PNO-III-86-034, on 860407,util Announced Plans to Convert Facility to Be Fueled by Natural Gas.Const on Facility Halted on 840716 Because of Financial & Rate Uncertainties. Conversion Phase to Be Completed in 1990

PNO-III-86-034:on 860407,util Announced Plans to Convert Facility to Be Fueled by Natural Gas.Const on Facility Halted on 840716 Because of Financial & Rate Uncertainties. Conversion Phase to Be Completed in 1990

ML20202E814
Person / Time
Site:	Midland
Issue date:	04/08/1986
From:	Strasma R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
To:
References
PNO-III-86-034, PNO-III-86-34, NUDOCS 8604140052
Download: ML20202E814 (1)

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PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE--PNO-III-86-34 Date April 8,1986

'This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE safety cr public interest significance. The information is as initially received without v;rification or evaluation, and is basically all that is known by the Region III staff on this date.

Facility: Consumers Power Company Midland Units 1 & 2 Licensee Emergency Classification:

Midland, MI Notification of an Unusual Event Alert Docket No: 50-329; 50-330 Site Area Emergency General Emergency XX Not Applicable

Subject:

PROPOSED CONVERSION OF MIDLAND TO NATURAL GAS On April 7,1986, Consumers Powr Company announced that it was seeking approval from the Michigan Public Service Commission to convert the Midland Nuclear Power Station to be fueled by natural gas. Construction on Midland was halted on July 16, 1984, because of financial and rate uncertainties.

The conversion proposal includes, as the initial phase, the construction of 8 natural gas combustion turbines. The exhaust heat from the turbines would heat a boiler providing steam to th3 already exiting low pressure turbines for Midland Unit 1. (The high pressure turbine would not be used.)

The licensee said this phase would be completed in 1990 at a cost of $435 million. The combination of the gas turbines and the low pressure steam turbines would generate 730 megawatts of electricity. Unit I could be expanded by 435 megawatts with additional turbines. A further expansion could involve the conversion of Unit 2.

The utility said the natural gas conversion was the least costly of the alternatives cxamined, including completion of the plant's nuclear units, conversion to coal, or abandonment.

The utility issued a news announcement on April 7, 1986. The Region III Regional Administrator was informed of this proposal by the licensee at 4 p.m., (CST), April 7, 1986.

This information is current as of that time.

R. b trasma CONTACT:

~

FTS 388-5674 .

DISTRIBUTION:

H. St. ED0 NRR E/W Willste Mail: ADM:DMB YE 3 N Chairman Palladino PA IE NMSS D0T:Trans only Comm. Zech ELD OIA RES Comm. Bernthal AE0D Comm. Roberts Comm. Asselstine SP Nf Regional Offices 0l[

ACRS SECY , INP0 $ M NSAC h M RIII Resident Office CA PDR Licensee: 1.bX (Corp. Office - Reactor Lic. Only)

P [2860408 Region III PNO-III-86-034 PDR Rev. November 1985