Rowe previously held CEO positions at the New England Electric System and Central Maine Power Co., served as general counsel of Consolidated Rail Corp., and was a partner in the law firm of Isham, Lincoln & Beale. He also was a past chairman of Edison Electric Institute.

In a 2012 profile by the New York Times, Rowe was credited with fixing what the newspaper called “Exelon’s array of broken-down nuclear-power reactors” and pushing through a deregulation agenda that left the company better off “at the cost of giving the public less say in what customers pay.” He also moved Smart Grid legislation through the Illinois state legislature and put together the $8 billion purchase of Constellation Energy.

At the time, he was no champion of renewable energy resources. The profile quoted him as saying, “A dinosaur cannot save itself from extinction by mating with a rodent.”

Rowe also advocated for letting market forces work to move the generation fleet toward clean energy. In a November 2011 keynote address at the Bipartisan Policy Center, he said “Letting the market work, not imposing new mandates and subsidies, is the right way to transition the electricity generation fleet to clean energy while maintaining reliability and affordability.”

Rowe held undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Wisconsin, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and the Order of the Coif. He also received that university’s Distinguished Alumni Award. He also was awarded honorary doctorates from the University of Wisconsin, DePaul University, Illinois Institute of Technology, Drexel University, University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, Bryant College, Thomas College and Dominican University.

In his 2011 keynote, Rowe reflected on his 28-year career and credited his success as a utility executive on an “unflagging commitment to continuous learning,” a personal appreciation and regard for the people who make up the organization, and what he termed “leading somewhere worth going.”

Exelon is spinning off Exelon Generation. The separation gives both the Utilities and Generation companies financial and strategic independence to focus on specific customer needs, according to the statement.

“Our industry is changing at a rapid pace and our customers expect us to continuously innovate to stay ahead of growing demand for clean energy, evolving business conditions and changing technology,” said Christopher M. Crane, president and CEO of Exelon. “Now is the right time to take this step to best serve our customers, employees, community partners and shareholders. These are two strong, distinct businesses that will benefit from the strategic flexibility to focus on their unique customer, market and community priorities.”

Exelon Generation’s Michael Shue spoke in this month’s POWERGEN+ series

Exelon Generation operates power plants across the spectrum of nuclear, natural gas, wind, solar and hydro facilities. The nuclear fleet is the largest of any utility in the U.S., with 21 reactors generating carbon-free power.

Capacity of the overall generation fleet totals 31,000 MW, including 18,000 MW nuclear and 12,000 MW in wind, solar, hydro, gas and oil-fired power.

Exelon’s full regulated transmission and distribution utilities deliver electricity and natural gas to more than 10 million customers across five states and the District of Columbia. Those utilities include Atlantic City Electric in southern New Jersey, BGE in central Maryland, ComEd in northern Illinois, Delmarva Power in Delaware and eastern Maryland, Pepco in Washington, D.C., and central Maryland, and PECO in southeastern Pennsylvania.

Exelon’s current shareholders will keep their shares and receive a prorated portion of shares in the spinoff entity under the tax-free separation plan, according to reports. The split is expected to be closed next year. 

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Owner FirstEnergy is transferring the license to TMI-2 Solutions, a subsidiary of Utah-based radioactive waste disposal firm EnergySolutions. FirstEnergy Companies, comprising Metropolitan Edison Co., Jersey Central Power and Light Co., Pennsylvania Electric Co. and GPU Nuclear Inc., requested the transfer for TMI-2 Solutions to complete the decommissioning of the unit.

The operational part of Three Mile Island was shut down for good last year. Owner Exelon decided to end operations after a financial rescue package did not come from Pennsylvania legislators.

The TMI-2 reactor, located approximately 10 miles southeast of Harrisburg, Pa., operated for approximately six months before suffering reactor core damage on March 28, 1979. Subsequently, about 99 percent of the fuel and damaged reactor core material was removed and shipped to the Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory, and in 1993 the plant was placed in a Post-Defueling Monitored Storage status.

