Junk Plant Pilgrim Shuts Down Before Snow Storm

Katie Lannan State House News Service

After operating at reduced power this week, Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station shut down Thursday morning, Feb. 9, ahead of a winter storm forecast to bring over a foot of snow to Massachusetts, the plant's operator announced.

The plant has been operating at a reduced power level of 30 percent since Monday, when a seawater leak was found in a condenser tube, and work to prevent future leaks will continue while the plant is down, Entergy Pilgrim Station spokesman Patrick O'Brien said in a statement.

The tube where the leak was identified has been repaired, and Pilgrim is now working to plug additional tubes to prevent similar issues, said O'Brien who called the decision to shut down the plant a preemptive measure.

Pilgrim officials decided at 8 a.m. to shut down the reactor, based on National Weather Service forecasts and station operating procedure.

In addition to the snowfall, the NWS advises of potential wind gusts of up to 55 to 65 miles per hour across Plymouth County, Cape Cod and the Islands and a higher risk of power outages in southeastern Massachusetts due to the high winds and wetness of snow.

Coastal flooding and beach erosion is also possible.

"A date and time of when Pilgrim will return to 100% power is considered business sensitive and we do not disclose that information," O'Brien said.