The CEO of Exelon told investors last week that the company is prepared to close nuclear plants if market conditions do not improve.In an earnings call, Christopher Crane said multiple reactors in the Exelon fleet are unprofitable, and "if we do not see a path to sustainable profits, we will be obligated to shut units down to avoid the long-term losses." He added that the company would likely make a decision on plant closures by year end.Crane declined to say which plants he was referring to or how much money they were losing. Exelon owns 17 reactors at 10 plants in Illinois, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Analysts cited by the Chicago Tribune have speculated that the Clinton and Quad Cities plants in Illinois are vulnerable to closure if wholesale power prices do not increase.Falling Midwestern power prices caused by abundant natural gas and subsidized wind generation were among the reasons given by Dominion for closing its Kewaunee nuclear plant in Wisconsin last year.
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after 34 years in this industry it has become apparent to me that nuclear new build (Georgia Power excluded) and decommissioning of exiting plants is on the rise. This will also effect the supply chain for fuel cycle companies, uranium producers and have fare reaching effects. I was fortunate to live and work in the day when nuclear in the US was prized. Of course their have always been issues over the years from Washington plants built to 90% and then mothballed. The foreign entities owning top US companies including nuclear power albeit not a controlling interest. Its a growing concern in all sectors in this great country that the American dream and hope of retirement is becoming a thing of the past unless you were under a pension plan paid on the premise you would spend your career at the same company but alas now that's gone in toilet as well. I have three college grads from accredited university's who can only fine minimum wage jobs. SO sad!!!!!!!!!! downsizing, restructuring what's next outsourcing our military.
Knowing the plants within Exelon and Mgmt methods , it's an easy guess which ones will be closed.
Anonymous
If Exelon shuts 3000 MW of nuclear that should help those fossil and windmill owners to decide to stay in business and build more capacity based on projected improvements in the price of electricity at the expense of jobs at the shut plants.
