**Comprehensive Report on Maine Yankee Power Station** Website: [maineyankee.com](https://maineyankee.com) ### Introduction The Maine Yankee Power Station is located on an 820-acre site on Bailey Peninsula in Wiscasset, Maine, a small town along the state's mid-coast region. Commissioned in 1972, the plant was owned and operated by the Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company (MYAPC), a consortium of utility companies formed in 1966 to develop nuclear power in the region. There is no parent company with a publicly traded ticker as the entity was a collaborative effort among regional utilities, and it is now focused solely on managing decommissioning and waste storage. Construction began in 1968 and was completed in 1972, marking Maine Yankee as one of the early commercial nuclear power plants in the United States. Its history includes significant political contention, particularly during Maine's 1986 gubernatorial election when candidates debated its future, with some advocating for closure due to safety and economic concerns [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maine_Yankee_Nuclear_Power_Plant). The plant operated for 24 years until it was permanently shut down in August 1997 due to economic inviability, as repair costs for ongoing technical issues became prohibitive. Decommissioning began in 1998 and was completed in 2005, making Maine Yankee one of the first large commercial reactors to fully decommission. Currently, the site is no longer operational for power generation but serves as an interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel and Greater than Class C (GTCC) waste, awaiting final disposal by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) [maineyankee.com/about](https://maineyankee.com/about). ### Technical Specifications | Specification | Details | |------------------------|---------------------------------| | Reactor Type | Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) | | Reactor Model | Not specified in detail (general PWR design) | | Number of Units | 1 | | Net Capacity (MWe) | 860 MWe | | Thermal Capacity (MWt) | Not publicly detailed post-decommissioning | | Cooling System | Once-through cooling (river water, Sheepscot River estuary) | | Fuel Type | Uranium dioxide (enriched) | | Commercial Operation | 1972 | | Grid Connection | Connected to New England grid (ISO-NE) during operation | Data sourced from [maineyankee.com/decommissioning](https://maineyankee.com/decommissioning) and [decommissioningcollaborative.org](https://decommissioningcollaborative.org/maine-yankee). ### Licensing and Regulatory Status - **Original Operating License Date and Expiration**: Issued in 1972 for a 40-year term, set to expire in 2012. - **License Renewal Status**: Not applicable as the plant shut down in 1997 before renewal considerations. - **Current NRC Oversight Status**: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) oversees the site, now limited to the Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI). The [[Federal|federal]] license was reduced to cover only the ISFSI in 2005, and it will terminate after ISFSI decommissioning [NRC.gov](https://www.nrc.gov). - **Ongoing Regulatory Issues**: Recent exemptions have been granted by the NRC, including those requested on March 31, 2023, and issued in 2024 and 2025, related to storage and compliance with Certificate of Compliance terms for the ISFSI [Federal Register 2024](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/04/01/2024-06820/maine-yankee-atomic-power-company-maine-yankee-atomic-power-station-exemption) and [Federal Register 2025](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/02/05/2025-02253/maine-yankee-atomic-power-company-independent-spent-fuel-storage-installation-exemption-safety). - **Decommissioning Details**: Shutdown occurred on August 7, 1997, for economic reasons. Decommissioning used the DECON method (immediate dismantling), starting in 1998 and completing in 2005. Spent fuel was transferred to on-site dry storage by 2004, where it remains along with GTCC waste, pending DOE removal [maineyankee.com/decommissioning](https://maineyankee.com/decommissioning). ### Ownership and Operations - **Current Owner/Operator**: Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company (MYAPC) manages the site, specifically the ISFSI. - **Parent Company Financial Position**: MYAPC is not a publicly traded entity but a utility consortium; financial details are not publicly disclosed beyond decommissioning funding plans approved by the NRC [Federal Register 2019](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/05/21/2019-10541/maine-yankee-atomic-power-company-maine-yankee-independent-spent-fuel-storage-installation). - **Employment and Economic Impact**: During operation, Maine Yankee was a significant employer in Wiscasset and contributed to the local economy as Maine’s largest electricity generator. Post-decommissioning, employment is minimal, limited to ISFSI maintenance and security staff. - **Annual Generation**: Not applicable as the plant has been shut down since 1997. ### Recent News and Developments | Date | Event | Details | |---------------|--------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2025-02-05 | NRC Exemptions Issued | NRC granted three exemptions for ISFSI compliance terms [Federal Register 2025](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/02/05/2025-02253/maine-yankee-atomic-power-company-independent-spent-fuel-storage-installation-exemption-safety). | | 2025-02-14 | Nuclear Energy Comeback Push | Maine Republican legislators advocate for nuclear energy revival, referencing Maine Yankee’s history [Maine Morning Star](https://mainemorningstar.com/2025/02/14/republican-legislators-pushing-for-nuclear-energy-comeback-in-maine/). | | 2024-04-01 | NRC Exemption Approval | NRC issued an exemption for Maine Yankee ISFSI operations following a 2023 request [Federal Register 2024](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/04/01/2024-06820/maine-yankee-atomic-power-company-maine-yankee-atomic-power-station-exemption). | | 2024-02-28 | Environmental Assessment | NRC released an environmental