Fitzpatrick Nuclear Power Plant in Oswego County to Officially Close

Talks to negotiate the continued operation of the James A. Fitzpatrick Nuclear Power Plant in Oswego County appear to have fallen through.

Officials negotiating on behalf of New York State and Entergy, the company that owns the plant, say that talks have not been successful.

A "Notification of Permanent Cessation of Power Operations" was filed on Wednesday.

Entergy announced earlier this month that it was closing the plant because of the "continued deteriorating economics of the facility."

Including the Fitzpatrick site, Entergy operates ten nuclear units at eight locations.

The plant is expected to close in late 2016 or early 2017 which is, according to the Chief Operating Officer for the Northern Fleet of Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. John Ventosa, "the projected end of the current fuel cycle."  In a letter to the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Ventosa says, "A more specific date cannot be provided at this time in order to allow for fuel coastdown variables."