Shuttered Oyster Creek Power Plant Could Get New Life Under Proposal

LACEY, NJ — The shuttered Oyster Creek Power Plant could get a new life with a proposal that officials say could double the amount of electricity the plant produces.

Holtec International, which owns the plant, said they want to build four small nuclear reactors on the site. After building these reactors, the site would have enough land leftover to install a solar energy capture plant, officials said.

"Oyster Creek would be the country’s first nuclear–solar hybrid systems site and produce over 1350 MW of clean electricity, more than twice the amount it generated before shutting down in 2019," Holtec said.

The Lacey Township Committee shared this news at a recent meeting. Deputy Mayor Steven Kennis said that energy prices are rising and demand is also increasing due to data centers, which consume much more energy than other buildings. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, data centers consume 10 to 50 times the energy per floor space of a typical commercial office building. And as AI usage grows, data center usage is also expected to grow.

Kennis and the other Township Committee members have supported the redevelopment of the site, both for energy reasons and for local economic reasons.

"I don't speak for all of us, but I'm reasonably certain that we will continue to support the redevelopment of the Oyster Creek property while ensuring the safety and the economic benefit for our residents," Kennis said.

Holtec recently shared their vision before a joint session of the State’s Senate Environment and Energy Committee and the Assembly Environment, Natural Resources, and Solid Waste Committee.

The company hopes to model what they do in Lacey after what they're working on at a shuttered facility in Michigan. Holtec is reopening the Palisades nuclear plant there with two of the smaller reactors. It's the first time a shuttered nuclear plant has been allowed to reopen.

"This is good news for Lacey Township," Committeeman Tim McDonald said, citing jobs the project would create in town.

No formal proposals have been made.

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