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Why is Dresden power plant closing?
Exelon is prepared to close the Byron plant in September and the Dresden plant in November because of the nuclear plants’ inability to compete with the cheap power being produced from shale gas, often extracted through hydraulic fracking.
Will Dresden nuclear plant close?
In July, Exelon filed its decommissioning plan with federal regulators. The utility plans to close its Byron and Dresden nuclear power plants in Illinois as early as this month, short of a new deal to help improved reactor plant economics.
Is the Byron nuclear power plant still operating?
The need for nuclear today Byron was scheduled to close in September 2021 and Dresden would close in November 2021.
When was Dresden nuclear power plant built?
Built by Commonwealth Edison, Dresden Unit 1 was a General Electric boiling water reactor capable of generating 210 megawatts of emission-free electricity. Construction on the unit began in 1957 and was completed two years later. In October of 1959, the unit achieved its first nuclear chain reaction.
Did Dresden Close?
Byron, located just outside Byron, Ill., will close in September 2021, and Dresden, located in Morris, Ill., will close in November 2021.
Why is Germany turning off nuclear?
Germany is moving to shut down its remaining three nuclear power plants this year amid concerns over the safety of the technology.
What is the newest nuclear power plant?
The newest reactor to enter service is Tennessee’s Watts Bar Unit 2, which began operation in June 2016. The next-youngest operating reactor is Watts Bar Unit 1, also in Tennessee, which entered service in May 1996. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licenses U.S. commercial nuclear reactors for 40 years.
Could Germany reopen its nuclear power plant?
After the nuclear disaster in Fukushima in 2011, Germany decided to go ahead with its plan to shut down all its nuclear power plants by 2022. The last three nuclear power plants are still in operation. At the same time, a decision has been made to phase out coal-fired power by 2038 at the latest.