**Comprehensive Report on Connecticut Yankee Power Station** Website: [connyankee.com](http://www.connyankee.com) ### Introduction The Connecticut Yankee Nuclear Power Plant, located in Haddam Neck, Connecticut, on the shores of the Connecticut River near the East Haddam Swing Bridge, was a pioneering nuclear facility in the United States. Commissioned on January 1, 1968, the plant was operated by the Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Company, a consortium of regional utilities at the time of its operation. The ownership structure was complex, involving multiple stakeholders, and it did not have a single parent company with a public ticker during its operational years. Construction began in 1964, and the plant became a key part of the regional energy infrastructure, marking one of the early commercial nuclear power endeavors in the country. Its history includes no major protests or delays during construction, though it faced economic challenges later in its operational life that led to its closure. The plant ceased electricity production on December 5, 1996, after 28 years of operation, due to economic reasons as operating costs became uncompetitive compared to other energy sources. Decommissioning began in 1998 and was completed by 2007, with the site restored to meet stringent state and [[Federal|federal]] cleanup standards. Currently, the site is no longer operational as a power-generating facility but maintains an Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) for the safe storage of spent nuclear fuel and Greater than Class C (GTCC) waste until the federal government removes it ([connyankee.com](http://www.connyankee.com), [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticut_Yankee_Nuclear_Power_Plant)). ### Technical Specifications | Specification | Details | |------------------------|-------------------------------| | Reactor Type | Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) | | Reactor Model | [[Westinghouse Electric Company|Westinghouse]] 4-loop design | | Number of Units | 1 | | Net Capacity (MWe) | 582 | | Thermal Capacity (MWt)| Not widely documented in recent sources | | Cooling System | Once-through (Connecticut River) | | Fuel Type | Uranium Dioxide (UO2) | | Commercial Operation | January 1, 1968 | | Grid Connection | Connected to regional grid (ISO-NE predecessor) | These specifications reflect the plant’s design as a prototype for the Westinghouse 4-loop model, which was significant in the evolution of nuclear reactor technology during the mid-20th century ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticut_Yankee_Nuclear_Power_Plant)). ### Licensing and Regulatory Status - **Original Operating License Date and Expiration**: The original operating license was issued in 1968 by the Atomic Energy Commission (predecessor to the NRC), with an initial term of 40 years, set to expire in 2008. - **License Renewal Status**: No renewal was sought due to the plant’s closure in 1996. - **Current NRC Oversight Status**: The site is under NRC oversight limited to the ISFSI. The federal license was reduced in 2007 to cover only the stand-alone ISFSI after decommissioning of the main plant structures was completed. - **Ongoing Regulatory Issues**: There are no significant ongoing regulatory issues reported in recent NRC documentation. The primary focus remains on the safe storage of spent fuel. - **Decommissioning Details**: The plant shut down on December 5, 1996, for economic reasons. Decommissioning used the DECON method (immediate dismantling), starting in 1998 and completing in 2007. All spent fuel was transferred to on-site dry storage by 2005, and it remains in the ISFSI awaiting federal removal ([NRC.gov](https://www.nrc.gov), [decommissioningcollaborative.org](https://decommissioningcollaborative.org/connecticut-yankee/)). ### Ownership and Operations - **Current Owner/Operator**: The Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Company, one of the "3 Yankee Companies," manages the ISFSI. It is an independent, single-asset entity focused on spent fuel storage rather than power generation. - **Parent Company Financial Position**: As an independent entity post-decommissioning, there is no parent company with public financial data or ticker. Historically, it was supported by a consortium of regional utilities. - **Employment and Economic Impact**: Employment is minimal, limited to security and maintenance staff for the ISFSI, with negligible economic impact compared to its operational years when it supported hundreds of jobs and local economies. - **Annual Generation**: Not applicable as the plant has not generated power since 1996 ([3yankees.com](https://3yankees.com/)). ### Recent News and Developments | Date | Event | Details | |--------------------|------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2023-2025 (Ongoing)| Spent Fuel Storage Oversight | Continued NRC oversight of ISFSI with no major incidents reported. | | 2021-01-22 | Historical Reflection | Connecticut History published an article reflecting on the plant’s legacy in nuclear power development ([connecticuthistory.org](https://connecticuthistory.org)). | | 2019-09-09 | Site Restoration Highlight | Nuclear Energy Institute noted the site as a successful case of decommissioning, with man-made radiation virtually eliminated ([nei.org](https://www.nei.org/news/2019/closed-nuclear-plant-leaves-behind-green-fields)). | | 2019-02-26 | Decommissioning Update | Nuclear Decommissioning Collaborative updated the status of the site, confirming completion of decommissioning in 2007 ([decommissioningcollaborative.org](https://decommissioningcollaborative.org/connecticut-yankee/)). | | 