Ages of US Nuclear Power Plants* at Closure
* Includes only commercial plants of significant size
Plant, Shutdown Date, Age, Reason
Connecticut Yankee, Dec., 1996, 29 yrs, Steam gen. cracking, ECCS undersized
Millstone I (CT), July, 199, 28 yrs, Improper operation, Cost of safety improvements
Maine Yankee, August, 1997, 25 yrs, Steam gen. tube damage, Electrical power cable separation
Yankee Rowe (MA), October, 1991, 28 yrs, Reactor vessel embrittlement, Steam gen. tube damage
Indian Point I (NY), Oct., 1974, 12 yrs., Lack of an ECCS
Shippingport (PA), Oct. 1982, 35 yrs, 1st commercial plant in US
Peach Bottom I (PA), Nov., 1974, 7 yrs., Helium cooled graphite core
Three Mile Island II (PA), March, 1979, 4 mos., Partial meltdown!
Dresden I (IL), Oct., 1978, 18 yrs., 1st full scale private funded plant
Zion I (IL), Feb., 1997, 22 yrs., Steam gen. cracking, Improper operation
Zion II (IL), Nov., 1996, 22 yrs., Steam gen. cracking
Big Rock Point (MI), Aug., 1997, 35 yrs. Economics
Fermi I, 1972, 2 yrs., Partial meltdown, 1966! Restarted (?) 1970-72
La Crosse (WI), April, 1987, 17 yrs.
Fort St. Vrain (CO), Aug., 1989, 13 yrs., Helium cooled graphite core,Control rod failure, never dependable
Trojan I (OR), Nov., 1992, 16 yrs., Steam gen. cracking, economics
San Onofre I (CA), Nov., 1992, 25 yrs., Cost of seismic retrofit, Steam gen. cracking
Humbold Bay (CA), 1980, 17 yrs., 2nd oldest commercial plant
Rancho Seco (CA), June, 1989, 15 yrs., Poor operating history (39%), Only nuke plant closed by referendum
Operating US Nuclear Plants over 40 Years Old
Plant, Start Date, Age, Issues
Oyster Creek, Dec., 1969, 41 yrs., Oldest still running in US, Thermal pollution to bay
R.E. Ginna (NY), 1970, 41 yrs., Radiation release in 1982; Steam generators replaced
Nine Mile Pt. I, Dec., 1969, 41 yrs., Internal cracking (worst nationally), Cooling system malfunctions
H.B. Robinson II (SC), 1970, 41 yrs.
Dresden II (IL), June, 1970, 41 yrs., Cooling system failure, 1989
Monticello (MN), 1970, 41 yrs. GE mark I (Fukushima type)
Point Beach I (WI), 1970, 41 yrs. 2nd oldest in total hours run
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Other Oldest Reactors around the World
Obninsk (Russia), 1954, 48 yrs. (at shutdown), 5MW
Calder Hall (UK), 1953, 47 yrs. (at shutdown) military/commercial
Chapelcross (UK), 1959, 45 yrs. (at shutdown) military/commercial
Oldbury (UK), 1967, 44 yrs.
Beznau 1 (Swiss), 1969, 41 yrs. Slated for shutdown
Tsuruga – 1 (Japan), 1970, 41 yrs. Radiation leaks. Slated for shutdown
Sources:
US Energy Info Administration
Nuke plants list
Wikipedia
Compiled by Doug Bogen
Seacoast Anti-Pollution League
PO Box 1136, Portsmouth, NH 03802
603-431-5089
Edited by gmoke