(Radio Iowa) – NextEra energy has cleared another procedural hurdle in restarting Iowa’s only nuclear power plant with federal regulatory approval to connect to the power grid. NextEra’s director of nuclear development Garrett Goldfinger spoke at a Linn County board of supervisors meeting before the federal request was approved.  “This project will build upon NextEra’s history of major energy investments in the state, which total more than three billion dollars since 1999,” he says. “We’re looking forward to continued collaboration with the county, the state and this administration as we continue to advance critical milestones on the project.”

Linn County Planning and Development Director Charlie Nichols recently told county supervisors the power supply is facing growing demand.  “This demand is straining the grid and promoting utilities to look for more power sources, including nuclear power. So, we’re seeing a demand for more electricity from data centers, from electrification of vehicles and just the general electrification of things,” Nichols says. The plant in Palo operated from 1975 until it was shut down after the 2020 derecho.

Next Era plans to invest between 50 and 100 million dollars in the recommissioning the plant. The Linn County supervisors have approved the first reading of new land-use standards for operating nuclear-power generating facilities.