Nuclear Regulatory Commission said Tuesday it had approved the transfer of the license for the La Crosse Nuclear Plant in Genoa, Wis., from its owner Dairyland Power Cooperative to La Crosse Solutions LLC, a subsidiary of radioactive waste disposal specialist Energy Solutions LLC.
The plant has not produced power since 1987. The operating license at that time was modified to reflect the plant's next cycle, which was as a storage facility for the remaining fuel on the premises and as a site earmarked for decommissioning.
Dairyland submitted an application to the NRC requesting transfer of the storage and decommissioning license to La Crosse Solutions on Oct. 8, 2015. The purpose of the transfer is to allow La Crosse Solutions to expedite the decommissioning process.
Dairyland will remain the owner of the site and retain title to and responsibility for the spent nuclear fuel on the property, which is currently stored in dry casks. La Crosse Solutions will lease the above-ground structures other than the spent fuel storage site. They will also assume responsibility for decommissioning activities under NRC regulations.
Energy Solutions entered into a similar arrangement concerning the decommissioning of the Zion nuclear power plant in Illinois in 2010.