New England Grid Operator: Region Has Enough Power For Winter Despite Station Closing

HOLYOKE (AP) — The operator of the New England power grid projects that there will be adequate electricity this winter despite the closing of a nuclear power plant.

ISO New England says this will be the first winter without the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Massachusetts. But officials say the reactor's retirement coincided with some solar and wind projects and several dual-energy power plants coming online.

The power grid operator said that there should be adequate energy even in the event of extreme cold. But it notes that that the grid could be challenged if a major power plant goes offline or if there are major disruptions in the fuel supply chain.

Overall New England uses less electricity in the winter than in the summer. The all-time winter power peak in New England was 22,818 megawatts on Jan. 15, 2014.