Michigan Nuclear Power Plant Increases Capacity by 1.66%

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Researched by Industrialinfo.com (Industrial Information Resources, Incorporated; Houston, Texas). Indiana Michigan Power Company (Fort Wayne, Indiana) a totally owned subsidiary of American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) (Columbus, Ohio) has recently received approval by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to increase the generating capacity of its Donald C. Cook Unit 01 from 1,077 megawatts (MW) to 1,095 MW (an 18 MW or 1.66% increase).

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Donald C. Cook is a nuclear power plant whose units went commercial in August 1975 (unit 01) and July 1978 (unit 02). Both units are pressurized water reactors that were designed and built by Westinghouse Corporation. The steam turbine/generators were made by General Electric for unit 01 and by Asea Brown Boveri for unit 02. The approved increase for unit 01 will allow for improved control and monitoring, ensuring the unit's peak performance.

A spokesman for the plant stated that with another approval from the NRC, similar improvements are in the future outlook for unit 02.

Donald C. Cook Nuclear Station is located south of Benton Harbor, Michigan on a 650-acre site in Berrion County on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. The station employs approximately 900 personnel and currently has licenses through 2014 for unit 01and 2017 for unit 02. If AEP follows the current trend, these licenses will be extended through 2034 and 2037 respectively.

American Electric Power is an energy company with a balanced portfolio of energy assets. It owns and operates more than 42,000 MW of generating capacity domestically and internationally, and is the largest electricity generator in the United States. AEP is a wholesale marketer of energy commodities that utilizes its energy expertise and risk management skills to optimize the use of its generation, natural gas pipeline systems, natural gas storage, and coal mines. AEP is one of the largest electric utilities in the U. S., with almost five million customers linked to their eleven-state power transmission and distribution grid.