State Senator Joe Pennacchio has urged state officials to investigate the possibility of recommissioning or replacing the Oyster Creek Nuclear Power Plant in Lacey Township, New Jersey. The plant, which was owned by Exelon and is now under Holtec International, closed in 2018 after Exelon opted not to invest $800 million in environmental upgrades, including a new cooling tower. The shutdown was approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
Pennacchio questioned why significant subsidies are being directed toward offshore wind projects while no effort was made to retrofit Oyster Creek, which previously supplied up to 10% of New Jersey’s electricity.
“The State gave away a billion dollars in subsidies and tax credits to the Orsted project and now it is defunct,” said Pennacchio. “New Jersey citizens have never seen an ounce of electricity produced from it.”
He also pointed out that other green energy projects, such as those in Paulsboro and the New Jersey Wind Port in Salem County, have cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. According to Pennacchio, the Economic Development Authority (EDA) is currently considering alternative uses for the Salem County port projects after spending $600 million on them.
“Other projects in Paulsboro, NJ and the New Jersey Wind Port in Salem County have also cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars,” Pennacchio continued. “The EDA is currently exploring ‘other uses’ for the Salem County port projects meaning that the $600 million project is also defunct. Just another waste of money on these green environmental schemes.”
Pennacchio referenced recent NRC approval allowing Michigan’s Palisades Nuclear Plant—also owned by Holtec—to restart operations as a possible precedent for action at Oyster Creek.
“Certainly, if Michigan can restart a decommissioned power plant, we should minimally look into it at Oyster Creek. If not re-starting Oyster Creek, let’s take advantage of the transmission infrastructure and create a new modern safe nuclear replacement,” said the Senator.
The senator has written letters to the State Economic Development Authority, Board of Public Utilities (BPU), and Governor seeking discussions about options for Oyster Creek. He is working on legislation to bring stakeholders together to evaluate potential actions at the site.
The letter sent by Senator Pennacchio to BPU President Guhl-Sadovy on August 27, 2025, is available online.
