FitzPatrick Nuclear Plant to Close by 2017, Company Announces
Entergy Corporation announced Monday that it will close the FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant in Scriba in late 2016 or early 2017. More than 600 people work at the plant.
The company said its decision to close the plant is based significantly reduced plant revenues due to low natural gas prices, high operational costs and other market factors.
Entergy will shut down the plant at the end of the current fuel cycle.
Entergy and state officials had worked over the past two months to reach an agreement to avoid a shutdown, but were unsuccessful.
“Given the financial challenges our merchant power plants face from sustained wholesale power price declines and other unfavorable market conditions, we have been assessing each asset,” said Leo Denault, Entergy’s chairman and chief executive officer. “As part of this review, we previously announced the closure of the Pilgrim Nuclear Generating Station in Massachusetts and have now decided that despite good operational performance, market conditions require us to also close the FitzPatrick nuclear plant.”
FitzPatrick has been in the Oswego County community since it began generating electricity in 1975.
“We recognize the consequences of the shutdown for our employees and the surrounding community and pledge to do our best to support both during this transition. As a company, we are committed to ensuring the well-being of our employees, and appreciate their continued dedication to making safe, clean, secure and reliable operations a top priority,” Denault said. “Additionally, to the community of Oswego, we would like to express our gratitude for its overwhelming support and willingness to stand with us for more than 40 years.”(TWC News)
