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EPA Announces Proposed Rule Action to Revise ELG's and Support Reliable, Affordable Coal-fired Power Plants

LCG, May 14, 2026--The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that it is proposing a rule to revise wastewater limits, known as effluent limitations guidelines (ELG), for steam electric power plants that will help improve grid reliability and lower electricity prices while continuing to support clean and safe water resources. If finalized, the EPA's proposal is estimated to reduce electricity generation costs by as much as $1.1 billion annually, which could provide cost-savings to American consumers.

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DOE Awards $94 Million to Eight American Companies to Accelerate SMR Deployments and Develop Supply Chain

LCG, May 14, 2026--The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the selection of eight companies to support the near-term deployment of advanced light-water small modular reactors (SMRs) in the United States. The DOE states that awardees will collectively receive more than $94 million in Federal cost-shared funding to spur additional Gen III+ SMR deployments by addressing key gaps that have hindered the domestic nuclear industry in licensing, supply chain, and site preparation.

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Industry News

Lake Michigan Silt Closes AEP's Cook Nuke

LCG, Aug. 30, 2001--American Electric power Co. said this morning that the 1,100 megawatt Unit 2 of its Cook nuclear power plant at Benton Harbor, Mich., was being taken off line because of the intrusion of Lake Michigan silt into its cooling water systems.

"The silt was drawn in by plant water intake pipes and degraded cooling water systems required for plant safety equipment and back-up power sources," AEP said in a statement.

Silty water is a fine abrasive and can literally grind down the moving parts of a system in which it circulates. AEP said Unit 1 at Cook, a twin of Unit 2, was taken off line on Monday to replace a circulating water pump discharge valve. The company did not say silt was what made the replacement necessary but did say that silt intrusion affects the cooling water systems for both units.

Three huge pipes, each 16 feet across, bring water from one-half mile out in Lake Michigan into the plant. It is not surprising that silt -- and an occasional boat -- would find its way into the plant's systems.

AEP was unable to say how long the units would be shut down, but said return-to-service schedules for both units will be established following an investigation to determine the cause of the silt intrusion.

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