KEWAUNEE, WI (WTAQ) - The Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant has been allowed to shut down permanently in the next few months, after it was found that the Midwest power grid will not lose reliability as a result.

Dominion Resources said last fall it would shut down the plant as soon as April, because it could not find a buyer – and it could not reach a new agreement with utilities to buy power.

That’s because it’s cheaper for utilities to buy wholesale power made from natural gas than from nuclear power.

Before it could close, the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator had to determine that the regional power grid would not be less reliable due to the shutdown.

The Kewaunee plant has been operating since 1974. Dominion Resources of Virginia bought it in 2005.

The nearby Point Beach Nuclear Plant at Two Rivers will keep operating. It has utility power purchase agreements that run through the early 2030’s, when that plant’s operating license is due to expire.