WE'RE NOT IN THE MONEY: Nuclear Power
Entergy, the owner of the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant, recently agreed to shut down the plant. The reason is that the economics are just not there anymore.
According to Entergy’s filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, a decreasing number of companies are supplying the key parts required to repair and maintain this aging nuclear power plant. In fact Westinghouse, one of its main suppliers, filed for bankruptcy shortly after Entergy's disclosure.
As parts become less available, their cost goes up. More importantly, when key parts break down, the lead time for delivery of replacements is longer. That means that Indian Point is at increased risk of forced shutdowns. Nuclear power plants don't power up and down easily which means each forced shut down is extremely expensive.
Building new and updated nuclear power plants is more than unlikely. For one thing, the upfront cost of such a venture would be prohibitive.
Resources:
Entergy U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Annual Report
Bade, Gavin, "Report: Draft of DOE Study Finds Renewables Not a Threat", Utility Dive, July 17, 2017 http://www.utilitydive.com/news/perry-i-havent-seen-doe-grid-review-draft-faulting-gas-for-baseload-ret/447254/ ,
