The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission began a special inspection last week at South Texas Project nuclear power plant into two incidents at the site, which led to separate, unplanned shutdowns of both Units 1 and 2.

• On May 12, a transformer that supplies off-site power to the station shut down unexpectedly and took Unit 2 off line.
• On July 24, a fire in an electrical switchyard at the site caused an unplanned shutdown of Unit 1.

CPS Energy has become a founding member of the Texas Nuclear Alliance and is also the alliance’s first electric utility provider member. CPS Energy owns 40 percent of the two-unit South Texas Project nuclear power plant, in Bay City, Tex.

Constellation Energy announced last week that it has completed its acquisition of NRG Energy’s 44 percent ownership stake in the South Texas Project nuclear power plant.

The Texas Advanced Nuclear Reactor Working Group—formed recently by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) at the direction of Gov. Greg Abbott—hosted its first public meeting last Thursday to discuss the group’s organizational structure and outline a plan to turn Texas into a national leader in the use of advanced nuclear energy.