The Nuclear Regulatory Commission wants to know more about NextEra Energy’s plans to respond to the degradation of concrete at its Seabrook nuclear generating station in New Hampshire. An alkali-silica chemical reaction is causing the plant’s concrete walls to break down.
NextEra’s amended license proposal did not contain sufficient details on how it would address the issue, according to a NRC spokesman. The company has until Oct. 3 to provide more details on how it is going to stop, or counter, the chemical reaction. NextEra is seeking a 20-year extension to the plant’s operating license, which is currently set to expire in 2030.
The commission has not deemed the degradation a safety issue, but it wants to know how the company is going to tackle long-term preventative measures.
More: Seacoastonline.com
Exelon Facing $1.45B Tax Bill, Court Says
The Tax Court has ordered Exelon to pay as much as $1.45 billion in back federal taxes, penalties and interest.
The bill resulted from a tax strategy that Commonwealth Edison used after its $4.8 billion sale of coal-fired power plants in 1999. To shield itself from the potential tax bill, ComEd sunk much of the proceeds in long-term leases of power plants in other parts of the country and leased the plants back to the owner-operators.
Exelon must now decide whether it wants to pay or appeal. Even if it to decides to appeal, it still must pay the Internal Revenue Service or post a bond, the company said in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. “Exelon is still evaluating the Tax Court’s decision and considering next steps,” the company said.
More: Crain’s Chicago Business
Environmental Groups File Appeal of AIM Approval
A coalition of environmental groups asked the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals last week to stay construction of Spectra Energy’s Algonquin Incremental Market natural gas pipeline project while its appeal of FERC’s approval is pending. The pipeline project is designed to transport natural gas from shale-gas fields in the Mid-Atlantic region to markets in the Northeast and Canada.
The groups noted that the court reprimanded FERC for approving a similar project in 2014, but that by the time it had reached its decision, construction was almost complete.
More: Ossining Patch
Offshore Wind Survey Work off Mass. to Start
An offshore wind developer has begun surveys off the Massachusetts coast, where it leases about 160,000 acres from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
OffshoreMW is conducting the work south of Martha’s Vineyard in preparation for the possible construction of offshore wind facilities in the area. Seafloor and sub-seafloor surveys will be taken by the crew of the Shearwater research vessel. The company was the successful bidder for the lease area in 2015.
More: CapeCodToday.com
Federal Lab Develops Substation Armor
The Idaho National Laboratory has developed a ballistic barrier system designed to protect substations against threats such as bullets, explosives and tornadoes.
The lab started working on the patent-pending Transformer Protection Barrier after a substation in California was targeted by a marksman who fired up to 150 rounds at it, causing an estimated $15 million damage to 17 transformers.
“We are trying to be proactive and provide solutions to threats when they emerge,” said Chad Landon, head of INL’s Defense Systems Materials Technology and Physical Analysis department. “Based on the 2013 incident and similar situations, we decided to come up with a solution.”