States that want to subsidize nuclear power plants got a boost from the U.S. Supreme Court April 15 when it refused to hear a petition challenging a lower court decision that certain subsidies do not interfere with federal regulatory authority. Challengers say the question now is left to federal regulators.
Two lower courts previously upheld zero-emissions subsidy programs in New York and Illinois that provide payments to nuclear plants that could no longer compete with low-cost fossil generation.