Exelon Generation announces October 2018 shutdown of Oyster Creek Generating Station

Exelon Generation recently announced that Oyster Creek Generating Station, its 625-megawatt single-reactor nuclear plant in Forked River, New Jersey, will permanently shut down at the end of its current operating cycle in October 2018.

As part of an agreement with the State of New Jersey, Exelon is required to close Oyster Creek by December 2019.

“I want to thank the thousands of men and women who helped operate Oyster Creek Generating Station safely for the past half-century, providing generations of New Jersey families and businesses with clean, reliable electricity,” Exelon President and Chief Nuclear Officer Bryan Hanson said. “We will offer a position elsewhere in Exelon to every employee that wishes to stay with the company, and we thank our neighbors for the privilege of allowing us to serve New Jersey for almost 50 years.”

Exelon Generation will work with local officials, state agencies, elected representatives, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to plan for long-term decommissioning, the company said.

Oyster Creek’s approximately 500 employees will continue to operate the plant until October 2018, and some will continue working at the facility on its decommissioning after it the shutdown.

“This shutdown timeline will give Oyster Creek employees a better opportunity to pursue open positions across the Exelon family of companies,” Exelon Generation said in a press release. “The decision will also help Exelon better manage resources as fuel and maintenance costs continue to rise amid historically low power prices.”