**Comprehensive Report on Yankee Rowe Nuclear Power Station** Website: [yankeerowe.com](https://yankeerowe.com) ### Introduction The Yankee Rowe Nuclear Power Station, located in Rowe, Massachusetts, was a pioneering nuclear facility in the United States. Commissioned on November 1, 1960, and beginning commercial operation in 1961, it was the first pressurized water reactor (PWR) built in New England and only the third in the country. Owned and operated by Yankee Atomic Electric Company (YAEC), a consortium of utility companies including New England Power Company, Connecticut Light and Power Company, and Boston Edison Company, the plant was a key part of the region's early nuclear energy infrastructure. Construction began in 1957 under the Atomic Energy Commission's oversight as part of President Eisenhower’s ‘Atoms for Peace’ program, with no significant delays reported during its development. However, its operation faced public scrutiny, especially during the 1970s and 1980s, when anti-nuclear protests swept across the country, including efforts by local activists to halt nuclear expansion ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yankee_Rowe_Nuclear_Power_Station)). Yankee Rowe was permanently shut down on February 26, 1992, after 31 years of operation, primarily due to safety concerns over reactor pressure vessel embrittlement—a condition that raised questions about the structural integrity of the reactor under radiation exposure. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) flagged these issues in 1991, leading to a temporary closure and ultimately a decision against relicensing for an additional 20 years due to the high cost of required testing and repairs, estimated at $23 million. Currently, the plant is fully decommissioned, with most of the site released for unrestricted use as of August 2007, though a small area remains under NRC oversight for spent fuel storage ([NRC.gov](https://www.nrc.gov)). ### Technical Specifications | Specification | Details | |-----------------------|----------------------------------| | Reactor Type | Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) | | Reactor Model | [[Westinghouse Electric Company|Westinghouse]] 4-loop (prototype) | | Number of Units | 1 | | Net Capacity (MWe) | 175 MWe | | Thermal Capacity (MWt)| 600 MWt | | Cooling System | Closed-loop with cooling towers | | Fuel Type | Enriched Uranium | | Commercial Operation | July 1, 1961 | | Grid Connection | Connected to New England grid | These specifications reflect Yankee Rowe’s status as a small, early-generation nuclear plant, designed more as a proof of concept than for large-scale power production. Data is sourced from historical records and public information available on [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yankee_Rowe_Nuclear_Power_Station) and [yankeerowe.com](https://yankeerowe.com). ### Licensing and Regulatory Status - **Original Operating License Date and Expiration**: Issued in 1960 by the Atomic Energy Commission, with an initial expiration aligned with a 40-year term, set for 2000. - **License Renewal Status**: Renewal was sought in the late 1980s for an additional 20 years but was abandoned due to safety concerns and high repair costs. - **Current NRC Oversight Status**: Decommissioning was declared complete by the NRC in August 2007. The [[Federal|federal]] license has been reduced to cover only the approximately 2-acre Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) facility. - **Ongoing Regulatory Issues**: Recent exemptions have been granted by the NRC, including permissions for fund withdrawals related to spent fuel management, as documented in 2024 filings ([Federal Register](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/05/07/2024-09910/yankee-atomic-electric-company-yankee-atomic-power-station-exemption)). - **Decommissioning Details**: Shutdown occurred on February 26, 1992, due to reactor vessel embrittlement. The decommissioning method was "DECON" (immediate dismantling), completed in 2007. Spent fuel and Greater Than Class C (GTCC) waste remain on-site in dry cask storage at the ISFSI, awaiting federal removal ([3yankees.com](https://3yankees.com)). ### Ownership and Operations - **Current Owner/Operator**: Yankee Atomic Electric Company (YAEC) remains the owner, now focused solely on managing the ISFSI. - **Parent Company Financial Position**: YAEC is a standalone entity formed by a consortium of utilities, with no publicly traded parent company or ticker. Financial data specific to YAEC is limited, but decommissioning costs totaled $608 million, significantly higher than the initial $368 million estimate ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yankee_Rowe_Nuclear_Power_Station)). - **Employment and Economic Impact**: As a decommissioned facility, current employment is minimal, limited to security and maintenance staff for the ISFSI. Historically, it supported local jobs in Rowe, Massachusetts, during its operational years. - **Annual Generation**: Not applicable, as the plant has been shut down since 1992. ### Recent News and Developments | Date | Event | Details | |---------------|--------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | May 7, 2024 | NRC Exemption Granted | NRC approved an exemption for YAEC to withdraw funds for spent fuel management at Yankee Rowe ([Federal Register](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/05/07/2024-09910/yankee-atomic-electric-company-yankee-atomic-power-station-exemption)). | | April 9, 2024 | Environmental Assessment | NRC issued a finding of no significant impact for the exemption request related to fund usage ([Federal Register](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/04/09/2024-07508/yankee-atomic-electric-company-yankee-atomic-power-station-environmental-assessment-and-finding-of)). | | May 22, 2023 | Historical Review Published | A detailed historical account of Yankee Rowe’s role in the U.S. nuclear industry was published, highlighting its pioneering status ([whatisnuclear.com](https://whatisnuclear.com/news/2024-05-22-the-yankee-story.html)). | | May 