EnergySolutions will acquire Kewaunee for decommissioning. Photo: Dominion Generation
Utah-based EnergySolutions has entered into a definitive agreement with Dominion Energy to acquire the closed Kewaunee nuclear power plant for prompt decommissioning. Located about 30 miles southeast of Green Bay, Wis., the single-unit, 574-MWe pressurized water reactor was shut down in May 2013 for financial reasons.
Dominion completed the transfer of Kewaunee’s used fuel to dry storage in June 2017. The remaining decommissioning work, to be executed by EnergySolutions, will result in the complete dismantlement of the facility and the removal of all radioactive waste.
Beginning the plant's decommissioning now will accelerate its completion and allow the property to be considered for reuse ahead of Dominion’s original decommissioning schedule, EnergySolutions said. Dominion initially selected the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s SAFSTOR method of decommissioning, with the reactor to be maintained in a safe and stable condition for up to 60 years before decommissioning is completed.
With the definitive agreement signed, EnergySolutions and Dominion will finalize the required regulatory filings and begin the application process with the NRC for the transfer of Kewaunee’s licenses.
What they’re saying: “We appreciate the confidence Dominion Energy has in our company by entering into this contract,” said Ken Robuck, president and chief executive officer of EnergySolutions. “This project will fit nicely within our decommissioning project portfolio, and we are looking forward to applying our industry-leading decommissioning and waste management experience to this project.”
Other projects: EnergySolutions’ other current decommissioning projects include the historic Three Mile Island-2 in Pennsylvania, the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station in Southern California, and the Fort Calhoun nuclear power plant in Nebraska. EnergySolutions recently completed decommissioning work at the Zion nuclear plant in Illinois and the La Crosse boiling water reactor in Wisconsin.
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