![[Pasted image 20250804195237.png|400]] Company website: https://www.nexteraenergyresources.com/what-we-do/nuclear/seabrook.html ### Introduction Seabrook Station, also known as Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant, is a single-unit nuclear power facility located on 900 acres in Seabrook, New Hampshire, approximately 13 miles south of Portsmouth and near the Massachusetts border. Construction began in August 1976 under Public Service Company of New Hampshire (PSNH), with the plant achieving commercial operation on August 19, 1990, after significant delays and cost overruns that led to PSNH's bankruptcy in 1988. The principal owner and operator is NextEra Energy Seabrook, LLC, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, which acquired majority ownership in 2002 and holds an 88.2% stake, while the remaining interest is held by joint owners including Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company (MMWEC) and other utilities. The plant's mission is to provide safe, reliable, and carbon-free baseload electricity to the New England region, contributing to energy security, consumer cost savings, and emissions reduction by generating power equivalent to that needed for about 1.2 million homes annually. Key focus areas include maintaining high operational performance with a capacity factor often exceeding 90%, addressing unique structural challenges like alkali-silica reaction (ASR) concrete degradation identified in 2010, and supporting regional decarbonization goals. As the largest single electrical generating unit in New England with a net capacity of 1,244 megawatts electric (MWe), Seabrook plays a critical role in the ISO New England grid, offsetting fossil fuel use and lowering energy costs, though it has faced scrutiny over safety and environmental impacts from local communities and watchdogs. ### Key Products and Technology - **Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR)**: Seabrook features a Westinghouse four-loop PWR, a Generation II design that uses light water as both coolant and moderator, with the reactor vessel containing uranium fuel assemblies to produce steam for turbine generators. - **Power Output and Scalability**: Rated at 1,244 MWe net (3,648 megawatts thermal), it operates as a single-unit baseload facility without modular scalability, though it supports grid integration for regional demand; the plant has a 60-year design life, with its operating license extended to March 15, 2050. - **Fuel and Efficiency**: Utilizes low-enriched uranium dioxide fuel in 17x17 assemblies, with a refueling cycle every 18-24 months; achieves high efficiency through optimized burnup and waste minimization, contributing to low operational costs and reduced environmental footprint. - **Safety and Design Features**: Engineered to withstand extreme natural events like earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes more severe than historical records; includes redundant safety systems, emergency core cooling, and containment structures; however, ASR-induced concrete degradation in safety-related structures has required ongoing monitoring, alkali treatment, and structural reinforcements to maintain integrity, making Seabrook the only U.S. nuclear plant addressing this issue. - **Applications**: Provides carbon-free electricity to power homes, businesses, and industries across New England, lowering regional energy costs by displacing higher-cost sources; supports grid stability and could integrate with renewables, though no current plans for hydrogen production or desalination. ### Team and Leadership - **John W. Ketchum, Chairman, President, and CEO (NextEra Energy)**: Oversees corporate strategy, including Seabrook operations; experienced energy executive focused on sustainable power generation and innovation. - **Armando Pimentel, President and CEO (NextEra Energy Resources)**: Leads the subsidiary managing Seabrook, emphasizing reliable nuclear performance and expansion of clean energy portfolios. - **Matthew Levander, Regulatory Affairs Manager (Seabrook Station)**: Handles compliance, licensing, and stakeholder relations at the plant level; joined NextEra in 2003 with prior roles in operations and engineering. - **Other Key Executives**: Include site vice presidents and managers focused on operations, maintenance, and safety; the team draws from extensive nuclear industry experience, prioritizing regulatory adherence and community engagement amid ASR challenges. ### Recent News and Developments (2025) | Date | Event | Details | |------|--------|---------| | June 6, 2025 | Secures $45M Tax Agreement | The Town of Seabrook negotiated a three-year tax deal with NextEra Energy, providing $45 million in revenue to support local infrastructure while stabilizing assessments for the plant. | | May 16, 2025 | NRC Annual Assessment and Public Meeting | The NRC rated Seabrook's 2024 performance as "green" with minor issues, but faced questions on potential impacts from federal regulatory cuts and ongoing concrete degradation. | | April 17, 2025 | Experts Inspect Concrete Degradation | Nuclear industry experts toured the plant to evaluate management of ASR-affected concrete, highlighting ongoing monitoring and mitigation efforts. | | January 17, 2025 | Updated Emergency Preparedness Brochure | Massachusetts officials released a 2025 guide for residents near Seabrook, including evacuation routes and potassium iodide distribution amid safety concerns. | ### Partnerships and Collaborations - **NextEra Energy Resources**: Majority owner and operator since 2002, providing operational expertise and financial backing for maintenance and upgrades. - **Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company (MMWEC)**: Joint owner with an 11.59% stake, collaborating on power purchase and distribution to municipal utilities serving 1.2 million customers. - **Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)**: Ongoing regulatory partnership for safety inspections, license extensions (to 2050), and ASR management plans, including information notices to the industry. - **Local Governments and Communities**: Agreements with the Town of Seabrook for tax stabilization (e.g., 2025 deal) and emergency planning with New Hampshire and Massachusetts for radiological preparedness. - **Westinghouse Electric Company**: Original reactor designer and supplier for fuel and maintenance services. - **U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Industry Watchdogs**: Collaborations on concrete degradation research, with groups like C-10 Research & Education Foundation monitoring environmental impacts. ### Closing Note As an operational nuclear facility with a license extended to 2050 and stable funding through ownership structures and tax agreements, Seabrook Station remains a key carbon-free energy provider in New England, though its future outlook depends on effectively managing ASR concrete issues to ensure long-term safety and reliability. *Report generated August 04, 2025*