Sign up for our daily briefing
Make your busy days simpler with Axios AM/PM. Catch up on what's new and why it matters in just 5 minutes.
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Denver news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Denver
Des Moines news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Des Moines
Minneapolis-St. Paul news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Twin Cities
Tampa Bay news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Tampa Bay
Charlotte news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Charlotte
Three Mile Island in Middletown, Pennsylvania. Photo: Jeff Fusco/Getty Images
Three Mile Island nuclear power plant will begin a planned shutdown on June 1 now that owner Exelon confirmed it won't receive financial aid from Pennsylvania's government, AP reports.
The impact: Nuclear provides 94% of Pennsylvania's carbon-free electricity. Coal and natural gas plants — which burn fuel cheaper, but emit carbon dioxide — are expected to make up for the lost power. As for jobs, the plant employs nearly 700 people.
The intrigue: Three Mile Island was the site of America's worst nuclear-energy accident in 1979. One reactor shut down following that, which has created extra financial hurdles for the plant since.
The big picture: Nuclear power plants aren’t compensated for their carbon-free profiles like wind and solar, so plants across the country are being financially squeezed in similar situations. One-third of America’s nuclear power could be taken offline in the next few years, while as much as two-thirds could be unprofitable in the same amount of time, according to MIT research.
What's next: The plant will be offline by Sept. 30, according to Exelon.
Go deeper: As climate change worsens, America faces more nuclear closures ("Axios on HBO" segment)