COURTESY OF THE CAPE DOWNWINDERS
SAGAMORE – Anti-nuclear activists will once again rally at the Sagamore Bridge Monday to protest the continued operation of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth.
The Cape Downwinders are holding their semi-annual “No Escape From The Cape” event at the base of the bridge from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The group holds a similar rally on Labor Day.
The Downwinders argue the state has no acceptable plan to evacuate Cape Codders in the event of a disaster at Pilgrim.
The station has been plagued by a string of safety violations in recent years and is currently one of the three worst performing reactors in the country in the eyes of the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
“More NRC inspections, more reports, more federal safety violations noted, and the NRC calls it a day. We call it reckless endangerment and that is unacceptable,” said Diane Turco, the founder of the Cape Downwinders.
“This should alarm Governor Baker and alert public safety officials that Entergy and the NRC do not take public safety seriously. When will Governor Baker speak up and demand closure?” said Harwich resident Elaine Dickinson.
Pilgrim is scheduled to close permanently in mid-2019. Plant-owner Entergy says the 46-year-old facility is no longer financially viable.
“Are we to be pacified that a closing date has been announced for next year? The NRC continues to give exemptions for safety requirements, as the plant limps along with continuous shutdowns due to aging equipment, poor maintenance, reduced personal and oversight,” said Chatham resident Mary Conathan. “This next year puts 5 million people in the 50 mile emergency zone in more dangers than the last 44 years of the reactors existence.”
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