Glut Of Water, Cheap Power Force Shutdown Of Nuclear Plant

The Bonneville Power Administration has ordered Washington state’s only commercial nuclear power plant to temporarily shut down because high runoff has created a glut of inexpensive hydroelectric power.

Washington Public Power Supply System’s plant No. 2 is expected to stay off-line until summer because of the BPA-ordered shutdown and annual refueling at the plant, managing director Vic Parrish said at a WPPSS board meeting Wednesday. The refueling is scheduled to begin April 13 and last 55 days.

The plant north of Richland can generate about 1,150 megawatts and has been running at about 60 percent of capacity recently. The BPA, a federal agency that markets power in the Northwest, is WPPSS’ sole customer.

Bonneville spokesman Perry Gruber said power from non-hydrolectric sources can’t compete with the cheap energy from the dams.