Nuclear plant loses power; Biden OPEC response; loan forgiveness website

The embattled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant lost power again; President Joe Biden said there will be “consequences” for Saudi Arabia after OPEC’s oil cut; and the White House released a preview of the upcoming student loan forgiveness application website. These stories highlight the Daily Rundown for Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022.

Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant loses power – International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Grossi announced Wednesday that Europe’s largest nuclear power facility has lost all external power needed for vital safety systems for the second time in five days. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is located in Ukraine but is currently surrounded by Russian troops. Grossi announced the “deeply worrying development” a day after sitting down with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“We do have issues that have to do with the nuclear safety, the nuclear security, in particular the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant,” Grossi told President Putin. “I have been displaying efforts to try to avoid a nuclear accident that could be very detrimental in general terms and in particular in the region.”

Biden responds to OPEC oil cut – President Biden appeared to place the blame for last week’s OPEC oil cut on Saudi Arabia, vowing “consequences” for the kingdom. On Tuesday, the White House announced the administration is reevaluating its relationship with Saudi Arabia, saying the oil cut will help Russia continue to fund its invasion of Ukraine.

“Well, we believe by by the decision that OPEC+ made last week they certainly are aligning themselves with Russia,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at her daily briefing. “And right now, this is not a time to be aligning with Russia, especially with this brutal, unprecedented war that they have started in in Ukraine.”

Student loan forgiveness application website – The White House shared a PDF file with reporters showing what the upcoming student loan forgiveness application website will look like. Officials said the website will be live “later this month” but declined to provide a specific launch date. Applications will be open through December 2023.

The student loan forgiveness plan has been the source of legal challenges, and the Education Department has changed who is eligible for relief. A U.S. district judge could decide Wednesday whether to temporarily block the program from taking effect. Administration officials confirmed Tuesday that they still expect the application to be available in October.

The Associated Press and CNN contributed to this report.