There is another sign of hope for the FitzPatrick Nuclear Plant in Scriba, as current owner Entergy plans to proceed with refueling the facility.
Entergy had been planning to decommission FitzPatrick, until a last-minute purchase offer was made by Exelon, which owns two other nuclear plants in the area.
The sale was approved by the state Public Service Commission last week, but it still needs to be approved by federal agencies.
Entergy plans to refuel this January, as late as possible, but they expect the process to be done by the time the sale closes.
Officials say they remain prepared to decommission the plant if necessary, but they say that appears much less likely after last week.