COURTESY PILGRIM NUCLEAR POWER STATION
PLYMOUTH – The company that plans to purchase the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth after it shuts down next year expects that it will take up eight years for the sight to be fully decommissioned.
Holtec International will take over the plant from Entergy once pilgrim officially goes off-line process in 2019.
The sales agreement include the transfer of the licenses, spent fuel, and Nuclear Decommissioning Trusts, as well as the site of the decommissioned Big Rock Point Nuclear Power Plant near, Charlevoix, Michigan, where only the Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation remains.
The transactions are subject to conditions to closing, including approvals from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission of the license transfers.
Holtec, which will also purchase Entergy’s Palisades Nuclear Plant in Michigan, expects to move all of the spent nuclear fuel out of the spent fuel pools and into dry cask storage within three years of the plants’ respective shutdowns.
“Transferring our Pilgrim and Palisades plants to Holtec, with its vast experience and innovative use of technology, will lead to their decommissioning faster than if they were to remain under Entergy’s ownership,” said Entergy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Leo Denault.
“Earlier decommissioning benefits the surrounding communities.”
The Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station, which has been operational for 46 years, employs about 600 nuclear professionals and generates 680 megawatts of virtually carbon-free electricity, enough to power more than 600,000 homes.
“We intend to deploy cutting-edge technologies to carry out the deconstruction of the plant structures with minimal impact on the environment and maximum personnel safety which are our core competencies. As a growing company, we look forward to exploring employment opportunities for Entergy employees dislocated by the plant’s decommissioning,” said Holtec President and CEO Dr. Kris Singh in a statement.
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