![[Pasted image 20250804195603.png|400]] Company website: https://holtecinternational.com/company/divisions/hdi/our-fleet/pilgrim/ ### Introduction Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station is a decommissioned single-unit nuclear facility situated on 1,600 acres in the Manomet section of Plymouth, Massachusetts, overlooking Cape Cod Bay. Construction began in 1968 under Boston Edison Company, with the plant achieving commercial operation on December 9, 1972, after delays and escalating costs. Originally owned and operated by Entergy Corporation from 1999 until its permanent shutdown on May 31, 2019, due to economic factors and aging infrastructure, the site was acquired by Holtec International in August 2019 through its subsidiary Comprehensive Decommissioning International (CDI) for accelerated decommissioning. Headquartered under [[Holtec International|Holtec]] in Camden, New Jersey, with on-site management in Plymouth, Pilgrim's current mission is to safely dismantle the facility, manage radioactive waste, and restore the site for potential future use, emphasizing environmental stewardship, community safety, and compliance with federal regulations amid ongoing debates over wastewater handling and radiological releases. The key focus areas include executing the DECON decommissioning method—immediate dismantlement and decontamination—targeting completion by 2027 initially, though extended to the 2030s due to disputes; addressing spent fuel storage in dry casks; and mitigating environmental impacts like groundwater tritium levels. As a former major contributor to New England's grid, supplying power for about 680,000 homes annually, Pilgrim now serves as a case study in nuclear decommissioning, balancing economic redevelopment opportunities with public concerns over evaporation of radioactive wastewater and long-term site remediation. ### Key Products and Technology - **Boiling Water Reactor (BWR)**: Pilgrim featured a General Electric Mark I BWR, a Generation II design where water boils directly in the reactor core to produce steam for turbines; the system included a torus-shaped suppression pool for emergency cooling. - **Power Output and Scalability**: Rated at 685 megawatts electric (MWe) net and 2,028 megawatts thermal (MWth), it operated as a standalone baseload unit without modular scalability; designed for a 40-year life, extended to 60 years via NRC license renewal in 2012 before shutdown. - **Fuel and Efficiency**: Utilized low-enriched uranium dioxide fuel in 8x8 assemblies, with refueling outages every 18-24 months; achieved high burnup efficiency, though decommissioning now involves defueling and transferring spent fuel to independent storage installations (ISFSI) using Holtec's HI-STORM casks. - **Safety and Design Features**: Incorporated redundant safety systems like emergency core cooling and containment structures resilient to design-basis earthquakes; post-Fukushima upgrades included hardened vents and backup power; current decommissioning employs advanced robotics for segmentation, chemical decontamination, and waste processing to minimize worker exposure and environmental release. - **Applications**: Historically provided carbon-free electricity to the ISO New England grid, reducing regional emissions; now focused on site restoration for potential redevelopment into clean energy hubs, industrial parks, or open space, with ongoing management of radiological materials and wastewater evaporation systems under scrutiny. ### Team and Leadership - **Sanjay Shukla, President (Holtec Decommissioning International - HDI)**: Oversees decommissioning operations across Holtec's fleet, including Pilgrim; experienced nuclear executive focused on safe, efficient site closure and community relations. - **Kelly Trice, President (Comprehensive Decommissioning International - CDI)**: Manages day-to-day activities at Pilgrim as a joint venture between Holtec and SNC-Lavalin; background in project management and nuclear services, emphasizing regulatory compliance and waste handling. - **Other Key Executives**: Include site managers for radiation protection, engineering, and environmental affairs, drawing from Holtec's broader team; leadership prioritizes transparency amid public oversight, with support from Holtec CEO Dr. Kris Singh, a pioneer in spent fuel storage technologies. ### Recent News and Developments (2025) | Date | Event | Details | |------|--------|---------| | July 23, 2025 | Energy Bill Opens Door to New Reactors | Governor Healey's proposed legislation could repeal a 1982 ban on new nuclear plants, potentially impacting Pilgrim's site redevelopment, though critics cite Holtec's handling of the facility as a cautionary tale. | | June 16, 2025 | Appeal Hearing on Wastewater Concludes | State hearing on Holtec's plan to evaporate radioactive water ended after two days, with decisions pending amid activist opposition and calls for alternatives like trucking. | | June 10, 2025 | Activists Push for State Intervention | Calls intensified for Governor Healey to halt wastewater evaporation, coinciding with ballot measures and environmental reviews at the decommissioned site. | | May 27, 2025 | Cape Cod Voters Oppose Evaporation | Non-binding referendum showed overwhelming opposition to releasing wastewater vapor, influencing state policy on Pilgrim's decommissioning. | | May 22, 2025 | Demolition Timeline Potentially Delayed | Disputes over water usage could push reactor building dismantlement past 2031, affecting overall site cleanup schedules. | | May 17, 2025 | Nuclear Revival Bill Introduced | Governor Healey's energy bill proposes lifting restrictions on new nuclear facilities, contrasting with Pilgrim's closure and sparking debates on technology advancements since its era. | | April 17, 2025 | Experts Tour Site for Degradation Review | Industry specialists inspected ongoing management of concrete issues and decommissioning progress. | | February 12, 2025 | Decade Away from Full Demolition | Advisory panel noted Pilgrim remains years from complete dismantlement, with focus on spent fuel and wastewater challenges. | | January 17, 2025 | Updated Emergency Brochure Released | Massachusetts distributed 2025 guides for residents near Pilgrim, outlining evacuation and protective measures despite shutdown. | ### Partnerships and Collaborations - **Holtec International and Comprehensive Decommissioning International (CDI)**: Owner and operator since 2019, partnering with SNC-Lavalin for decommissioning expertise, waste management, and site restoration. - **Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)**: Regulatory oversight for decommissioning activities, including post-shutdown decommissioning activities report (PSDAR) approvals and inspections. - **Massachusetts Department of Public Health and Environmental Protection**: Collaborations on radiological monitoring, wastewater permits, and emergency planning, amid disputes over evaporation methods. - **Local Communities and Advisory Panels**: Engagements with Plymouth and Cape Cod towns via the Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel for transparency and economic impact assessments. - **U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)**: Support for spent fuel management and potential site redevelopment funding, including EDA grants for economic revitalization. - **Environmental Watchdogs (e.g., Pilgrim Watch, C-10 Foundation)**: Contentious collaborations involving monitoring and legal challenges to ensure safety during decommissioning. ### Closing Note In the active decommissioning stage since 2019 with an estimated cost of $1.1 billion and funding secured through Holtec's trust, Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station faces delays to the 2030s due to wastewater controversies, but holds potential for site redevelopment into renewable or industrial uses post-cleanup. *Report generated August 04, 2025*