U.S. urges regulators to review Vistra’s $6.8 billion Energy Harbor deal

The U.S. Justice Department is urging regulators to take a closer look at Vistra Corp.’s planned $6.8 billion acquisition of a rival power producer because it may be anticompetitive. The warning applies to Vistra’s proposed takeover of Energy Harbor Corp. announced in March, a deal that would more than double its nuclear capacity, increase its natural gas …

Tricastin 1 cleared for ten more years

Unit 1 of the Tricastin nuclear power plant in southern France can operate for a further ten years, the country’s nuclear safety regulator, the Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire (ASN), has decided. It becomes the first French power reactor licensed to operate beyond 40 years. In February 2021, ASN set the conditions for the continued operation …

Hydro-Québec mulls Gentilly 2 recommissioning

Hydro-Québec has confirmed it is assessing the current state of the plant which closed in 2012, as it looks at options to increase its production of clean electricity. Gentilly 2, with an installed capacity of 675 MWe, was Québec’s only operating nuclear power plant when the provincial government announced in September 2012 that a planned …

Gov. Whitmer Signs ‘Make it in Michigan’ Budget

Gov. Whitmer Signs ‘Make it in Michigan’ Budget Balanced, bipartisan FY24 budget lowers costs, grows the economy, and delivers on kitchen-table issues   LANSING, Mich.— Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a balanced, bipartisan general government state budget for Fiscal Year 2024 to grow the economy, lower costs, deliver on kitchen-table issues, and help anyone “Make it in Michigan.”   The FY24 budget, when combined with the education budget previously signed by the governor, lowers costs on health care, preschool, meals for kids, higher education, housing, and workforce …

Key upgrade completed at Darlington

Ontario Power Generation (OPG) has completed a major 10-year project to install three new emergency power generators (EPGs) at its Darlington nuclear power plant to support the continued operation of the plant for decades to come. EPGs provide reliable backup power in case of an emergency. Each turbine/generator set and its auxiliary systems provides a …

Kozloduy applies to use Westinghouse fuel in unit 5

The Bulgarian Nuclear Regulatory Agency said it has received an application requesting the issuance of a permit for the use of Westinghouse-manufactured VVER-1000 fuel in unit 5 of the country’s Kozloduy nuclear power plant. Westinghouse has signed a decade-long contract to supply fuel for the reactor. The regulator said the application submitted by the plant …

Huizenga calls repowering Palisades ‘a worthwhile exploration’

U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga last week sought an opinion from President Joe Biden’s administration on the restart of Palisades Nuclear Power Plant. Palisades owner Holtec International is currently seeking federal funds to restart the plant, which closed in May 2022 and is in the midst of decommissioning. Huizenga, R-Zeeland, brought up the efforts during a subcommittee …

Belgium and Engie agree on nuclear reactor extensions

Belgium has reached an agreement with operator Engie (ENGIE.PA) to extend the use of the country’s nuclear reactors by 10 years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine prompted Belgium’s governing coalition to rethink plans to rely more on natural gas. Belgium was to have exited nuclear power entirely by 2025, but will now extend the lives of its …