(HE)
AFTER NEARLY 50 YEARS
OF PROVIDING
ELECTRICITY -- THE
PILGRIM POWER STATION
SHUT DOWN TONIGHT --
FOR FOREVER.
THIS MEANS
MASSACHUSETTS NO
LONGER HAS A WORKING
NUCLEAR POWER PLANT.
EYEWITNESS NEWS
REPORTER ANITA BAFFOINI
TALKED WITH EXPERTS
ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS
FOR THE FUTURE OF
ENERGY SOURCES
ACROSS THE REGION.
SHE JOINS US IN THE
CONTROL ROOM WITH
THE NEW DETAILS.
ENERGY EXPERTS SAY THE
CLOSURE OF THE PILGRIM
NUCLEAR POWER PLANT WON'T
NECESSARILY IMPACT THE
REGION'S ENERGY SUPPLY.
WITH A NATIONAL FOCUS ON
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
SOURCES, LIKE WIND AND
SOLAR, MORE "CLEAN ENERGY"
PLANTS ARE OPENING UP,
HELPING TO COUNTER ANY
IMPACT PILGRIM'S NUCLEAR
POWER PLANT CLOSURE MIGHT
HAVE.
IT'S A FIVE HOUR PROCESS TO
SHUTDOWN THE PILGRIM
NUCLEAR POWER PLANT WHICH
HAS BEEN IN OPERATION FOR
NEARLY 50 YEARS.
NOW ONLY TWO OTHER
COMMERCIAL NUCLEAR POWER
PLANTS ARE IN OPERATION IN
NEW ENGLAND, IN NEW
HAMPSHIRE AND
CONNECTICUT.
Anne George, ISO New England
Vice President, External Affairs
and
Corporate Communications:
"We've seen this transition in
the
region with resources leaving
but
new resources coming in."
ANNE GEORGE IS VICE
PRESIDENT OF ISO-NEW
ENGLAND WHICH OPERATES
THE REGION'S POWER GRID.
"The future is really looking at
cleaner resources. Renewable
resources like wind solar, but
also
more effective natural gas
resources
are coming on."
AS WE'VE PREVIOUSLY
REPORTED, THE 680-MEGAWATT
PLANT WENT ONLINE IN 1972
AND EMPLOYED NEARLY 600
PEOPLE.
ACCORDING TO FEDERAL DATA,
MASSACHUSETTS RECEIVES
ABOUT ONE-SIXTH OF ITS
ELECTRICITY FROM THE
PILGRIM NUCLEAR POWER
PLANT.
SEVERAL POWER PLANTS HAVE
CLOSED DOWN, COAL-
POWERED BRAYTON POINT
EARLIER THIS MONTH.
BUT EVEN WITH THESE
CLOSURES, GEORGE ISN'T
WORRIED ABOUT A SHORTAGE
IN ENERGY SUPPLY.
"So as of right now, especially
for
this summer, are seeing
resources
available for all 6 states so we
don't
anticipate any issues."
NOW IT WILL BE DECADES
BEFORE THE FULL PROCESS OF
POWERING OFF THE POWER
PLANT IS COMPLETE, COSTING
MORE THAN ONE BILLION
DOLLARS.
ANITA BAFFONI, EYEWITNESS
NEWS.
