NextEra to retire Iowa nuclear plant in 2020

Utility Dive: Nuclear plants in the U.S. are under pressure from cheap natural gas and renewables, forcing many to close before the end of their operational lives. Roughly a quarter of the 99 nuclear reactors in the country are at risk of early retirement, Bloomberg New Energy Finance reported in March.

The Duane Arnold Energy Center, opened in 1975, is the latest casualty of the trend. Iowa gets roughly 40% of its electricity from low-priced wind, and the intermittent generation can put extra strain on nuclear finances, since the plants cannot easily ramp up and down to adjust to changes in wind output.

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