"Brand new auxiliary feed water pumps, main feed water pumps. All of those things that are used not only for generation but as well as those systems we need in event of something that doesn't go right. So we able to take control and shut down the plant," said NextEra Point Beach Director of Work Management Rob Haarsch.
That's boosted Point Beach's generating capacity to 12-hundred megawatts, or enough to power 900-thousand homes. Additional upgrades and refueling are set for the near future. For NextEra, Point Beach plays a key role in the company's strategy.
"Roughly 20-percent of our generation mix is nuclear power. So we want to make sure that we are able to have that along with other diverse energy products," said Haarsch.
That's boosted Point Beach's generating capacity to 12-hundred megawatts, or enough to power 900-thousand homes. Additional upgrades and refueling are set for the near future. For NextEra, Point Beach plays a key role in the company's strategy.
"Roughly 20-percent of our generation mix is nuclear power. So we want to make sure that we are able to have that along with other diverse energy products," said Haarsch.
The investments and upgrades at Point Beach were made based on demands of primary customers like WE Energies.
"We have a life extension for the next 20-years for the site. We have a power purchase agreement in for the length of the plant," Haarsch said. "It allows us to be predictable which I think is just one of the keys to help predict the market."
And keep nearly 700 employees working and millions of dollars flowing into the local economy.
Local 5's Terry Kovarik has the story.