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See our complete coverage of all things nuclear

The license currently authorizes only possession of byproduct and special nuclear materials remaining at the reactor. The NRC review determined that the proposed transfer complies with NRC regulatory requirements, provides reasonable assurance that public health and safety will be protected, and is not detrimental to the common defense and security.

The approval is effective immediately, and the license will be amended to reflect the new ownership once the sale of Unit 2 is completed.

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Nuclear power, from Southern Co.’s Vogtle expansion project to the future of advanced and small next-gen reactor technologies, was front and center in the November sessions of the POWERGEN+ series online. December will focus on digitalization, cybersecurity and O&M. Registration is free and content is archived for a year. Click here to get more information.

The 33-year-old Unit 2 is being taken offline early in October for 19 days of maintenance, refueling and upgrades. The workforce employed on the project includes 700 employees of owner Exelon as well as 1,200 additional contractors.

“Byron Station provides safe, reliable carbon-free electricity to more than 2 million homes and businesses in Northern Illinois and plays a critical role powering hospitals, regional response centers and essential businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic,” reads a company statement on the outage project. “The station’s workforce of highly trained employees and skilled contractors knows the critical role they play in the upcoming refueling outage and are subject to additional precautions to ensure they remain healthy during the pandemic, including rigorous self-screening for signs of fever or respiratory issues before reporting to work.”

The work at the Illinois plant will focus on refueling 1/3 of the reactor, equipment repairs, inspections and preventive maintenance items. Exelon is reducing the scope of the outage goals to decrease the workforce by 425 due to COVID=19 concerns.

See how the power industry has handled COVID-19 challenges

Crews will replace circulating water valves, buried piping and also digitally upgrade main control room monitoring functions.

Unit 2 generates about 1,136 MW of carbon-free power at capacity. It houses a Westinghouse pressurized water reactor.

The 1,164-MW Unit 1 was shut down for a temporary outage and refueling earlier this year.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission renewed Bryon Generating Station’s licenses five years ago, allowing the units to operate through 2044 and 2046, according to reports.

Last month, Exelon announced it was closing both Byron units and the Dresden nuclear station sometime in 2021, despite the long-term operational approval by the NRC. The utility blamed market rules which, it said, favor carbon-emitting power plants.

The dual-fuel Mystic Generating Station, in one form or another, has been providing power to the Boston area since the 1940s. Exelon took ownership of the gas and petroleum-fired facilities as part of its merger with Constellation in 2012.

The first Mystic gas-fired units have been retired for some time, but Units 7, 8 and 9 are now being phased out. Unit 7 and Mystic Jet will cease operations next year, while Units 8 and 9 will be closed when the cost of service agreement expires in May 2024.

The Exelon statement partially blamed the decision on changes by the independent system operator ISO-New England which it said negatively impacted the station’s reliability benefits.

“We appreciate FERC’s consideration of our complaint that challenged the process ISO-NE is using to replace Mystic’s reliability benefits to Boston, and while we disagree with their order, we accept it,: reads the Exelon Generation statement. “As a result of the order, we currently do not see a path to continue commercial electric generation at Mystic Generating Station.”

The utility originally planed to shutter Mystic two years ago but scrapped that due to area power needs.

See more PE stories about Exelon operations

Exelon added it has not yet made a decision on the fate of its nearby Everett Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Facility.

“We are continuing to evaluate Everett’s future and are hopeful that it will continue to operate following Mystic’s retirement,” the statement reads. “Everett is strategically located, with interconnections to two interstate pipelines and a natural gas distribution system, and a large LNG trucking operation. Marketers and utilities in the Northeast have relied on LNG from Everett for decades as an integral peaking fuel to supplement their pipeline supplies.”

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The 708-MW Mystic Unit 8 and 714-MW Unit 9 on 2-on-1 combined cycle gas turbine operations. Unit 7 has generation capacity of 575 MW and can run on natural gas or oil.

The Mystic Jet is a 9-MW oil-fueled peaking unit.

Environmental groups have pushed to close Mystic for several years. The city of Everett also has challenged Exelon on tax issues related to the property value, according to the Everett Leader Herald news website .

