P.M. BRIEFING : Owners Reject Rancho Seco Bidder
From Times Wire Services
SACRAMENTO —
Sacramento Municipal Utility District directors voted late Monday to reject a proposal by Quadrex Corp. to buy and restart the Rancho Seco nuclear power plant.
The surprise 5-0 vote was led by director Cliff Wilcox, a longtime supporter of nuclear power and Rancho Seco, who gave a reluctant and emotional rejection of the Quadrex proposal.
Wilcox said he doubts that Quadrex has either sufficient technical expertise or the money to start the plant and keep it running. “In my estimation, it’s not a deal that can fly,” he said.
Monday’s vote appeared to end Rancho Seco’s role as a nuclear plant, because Quadrex was the only company to propose reviving its nuclear reactor. Other proposals to convert it to natural gas operation could resurface.
