LACEY — The sale is finally complete. Oyster Creek Generating Station has officially changed hands from Exelon Generation to new owner, Camden-based Holtec International. The purchase was made complete on Monday, July 1.
Oyster Creek Generating Station officially closed its doors and powered down its operations on September 17, 2018. One of the oldest nuclear power plants in the country, Oyster Creek was in business for nearly half a century.
“For 49 years, the plant safely and reliably powered more than a half-million homes and businesses with carbon-free energy,” stated Exelon Generation.
Prior to the completion of the sale, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved the transfer of the plant’s operating license to Holtec subsidiaries Oyster Creek Environmental Protection, LLC (“OCEP”), as owner, and Holtec Decommissioning International, LLC, as operator (“HDI”), for decommissioning.
With the help of the OCEP, Holtec Decommissioning International will oversee decommissioning, another word for the dismantling of the plant. While Exelon’s original decommissioning plan laid out a timeline over 60 years, Holtec plans to complete the process and have the land ready for reuse in just 10 years.
“Our primary goal is to decommission Oyster Creek safely and with the community’s best interests in mind. Many of the excellent plant staff will join our exceptionally qualified engineers as we set a new bar in decommissioning excellence,” said Holtec President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Kris Singh.
According to Holtec, their new spent fuel storage systems will allow them to speed up decommissioning by transporting radioactive fuel into storage casks years earlier than originally planned. The spent fuel will be moved into an onsite dry storage facility called an Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI). While the ISFSI used to take five or more years, Holtec’s new dry storage system will cut this time in half, taking only 2.5 years, according to the company.
Holtec is currently working on licensing a consolidated interim storage (CIS) facility called HI-STORE in New Mexico where the spent fuel will be stored. In the meantime, spent fuel from the plant will be stored in casks on the Oyster Creek property.
“Protecting the health and safety of employees, the community and the environment has been a central focus for Oyster Creek throughout its operating history,” Holtec Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer Pierre Oneid said. “This will continue throughout decommissioning with safety being the focus in everything we do.”
While residents still have reservations about safety, township officials have welcomed the quicker decommissioning process.
“Holtec has been open and transparent in communicating with us and we look forward to supporting and working with them to do what’s best for our community,” stated Lacey Mayor Tim McDonald in a press release.
As their partnership comes to an end, officials from now-former owner Exelon Generation made sure to extend thanks to all Oyster Creek employees.
“We thank all Oyster Creek employees – past and present – for their dedication to safe operations and now, safe decommissioning. Together with Holtec, they are ideally positioned to complete decommissioning safely and swiftly,” stated Bryan Hanson, Exelon Generation’s chief nuclear officer.
What they going to do with the land?
Brett Huber overpriced housing
Brian Murray i wouldnt buy a house on that land. Can you say love canal
Love canal
Make Lakewood south
Brian Murray scary.
I’m gonna guess the Hasidic Jews are going to buy it and make housing there
Desiree Domer NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I wouldn’t be surprised, Desiree.
who buys a nuclear generator js
When it’s ready, they better not zone it residential. I would hate to see unsuspecting parents bring their small children there to live. they will all be sick. Just like a good number of the employees that worked at that plant!
Who is responsible for the cleanup of the chemicals seeping into the ground and water that were a big part of it shutting down 10 years early?… can you say taxpayers… sure won’t be Excelon now that the sale has gone through, I am sure that is in the contract of sale conveniently approved by our corrupt government
Early? That plant ran way past original intended use it was the oldest operating plant in the country
The plant was closed because in order for it to be refueled it would need the cooling tower upgrade.
The plant was closed because in order for it to be refueled it would need the cooling tower upgraded to the newer style. It got a pass the last time it was up for refuelling. That plant was the oldest operation in the country. It’s optional history is perfect. For what it costs to build a new nuke plant it should have gotten the updated cooling tower. NJ just lost a nother power plant because people crying over a natural gas pipe line.
Matthew William Burtis
Jews going to make it housing
Mark Zambella omg I’m nauseous at the thought
The big “reputable” company sells the clean up. Let’s see what happens now! ??
Does anyone read and understand how the process works. The site gets sold to the clean up crew and then back to the original owners. It’s like a lease in a way. Exelon….
It didn’t shut down due to chemicals “seeping into the ground.” ? if you don’t understand how it all works don’t assume to know.
We’ll see.
Doubt it
Just like Ciba Geigy
Taxes to go up
They can’t even filter tritium in the cooling water how are they going to clean up the thousands of isotopes that are there?
So what guarantee do we have as Lacey residence that Holtec will not file bankruptcy and ultimately disappear with the $90 million trust fund….maybe Chris Singh should personally guarantee the cleanup….??
I believe thats the WHOLE purpose of the TRUST FUND!
The decommissioning of a nuclear plant is the most dangerous part. It was initially to take 60 years to decommission this plant and this new company is going to speed that up to 10 years?
Good luck with that.
Everyone is going to be glowing in the dark.
Holtec is trying to be a pioneer in the industry and IF they can do it in that timeframe maybe people wont be so against Nuclear energy. I have my doubts if they can get it done in 10 years but I DOUBT they are going to be cutting corners.
Nathan Conway I guess how many corners they can cut all depends on how they spend their political dollars!
Unless they rezone the land, the only thing they could put their is another generation station, maybe solar or natural gas?
Who bought it..and what is being build on it