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Getting back to yes: A local perspective on decommissioning, restart, and responsibility
For 45 years, Duane Arnold Energy Center operated in Linn County, Ia., near the town of Palo and just northwest of Cedar Rapids. The facility, owned by NextEra Energy, was the only nuclear power plant in the state.
In August 2020, a historic derecho swept across eastern Iowa with winds approaching 140 miles per hour. Damage to the plant’s cooling towers accelerated a shutdown that had already been planned, and the facility entered decommissioning soon after, with its fuel removed in October of that year. Iowa’s only nuclear plant had gone off line.
Today the national energy landscape looks very different than it did just six short years ago. Electricity demand is rising rapidly as data centers, artificial intelligence infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and electrification expand across the country. Reliable, carbon-free baseload power has become increasingly valuable. In that context, Linn County has approved the rezoning necessary to support the recommissioning and restart of Duane Arnold and is actively supporting NextEra’s efforts to secure the remaining state and federal approvals.
2019
James A. RippleSouthern Nuclear Operating Company
2016
Randall K. Edington
2015
Lee Rogers
2014
Jeffrey B. Archie, Sr. (VP & CNO; So. Carolina Electric & Gas):Danny G. Bost, (EVP & CNO; Southern Nuclear Operating Co.)
2013
David Heler
2012
Keith Moser (Exelon Corporation)
2011
John R. McGaha
2010
Michael Kansler
2009
Amir Shahkarami Exelon
2008
Marvin S. Fertel Nuclear Energy Institute
2007
Marilyn C. Kray NuStart
2006
Scotty Hinnant Progress Energy
2005
Michael Wallace Constellation Generation Group
2004
Joe Sheppard STP Nuclear Operating Company
2003
W. Gary Gates Omaha Public Power District
2002
C. Lance Terry TXU Electric Comanche Steam Electric Station
2001
Roy A. Anderson Nuclear Management Company
2000
James P. O'Hanlon Dominion Energy
1999
Michael S. Tuckman Duke Power Company
1998
Harold B. Ray Southern California Edison
1997
Bill Cavanaugh Carolina Power & Light
1996
Buzz Carns Wolf Creek
1995
Donald Hintz Entergy Operations
1994
Jim Schiffer Pacific Gas & Electric
