restart.</p><p>&quot;The year could also be significant for extending the life of <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Wisconsin" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Wisconsin</span></a>&#39;s only working commercial plant, located 95 miles north of <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Milwaukee" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Milwaukee</span></a>.</p><p>&quot;On the west shore of Lake Michigan, <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/NextEraEnergy" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>NextEraEnergy</span></a> says it still wants a 20-year extension for the two reactors at the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PointBeachNuclearPowerPlant" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>PointBeachNuclearPowerPlant</span></a>, located north of <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/TwoRivers" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>TwoRivers</span></a>, which would keep the site operating until the early 2050s.</p><p>&quot;If that plan sounds familiar, it’s because <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WUWM" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>WUWM</span></a> has been reporting on the proposal for about four years. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (<a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/NRC" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>NRC</span></a>) approval is still pending.</p><p>&quot;In a written statement this month, Florida-based <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/NextEra" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>NextEra</span></a> said it has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in Point Beach, &#39;ensuring it’s ready to produce energy for decades to come.&#39; The company says the plant powers nearly 1 million homes and businesses and provides about 14% of Wisconsin’s electricity.</p><p>&quot;But nuclear power critics, like <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/KevinKamps" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>KevinKamps</span></a> of <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/BeyondNuclear" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BeyondNuclear</span></a>, say there are concerns that key parts of the power production units are too <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/brittle" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>brittle</span></a> to last another 20-plus years. He says there’s an alternative.</p><p>&quot;&#39;Point Beach’s electricity could easily be replaced through the expansion of <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/RenewableEnergy" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>RenewableEnergy</span></a> in Wisconsin. It’s ready to go. It would be more effective for the people of Wisconsin. It would certainly be much safer,&#39; Kamps says.</p><p>&quot;On the east shore of the lake, the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PalisadesNuclearPlant" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>PalisadesNuclearPlant</span></a> in <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/CovertTownship" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>CovertTownship</span></a>, Michigan, shut down nearly three years ago. But at the urging of some federal, state, and local officials, the Biden administration has provided a $1.5 billion loan to Holtec International, which bought the mothballed plant from the utility Entergy, so Holtec can try to restart Palisades.</p><p>[...]</p><p>&quot;A key concern appears to be the damaged steam generator tubes at Palisades, which are likely to need repair or replacement. On Jan. 14, Holtec and the NRC are scheduled to discuss the matter.</p><p>&quot;The NRC says Holtec will have to prove the plant is safe.</p><p>&quot;Incoming President Donald Trump has made conflicting statements about nuclear power, so it’s unclear if he will try to get the NRC to favor either of the Lake Michigan plants.&quot;</p><p><a href="https://www.wuwm.com/environment/2025-01-10/a-tale-of-two-nuclear-power-plants-along-lake-michigan-extended-life-and-a-revival" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">wuwm.com/environment/2025-01-1</span><span class="invisible">0/a-tale-of-two-nuclear-power-plants-along-lake-michigan-extended-life-and-a-revival</span></a><br /><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/NoNukes" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>NoNukes</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/NoNukesForAI" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>NoNukesForAI</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/RethinkNotRestart" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>RethinkNotRestart</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/HoltecLies" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>HoltecLies</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/RenewablesNow" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>RenewablesNow</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WaterIsLife" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>WaterIsLife</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/AgingNuclearPlants" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>AgingNuclearPlants</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/NuclearSafety" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>NuclearSafety</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/NuclearWaste" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>NuclearWaste</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/NuclearIsNotCarbonFree" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>NuclearIsNotCarbonFree</span></a></p>