4, 2023 | Exemption Request Submitted | YAEC requested an exemption from NRC regulations to access decommissioning trust funds for spent fuel management ([Federal Register](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/05/07/2024-09910/yankee-atomic-electric-company-yankee-atomic-power-station-exemption)). | | N/A (2023-2025) | No Major Incidents Reported | No significant operational or safety incidents reported in the last two years regarding the ISFSI. | Due to the plant’s decommissioned status, recent developments are limited to regulatory actions concerning spent fuel management and historical retrospectives. Sources are primarily from official NRC filings and nuclear industry publications. ### Safety and Emergency Planning - **Emergency Planning Zone Details**: During operation, Yankee Rowe maintained a standard 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) for radiological emergencies. Post-decommissioning, emergency planning is limited to the ISFSI, with reduced scope due to the absence of active reactor operations. - **Notable Safety Features or Upgrades**: The plant was an early adopter of PWR safety systems, though it lacked modern redundancies. Safety concerns over reactor vessel embrittlement in the late 1980s were a key factor in its shutdown, prompting industry-wide scrutiny of similar issues ([blog.ucs.org](https://blog.ucs.org/dlochbaum/yankee-rowe-and-reactor-vessel-safety/)). - **Historical Safety Incidents**: The primary safety issue was the reactor pressure vessel embrittlement identified by the NRC in 1991, leading to the plant’s permanent closure. No major radiological releases or accidents were reported during its operational history. ### Decommissioning Status - **Shutdown Date and Reason**: Shut down on February 26, 1992, due to safety concerns over reactor pressure vessel embrittlement, which posed risks to structural integrity under prolonged radiation exposure. - **Decommissioning Method and Timeline**: Utilized the DECON method (immediate dismantling), with physical decommissioning completed in 2007. The NRC formally approved the License Termination Plan and Final Status Survey Reports in August 2007, releasing most of the site for unrestricted use ([yankeerowe.com](https://yankeerowe.com/decommissioning.html)). - **Spent Fuel Storage Status**: Spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and Greater Than Class C (GTCC) waste are stored on-site in a dry cask storage facility at the ISFSI, which spans approximately 2 acres under NRC oversight. This material awaits removal by the federal government, a longstanding issue across decommissioned U.S. nuclear sites ([3yankees.com](https://3yankees.com)). - **Site Reuse Potential**: Most of the original site has been released for unrestricted use, indicating potential for redevelopment, though no specific plans have been publicly detailed. The ISFSI area remains restricted due to radioactive material storage. ### New Hampshire Relevance Yankee Rowe holds relevance to [[New Hampshire]] due to its geographic proximity and historical ties to the New England energy grid. Located in Rowe, Massachusetts, near the border with Vermont and approximately 50 miles from southwestern New Hampshire, the plant historically supplied power to the ISO New England (ISO-NE) region, which includes New Hampshire. Although decommissioned, its legacy offers lessons for nuclear policy in the state, particularly regarding aging reactor safety and decommissioning challenges—issues pertinent to [[Seabrook Station]], New Hampshire’s only operating nuclear plant. The embrittlement concerns that led to Yankee Rowe’s closure highlight the importance of rigorous safety assessments for aging infrastructure, a direct consideration for Seabrook, which received a license extension to 2050 but faces similar long-term material degradation risks. Additionally, Yankee Rowe’s experience with spent fuel storage—still unresolved decades after shutdown—underscores the need for federal action on nuclear waste, a critical issue for New Hampshire policymakers advocating for permanent repositories. Regarding small modular reactor (SMR) deployment discussions, Yankee Rowe’s history as a prototype reactor suggests that New England could host innovative nuclear technologies, though public opposition (evident during its operational years) and high decommissioning costs ($608 million) may temper enthusiasm for new projects in the region. Overall, Yankee Rowe serves as a cautionary tale and a benchmark for managing nuclear assets in New Hampshire’s vicinity. ### Competitive Position As a decommissioned plant, Yankee Rowe no longer competes in the regional energy market. However, during its operation, its 175 MWe capacity was significantly smaller than other regional plants like Seabrook Station (1,244 MWe) in New Hampshire or [[Vermont Yankee]] (620 MWe, also decommissioned in 2014). Its age—commissioned in 1961—made it one of the oldest nuclear facilities in the U.S. at the time of shutdown, with reliability concerns exacerbated by early-generation design limitations and material degradation. Operating costs in its final years were deemed unsustainable, particularly with the $23 million price tag for safety testing in 1991, compared to modern plants with higher outputs and economies of scale. In the current New England nuclear landscape, Seabrook Station remains the primary operational facility, benefiting from newer technology and larger capacity, while decommissioned sites like Yankee Rowe and Vermont Yankee highlight the challenges of maintaining aging nuclear infrastructure in a region with strong anti-nuclear sentiment and high regulatory scrutiny. ### Closing Note Yankee Rowe Nuclear Power Station, fully decommissioned since 2007, stands as a historical milestone in U.S. nuclear energy with its pioneering role, though it no longer contributes to the regional grid and remains relevant only for spent fuel storage oversight. **Word Count**: Approximately 1,350 **RSS_FEED**: none *Report generated December 24, 2025*