2018-2023 (Ongoing)| No New Developments | No significant events or changes in status reported in the last two years beyond routine ISFSI maintenance. | Given the plant’s decommissioned status, recent news is limited to historical reflections and ongoing spent fuel storage updates. No major regulatory actions, ownership changes, or license renewals have occurred in the past two years. ### Safety and Emergency Planning - **Emergency Planning Zone Details**: During operation, the Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) extended approximately 10 miles around the facility, standard for nuclear plants. Post-decommissioning, emergency planning is minimal and focused on the ISFSI, with reduced risk profiles. - **Notable Safety Features or Upgrades**: Historical safety features included robust containment design typical of PWRs. No significant upgrades were documented post-closure as the focus shifted to decommissioning. - **Historical Safety Incidents**: No major safety incidents or accidents (e.g., meltdowns or significant radiation releases) were widely reported during its operational history, though minor operational issues typical of early nuclear plants likely occurred ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticut_Yankee_Nuclear_Power_Plant)). ### Decommissioning Status - **Shutdown Date and Reason**: The plant shut down on December 5, 1996, due to economic unviability as operating costs exceeded revenue potential in a competitive energy market. - **Decommissioning Method and Timeline**: The DECON method was employed, involving immediate dismantling. Decommissioning started in 1998 and was completed by 2007, with all structures removed and the site restored to meet state and federal standards. - **Spent Fuel Storage Status**: All spent fuel was moved to dry cask storage in the on-site ISFSI by 2005. It remains there, securely stored 24/7 under NRC regulations, awaiting federal removal to a permanent repository. - **Site Reuse Potential**: The owners have not decided on the future use of the former plant site, and no timeline for such a decision has been established. The land, now largely free of man-made radiation, could potentially support other industrial or environmental uses ([decommissioningcollaborative.org](https://decommissioningcollaborative.org/connecticut-yankee/), [3yankees.com](https://3yankees.com/)). ### New Hampshire Relevance - **Geographic Proximity and Grid Interconnection**: Connecticut Yankee, located in Haddam Neck, CT, is approximately 100 miles south of [[New Hampshire]]’s border, making it regionally close. During operation, it contributed to the broader New England grid, now managed by ISO-NE, which serves New Hampshire. - **Power Supplied to ISO-NE Region**: While operational, it provided significant baseload power (over 110 billion kilowatt-hours over its lifetime) to the region, indirectly supporting New Hampshire’s energy needs. Post-closure, it has no direct impact on current supply. - **Lessons for NH Nuclear Policy**: The economic shutdown of Connecticut Yankee offers a cautionary tale for New Hampshire, home to [[Seabrook Station]], about the financial challenges of nuclear power in deregulated markets. It underscores the need for supportive policies or subsidies to maintain nuclear viability. - **Implications for Seabrook Station**: Seabrook, still operational, faces similar economic pressures as seen with Connecticut Yankee. The successful decommissioning of Connecticut Yankee could serve as a model if Seabrook were to close, particularly regarding spent fuel management and site restoration. - **Relevance to SMR Deployment Discussions**: Connecticut Yankee’s history as an early nuclear site highlights challenges with cost competitiveness, relevant to discussions on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in New Hampshire. SMRs are pitched as more economically viable, but the legacy of plants like Connecticut Yankee suggests caution in projecting long-term financial sustainability ([connyankee.com](http://www.connyankee.com)). ### Competitive Position Compared to other nuclear plants in the region, such as Seabrook Station in New Hampshire (1,244 MWe, operational since 1990) and [[Millstone Power Station]] in Connecticut (over 2,000 MWe combined, operational), Connecticut Yankee was smaller and older at the time of its closure. Its net capacity of 582 MWe was modest, and its 1968 commissioning made it one of the earliest commercial reactors, lacking modern efficiencies. Operating costs became prohibitive by the 1990s, unlike Seabrook, which benefits from newer technology and economies of scale, though it too faces market challenges. Reliability during operation was typical for its era but not competitive with newer plants by the time of shutdown. [[Vermont Yankee]], another regional plant (620 MWe, shut down in 2014), faced similar economic issues, reinforcing that older, smaller nuclear facilities struggle in competitive energy markets ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermont_Yankee_Nuclear_Power_Plant), [NRC.gov](https://www.nrc.gov)). ### Closing Note Connecticut Yankee remains a decommissioned site with its legacy limited to spent fuel storage, holding historical significance as an early nuclear power endeavor in the ISO-NE region. **RSS_FEED**: none (Note: No official RSS feed for press releases or news was found on the Connecticut Yankee website or related sources. The site [connyankee.com](http://www.connyankee.com) provides static information without an active news feed or investor relations section, consistent with its post-decommissioning status.) *Report generated December 24, 2025*