Nuclear Energy Institute urges FERC to take action to prevent nuclear plant closures

The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) recently sent a comment letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), recommending several actions aimed at helping prevent nuclear plant shutdowns.

The letter followed FERC’s May 1 and 2 technical conference held to explore factors affecting wholesale energy and capacity markets operated by the Eastern Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) and Independent System Operators (ISOs).

NEI urged FERC to make preserving nuclear plants a fundamental guiding principle and not to interfere with legitimate state public policy goals regarding nuclear energy.

“While wholesale markets are not designed to favor any particular fuel source, nor should properly
designed wholesale markets fail to recognize desirable and necessary attributes of reliable, secure sources
of generation,” the letter said.

The letter also recommended that FERC direct RTOs and ISOs to develop mechanisms that provide additional revenues in recognition of nuclear’s attributes such as long-term rate stability, system resiliency and fuel diversity.

“While comprehensive, enduring reforms are being developed, the commission should ensure that interim measures are in place to prevent further loss of secure and resilient nuclear generation,” NEI said.

NEI also requested that FERC work quickly to expand and complete the energy market price formation reforms that are already underway.