© 2024 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY · WNPR
WPKT · WRLI-FM · WEDW-FM · Public Files Contact
ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Millstone Hopeful Regulators See Nuclear Power As "At Risk"

Nuclear Regulatory Commission
/
Creative Commons

The owner of the Millstone nuclear plant is praising a state decision it says could let it sell its electricity more competitively.

Millstone lobbied for months at the state capitol to sell its power alongside renewables like solar and wind.

Last fall, they won that fight. And now, the focus has shifted to whether Connecticut’s only nuclear plant, which provides about half of the state’s power, is at risk of closing.

If state regulators say it is, Millstone could get preferential treatment in upcoming power contracts.

In a zero-carbon request for proposals issued this week, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said it will weigh the risk of closure into contract decisions as soon as 2022 -- or earlier, if immediate risk can be proven.

In a statement, Millstone owner Dominion praised the decision and said it hopes audited financial statements given to regulators will get it that “at risk” designation soon.

Previous reports from state energy officials concluded Millstone would remain profitable through 2035.

Energy producers from the fossil fuel industry to solar and wind energy have joined with environmental activists to criticize the arrangement. Writing in letters to regulators that “at risk” designations are not needed and hinder efforts to develop more innovative sources of power.

The DEEP is expected to issue its RFP decision in the winter.

Patrick Skahill is a reporter and digital editor at Connecticut Public. Prior to becoming a reporter, he was the founding producer of Connecticut Public Radio's The Colin McEnroe Show, which began in 2009. Patrick's reporting has appeared on NPR's Morning Edition, Here & Now, and All Things Considered. He has also reported for the Marketplace Morning Report. He can be reached at pskahill@ctpublic.org.

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.

Related Content