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SPP and Member Utilities Successfully Achieve Western Expansion Milestone

LCG, April 2, 2026--Southwest Power Pool (SPP) today announced that the expansion of its service territory into the Western Interconnection has been a success. The milestone makes SPP the first regional transmission organization (RTO) with services spanning the Eastern and Western Interconnections. Its member organizations, which cover all or part of 17 states, can now benefit from a more operationally and geographically diverse integrated system.

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Holtec Achieves Milestone towards Restarting Palisades Nuclear Facility and Advances Plans to Build Two SMRs at Palisades Site

LCG, March 31, 2026--Holtec International yesterday announced that it successfully completed a milestone test necessary to return Holtec's Palisades Nuclear Generating Station to service. The 805-MW pressurized water reactor (PWR) is located in Michigan and was shut down by Entergy in May 2022. Holtec acquired the facility in June 2022 and has pursued a path to return the plant to service.

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Industry News

Back to the Drawing Board for Salem Harbor Plant

LCG, July 13, 2004--The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued an order last week for PG&E National Energy Group Inc. - the bankrupt owner of the Salem Harbor Power Plant - to work with ISO New England and others to develop a better plan to address the $85 million environmental cleanup of the plant. The FERC did not approve the plans that would have Eastern Massachusetts electric customers pay environmental cleanup costs.

If an agreement on a new plan that addresses the FERC's concerns is not delivered within 60 days, the FERC will order a full investigation to determine if the plan "may be unjust, unreasonable...or otherwise unlawful."

The Salem Harbor power station includes three coal-fired generating units totaling 313 MW, plus 450 MW oil-burning unit. PG&E has requested ISO New England officials to shut down the plant, given its lack of funds to pay for the environmental cleanup costs. However, from a system reliability perspective, ISO New England sees the plant as needed to avoid blackouts. "The ISO is pleased that the FERC recognizes that a reliability operating agreement for Salem Harbor will be needed until power system conditions improve in the Greater Boston area," said Ellen Foley, a spokeswoman for ISO New England.

Those interested in purchasing the plant from PG&E must address the uncertainties regarding who carries the $85 million cost for environmental clean-up, plus the potential impact of transmission upgrades that would effectively (a) increase the competition between Salem and other generating stations and (b) reduce its "reliability" value from ISO New England's perspective.

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