Early estimates peg total severance costs, including retention payments, at $45 million. The arrangements raise four key questions:

1. Why did the utility sign the bonus agreements to keep workers at the nuclear plant even before its board had voted to actually close the plant?

2. Why do workers who already are getting an average of $64,000 in severance pay need even more pay to be enticed to stay on the job?

3. Why did the retention agreements not include an “out” clause that would have rescinded the agreements if the OPPD board had voted to keep the plant open? As the contracts were written — and signed — the utility would have been on the hook to pay the bonuses even if the board had voted to keep Fort Calhoun churning out power.

4. And how hot is the jobs market for nuclear professionals, anyway? It is an industry that has seen five plant shutdowns throughout the U.S. in the past five years that will lead to pink slips for 5,000 workers. In other words, were retention bonuses needed for employees in an industry on the decline?

OPPD says it has answers to the questions.

On bonus agreements signed before the board voted