assessment with a finding of no significant impact for an exemption request [Federal Register 2024 EA](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/02/28/2024-04077/maine-yankee-atomic-power-company-maine-yankee-atomic-power-station-environmental-assessment-and). | | 2023-03-31 | Exemption Request Submitted | MYAPC submitted a request for exemptions related to ISFSI regulations, later approved by NRC [Federal Register 2024](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/04/01/2024-06820/maine-yankee-atomic-power-company-maine-yankee-atomic-power-station-exemption). | ### Safety and Emergency Planning - **Emergency Planning Zone Details**: During operation, Maine Yankee maintained a 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) around the plant for radiological emergency preparedness. Post-decommissioning, the EPZ is significantly reduced, focusing only on the ISFSI, with limited risk due to the absence of active reactor operations. - **Notable Safety Features or Upgrades**: While operational, Maine Yankee implemented safety upgrades typical of PWRs in the 1970s-1990s. Post-shutdown, the site’s safety focus is on secure storage of spent fuel in dry casks designed to withstand natural disasters and unauthorized access [maineyankee.com/about](https://maineyankee.com/about). - **Historical Safety Incidents**: No major accidents like meltdowns were recorded, but economic and minor technical issues (e.g., steam generator tube degradation) contributed to the 1997 shutdown decision. Public and political concerns over safety were significant during its operation, especially in the 1980s [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maine_Yankee_Nuclear_Power_Plant). ### Decommissioning Status - **Shutdown Date and Reason**: Maine Yankee ceased operations on August 7, 1997, primarily due to the high cost of necessary repairs and upgrades, rendering continued operation economically unfeasible. - **Decommissioning Method and Timeline**: The DECON method was employed, involving immediate dismantling. Decommissioning started in 1998 and was completed by 2005, with the site cleaned to radiological levels stricter than NRC requirements. This process earned international recognition for innovation and stakeholder collaboration [maineyankee.com/decommissioning](https://maineyankee.com/decommissioning). - **Spent Fuel Storage Status**: Spent nuclear fuel and GTCC waste remain on-site in an ISFSI, consisting of dry cask storage units. Transfer to dry storage was completed in 2004. Federal law mandates DOE to remove this material, originally slated for 1998, but no permanent repository (e.g., Yucca Mountain) has been established, leaving storage indefinite [maineyankee.com/about](https://maineyankee.com/about). - **Site Reuse Potential**: The former plant site, excluding the ISFSI area, has no definitive reuse plan or timeline. The 180-acre Bailey Point Peninsula could potentially support industrial, recreational, or renewable energy projects, though decisions remain pending by MYAPC [decommissioningcollaborative.org](https://decommissioningcollaborative.org/maine-yankee). ### New Hampshire Relevance - **Geographic Proximity and Grid Interconnection**: Maine Yankee, located in Wiscasset, Maine, is approximately 60 miles from the [[New Hampshire]] border and was historically connected to the ISO New England (ISO-NE) grid, which serves New Hampshire. Though decommissioned, its grid integration during operation benefited the broader regional power supply. - **Power Supplied to ISO-NE Region**: While operating, Maine Yankee contributed significantly to ISO-NE’s capacity, providing up to 860 MWe, some of which indirectly supported New Hampshire’s energy needs as part of the regional grid. - **Lessons for NH Nuclear Policy**: Maine Yankee’s decommissioning highlights economic challenges and public opposition that can impact nuclear facilities, relevant to New Hampshire’s ongoing discussions about nuclear energy’s role in decarbonization. Its successful decommissioning could inform strategies for aging plants or future projects. - **Implications for [[Seabrook Station]]**: Seabrook Station, New Hampshire’s only nuclear plant (1,244 MWe), contrasts with Maine Yankee as it remains operational. Maine Yankee’s closure due to economic factors rather than safety failures suggests Seabrook must prioritize cost management to avoid a similar fate, especially given shared regional grid dynamics. - **Relevance to SMR Deployment Discussions**: Maine Yankee’s site, with existing infrastructure and grid connections, could be a candidate for small modular reactor (SMR) deployment if Maine’s recent legislative push for nuclear energy gains traction. This parallels New Hampshire’s interest in SMRs as a cleaner energy option, though public and regulatory hurdles remain [Maine Morning Star](https://mainemorningstar.com/2025/02/14/republican-legislators-pushing-for-nuclear-energy-comeback-in-maine/). ### Competitive Position Since Maine Yankee is decommissioned, direct competition with other regional nuclear plants like Seabrook Station (NH, 1,244 MWe) or Millstone (CT, 2,100 MWe combined) is not applicable. During operation, its 860 MWe capacity was significant but smaller than Seabrook’s output. Its age (commissioned 1972) and high maintenance costs led to early closure compared to Seabrook (1990 commissioning, still operating). Operating costs were a decisive factor in Maine Yankee’s shutdown, unlike Millstone, which has managed longevity through license renewals. Maine Yankee’s decommissioning success sets a benchmark for regional plants nearing end-of-life, though its lack of reliability post-1997 due to closure removes it from current competitive analysis. ### Closing Note Maine Yankee Power Station, decommissioned since 1997, remains significant as a site for spent fuel storage and a historical case study in nuclear decommissioning for the New England region. **RSS_FEED**: none (Note: No official RSS feed for press releases or news was found on [maineyankee.com](https://maineyankee.com) or related sources after a thorough search of the website and associated links.) *Report generated December 24, 2025*