Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant Shuts Down Following Valve Problem

COURTESY PILGRIM NUCLEAR POWER STATION

COURTESY PILGRIM NUCLEAR POWER STATION

PLYMOUTH – The Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth experienced an unplanned shutdown this morning, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

A statement from the agency said it was caused by a high water level resulting from a problem with a regulating valve.

Water is pumped into the reactor so that it can be boiled, converted to steam and then piped to the turbine to generate electricity.

The NRC said their onsite inspectors responded to observe operator responses and verify the safe shutdown of the plant just after 8:30 a.m.

Spokesman Neil Sheehan said plant owner Entergy will need to identify the cause of the valve fluctuations and make any needed repairs before the reactor can return to service.

It’s just the latest equipment issue with the troubled plant that is listed as one of the worst in the nation by the NRC.

On Monday, the plant’s power was reduced to 90 percent because of elevated water intake temperatures.

There was also a downed tree on the 23-kilovolt power line to the plant’s waste-treatment facility on Sunday evening which caused a small fire near Rocky Hill Road.

The NRC said the line outage did not impact any safety-related equipment at the plant.

Entergy announced last year that they would close Pilgrim by 2019.

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Comments

  1. Betsy Smith says

    AGAIN????? How many do-overs does Entergy get?

  2. How many shut downs are we willing to tolerate before forcing an immediate shut down? 2019? Does that make any sense to people who are following this dangerous situation? It’s PAST TIME to close the Pilgrim plant!

  3. Jan Nickerson says

    Just keep it off line and stop playing with our lives. American greed! Pay your contractual obligations without further threat to public safety. Face the facts. It’s old and it’s time.Cape Cod Bay water surface temp was 80 degrees in August!

  4. I remember that part of our coast in the early 60’s before the plant was built.

  5. MArtha Smith says

    SHUT it DOWN for good~!

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