(Rod Walton is content director for Power Engineering and POWERGEN International. He can be reached at 918-831-9177 and rod.walton@clarionevents.com).

The Low-Carbon Resources Initiative (LCRI) is an international collaborative spanning the electric and gas sectors that aims to help advance global, economy-wide deep decarbonization. With 18 anchor sponsors, the LCRI leverages the collaborative research model employed by both companies, bringing industry stakeholders together to conduct clean energy R&D for society’s benefit. Seeded with $10 million from the EPRI collaborative, funding for the initiative is expected to be leveraged many times over its $100 million target through public and private collaboration.

Sponsors of the initiative include:

American Electric Power, Con Edison, Dominion Energy, Duke Energy, Exelon Corporation, Lincoln Electric System, Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, Missouri River Energy Services, Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Americas, National Fuel, New York Power Authority, Portland General Electric, PPL Corporation, Salt River Project, SoCalGas, Southern California Edison, Southern Company, and the Tennessee Valley Authority

The LCRI is targeting advancements in low-carbon electric generation technologies and low-carbon energy carriers, such as hydrogen, ammonia, synthetic fuels and biofuels. This worldwide collaborative will:

• Identify and accelerate fundamental development of promising technologies,
• Demonstrate and assess the performance of key technologies and processes, and
• Inform key stakeholders and the public about technology options and potential pathways to a low-carbon future.

EPRI President Arshad Mansoor, said, “Achieving ambitious targets will require technologies and processes beyond those widely available today. This global initiative will advance affordable pathways to economy-wide decarbonization.”

“This initiative advances the next-generation clean energy technologies that are critical to achieving net zero emissions within Dominion Energy and across the broader economy. Hydrogen is one of the most promising of these innovations because of its potential to decarbonize many sectors, including power generation, heating, transportation, shipping and manufacturing,” said Mark Webb, Chief Innovation Officer, Dominion Energy.

“This partnership will further efforts to initiate new highly-technical research projects that will address LADWP’s evolving needs and engage in new low-carbon channels for the generation, delivery and end use of electricity in ways that support reliability, sustainability and efficiency,” said Reiko Kerr, Senior Assistant General Manager, Power System Engineering, Planning, and Technical Services, LADWP

Learn more about the LCRI at www.LowCarbonLCRI.com.

The Chicago-based utility holding company’s non-profit Exelon Foundation is bringing back its annual STEM Innovation Leadership Academy, but making it a virtual event as so many others in this pandemic era. The event, started last year, will connect 180 female students with access to STEM leaders, educational tools and learning opportunities, Exelon Corp. CEO Chris Crane said.

“It is imperative that we engage, educate and inspire the next generation of STEM leaders and provide them the tools and encouragement they need to prepare for future professional careers,” Crane said. “Despite the pandemic, we have found innovative ways to provide these young women with an enriching STEM experience this summer.”

Technology sectors will offer the fastest growing job potential in the future, according to multiple business forecasts. Sensoring, blockchain, the internet of things and artificial intelligence are among the STEM fields which will push the utility power industry forward.

Each year the Exelon Foundation holds the STEM Academy events in cities where Exelon has operating companies. Hosted in conjunction with the United Nations Women HeForShe initiative, the 2020 iteration of the Academy will be held for students in Chicago (underway this week), Philadelphia (July 27-31), and Washington D.C./Baltimore (August 3-7).

See more of our coverage on COVID-19 and its impact in the power sector.

As part of the three week-long Academy events, 60 high school girls in each market will participate in online educational seminars and discussions, hands-on workshops using tools and other items sent to them beforehand as part of a STEM Supply Kit, and even virtual field trips to noteworthy STEM-related landmarks in their hometowns. This year’s Academy event will place a special focus on addressing the growing impacts of climate change and the disproportionate ways it is affecting the most under-resourced populations.

Students will be challenged to design their own energy-efficient product prototypes, with a panel of judges selecting a winning project at the conclusion of each Academy. The 2020 Academy, funded by the Exelon Foundation, is part of Exelon’s $3 million investment to encourage and support the involvement of young women in STEM.

