Nuclear Management Company
| Company type | Joint venture |
|---|---|
| Industry | Nuclear power operations |
| Founded | February 1999 |
| Defunct | September 2008 |
| Headquarters | Hudson , United States |
Area served | U.S. Midwest |
| Products | Nuclear power plant operations management |
Number of employees | (absorbed by NSP in 2008) |
| Parent | Joint venture of Alliant Energy Nuclear, NSP Nuclear Corporation, WEC Nuclear Corporation, WPS Nuclear Corporation, and Consumers Energy (investor from 2000) |
Nuclear Management Company (NMC) functioned as a contractual operations organization overseeing six nuclear power facilities situated in the U.S. Midwest. While NMC facilitated operational cooperation among these plants, it neither held ownership of the sites nor controlled their electricity production. The company was headquartered in Hudson, Wisconsin. By September 2008, the operating licenses for its final two plants, Monticello and Prairie Island, were reassigned to Northern States Power Company (NSP), a division of Xcel Energy. NSP also absorbed all of NMC’s workforce and assets, leading to the dissolution of NMC.
History
Formed in February 1999, NMC was a joint venture initiated by four utility companies: Alliant Energy Nuclear, NSP Nuclear Corporation, WEC Nuclear Corporation, and WPS Nuclear Corporation. In 2000, Consumers Energy became an investor. After divesting their nuclear holdings, Alliant Energy, WPS, WEC, and Consumers Energy withdrew from the partnership. NSP regained control of the Monticello and Prairie Island licenses in 2008, subsequently incorporating the remaining NMC framework.
The primary objective of NMC was to create operational efficiencies across multiple plants under different ownerships by emphasizing industry-leading practices and safety standards. One such initiative was the implementation of A.C.E.M.A.N., a daily safety briefing involving all on-site employees: A = accident free C = control dose E = event free M = meet commitments A = attend training N = no re-work
Nuclear plants
- Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant
Situated in Monticello, Minnesota, this plant is owned by NSP, a subsidiary of Xcel Energy. It operates a BWR with a license valid through 2030.
- Palisades Nuclear Power Plant (sold 2007)
Located in Covert Township, Michigan along Lake Michigan’s shoreline, Palisades was owned by Consumers Energy, part of CMS Energy. Following an auction in December 2005, it was acquired by Entergy Corporation in 2007. This PWR facility holds a license extending through 2031 and is currently managed by Entergy.
- Point Beach Nuclear Power Plant (sold 2007)
Found in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, Point Beach belonged to We Energies, under Wisconsin Energy Corporation. It includes two PWR units with licenses valid until 2030 and 2033 respectively. Ownership transferred to a subsidiary of FPL Group in 2007.
- Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant
Located in Red Wing, Minnesota, Prairie Island is owned by NSP/Xcel Energy. The facility comprises two PWR units licensed through 2033 and 2034.
- Duane Arnold Energy Center (sold 2006)
This plant in Cedar Rapids, Iowa was Iowa’s only nuclear facility, initially owned 70% by Alliant Energy-Interstate Power and Light and 30% by cooperative utilities. In January 2006, FPL acquired the majority interest. The BWR unit is licensed until 2034 and operated under FPL management.
- Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant (sold 2005)
Situated in Carlton, Wisconsin, Kewaunee was formerly owned by WPS Resources, Wisconsin Public Service Corp., and partners before being sold to Dominion Resources in July 2005. This PWR plant has since been shut down.
References