Pilgrim’s Progress: The Pace Of Decommissioning Plymouth’s Nuclear Plant Picks Up
Casks containing spent fuel stand on a concrete pad near the reactor building at Pilgrim Power Station. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
Just before Thanksgiving, the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant in Plymouth is expected to reach a historic milestone. All the radioactive fuel that generated electricity — and controversy — for nearly half a century, will finally be removed from the reactor building. It will be stored outside in special steel and cement casks.
The rare occasion will be celebrated by both supporters and opponents of the plant. But as the decommissioning of Pilgrim proceeds, concern over the long-term safety of the highly radioactive waste continues.