Exelon Corp. is composed of numerous power utility businesses, including Commonwealth Edison, Baltimore Gas & Electric, Pepco, Constellation, Delmarva Power and Exelon Generation. ComEd also leads in STEM activities for Chicago-area female student with events such as its Icebox Derby (pictured), where the participants turn old fridges into solar-powered racecars.

The utilities serve more than 10 million customers in the upper Midwest and Atlantic U.S. regions.

Clarity and confidence in the future may be what we all need most. An upcoming webcast will have a roster of top-level utility leadership discussing the changes they are making in both protecting employees and providing the services needed and demanded by customers.

This 11 a.m. ET Wednesday, May 13 webcast will feature Commonwealth Edison President and Chief Operating Officer Terry Donnelly, Entergy Corp. Chief Operating Officer Paul Hinnenkamp, and Derin M. Bluhm, Chief Technology Officer for the Grant County Public Utility District in Washington state.

“Managing your Workforce during a Pandemic” will focus on all facets of the coronavirus challenges facing the utilities. Whether it’s a large or small service territory, whether it’s the generation or transmission & distribution side, utility workers are out on their own version of the front lines.

This webcast will look at the challenges from the operational standpoint of the utility leaders. How do they protect employees who need to get access to equipment, work in a control room, ride together to jobs while trying to maintain distance?

These three top utility leaders will provide answers to these questions and many more on May 13. Click here to register for the free webcast.

Sponsors of “Managing your Workforce during a Pandemic” include Beekeeper, Clevest, Travelers Alliance Group and Arcos.

Rod Walton, content director of Power Engineering and conference advisory chair for POWERGEN International, will be moderator for this webcast.

The money will support efforts in California, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. The organizations which will receive support from Southern include Meals on Wheels, American Red Cross, Salvation Army and United Way, among others.

Much of the support effort will take place in Southern Co.’s native Georgia. Subsidiary Atlanta Gas Light is working with the Georgia Public Service Commission and Georgia Watch on the utility’s plan to allocate $1 million toward supplemental low-income energy assistance, particularly for the elderly.

“These are unprecedented times, and it’s more important than ever for us to engage with those who know our communities’ needs best,” said Kim Greene, chairman, president and CEO of Southern Company Gas. “Whether it’s supporting health care providers and first responders or agencies focused on helping businesses and their employees get back on their feet, we are committed to providing resources where they are needed most.”

Southern’s contributions follow those of numerous other utilities nationwide, including Pacific Gas & Electric and Exelon Corp., which also are making million-dollar contributions to coronavirus relief efforts.

Centered in a state which officially has gone into a “shelter in place” order by Newsom, PG&E is donating 480,000 N95 masks and 470,000 surgical masks to the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services for distribution to California hospitals and other first responders. Hospitals are facing a critical shortage of personal protective equipment during this crisis.

PG&E and The PG&E Corporation Foundation also announced they will contribute $1 million to nonprofits focused on supporting individuals and families facing food insecurity, as well as small businesses to help with the uncertainty and economic impacts of the public health emergency. These donations come from shareholder funds, not customers, according to the release.

PG&E has delivered 20,000 N95 masks and 20,000 surgical masks directly to the Kaiser Permanente Livermore receiving center. Kaiser has an immediate and critical need for the protective masks for its medical professionals.

“As a company and as individuals, we recognize the need to support the medical community and all they’re doing to help safeguard the health and safety of our fellow Californians,” PG&E CEO Andy Vesey said. “This crisis is unprecedented, but we know that our path forward requires us working together and helping medical professionals and first responders on the front lines of the pandemic. Helping our state and local communities is part of who we are at PG&E. It’s the right thing to do.”

The state has reported nearly 400 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, with 27 deaths. The virus was unknown at the beginning of the year.

San Diego-based Sempra Energy’s Southern California Gas last week donated $1 million in donations to nonprofit organizations. Southern California Edison, another of the state’s major utilities, also announced suspension of service disconnections during the crisis.

Elsewhere in the country, scores of utilities are stepping up to help customers and those afflicted. Chicago-based utility holding company Exelon Corp. has contributed $1.15 million toward coronavirus response and relief.