Plans have been made and a shutdown date has been set but a Sturgeon Bay businessman thinks he has an ideal solution to secure a buyer for Kewaunee's nuclear power plant.
Perry Andropolis of Uncubed Studios and former owner of Perry's Cherry Diner in Sturgeon Bay says he believes a large company like Google or Microsoft could purchase the Kewaunee Power Station and use the facility -- or a spot close to it -- to house a data center, a "server farm" containing hundreds or even thousands of computers.
Andropolis says he just assumed Dominion would find a buyer for the plant but when he heard they didn't and the facility would be shut down he says he was "appalled."
Andropolis has sent letters about his idea to heavy-hitters in the business world, including billionaire Warren Buffett.
Andropolis says the risk factor remains whether the facility shuts down or stays open.
"No matter what you do you're going to have the risk because the waste stays at the plant site whether it's open or closed," says Andropolis. "So why not keep that thing running?"
Andropolis says he thinks tech companies, with their thirst to develop power-hungry data centers, would be eager to explore such a venture.
You can read Andropolis' blog on the subject here: Can Google or Microsoft Save the Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant?.
Dominion Resources, Inc. announced last October that it would be closing the plant because of the declining price of energy and its inability to find a buyer. A May 7 shutdown is planned.
