Davis-Besse nuclear power plant may be closed

• 7 years ago (2016-12-30)
• David Flin

Nuclear 640

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The Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station in Ohio, USA, could soon be closed. FirstEnergy Corporation, which owns the plant, is planning to sell the plant in 2017 or early 2018, unless state officials change energy regulations that would make it financially feasible to keep the plant running. Chuck Jones, CEO for FirstEnergy, said that it looked unlikely that the state would take those measures.

Jones said: “We have made our decision that over the next 12 to 18 months, we’re going to exit competitive generation and become a fully regulated company.”

Charles Fishman, an analyst with Morningstar, said that while a buyer of the plant may keep it running, the small size of Davis-Besse, one 889 MW unit, could make it harder to sell. He said: “That puts Davis-Besse a little more at risk than some of the others, but I still think there is a 50-50 chance someone buys it.”

The plant employs 624 people.