History - Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant
Introduction & History | Meet the Shoreham Advisory Committee | Meetings & Agendas | Reports & Studies | Contact the Committee
Introduction
LIPA’s enabling statute charged the Authority with decommissioning the Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant built by the former Long Island Lighting Company (LILCO), and investigating and developing alternative uses for the Shoreham site.
The
LIPA Act also emphatically states that the Authority shall NOT construct or
operate a nuclear powered facility in the service area.
In April, 2008, LIPA President and CEO Kevin S. Law formed this Shoreham Advisory Committee to openly and carefully evaluate what opportunities, if any, may exist for the future use and redevelopment of the approximate 58 acres of land owned by LIPA surrounding and including the decommissioned nuclear power plant.
In establishing this working group, LIPA, under Mr. Law’s direction, can ensure a transparent, thoughtful process that embraces vital local input. It includes individuals representing the community, academia, and government; meeting periodically to collectively study and assess ways the property may be utilized.
Background
On April 25, 1965 LILCO announced its decision to build a 500MW nuclear power plant, referring to nuclear power as cheap, safe and reliable. At the time, the demand for electricity was increasing more than 10% per year on Long Island and the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) was strongly urging power companies to use nuclear power.
- May 24, 1968 - LILCO announced the filing of an application with the AEC for a construction permit to begin building the Shoreham plant.
In 1968, LILCO enlarged its plans for Shoreham from 540 to 820 MW, equaling four times more generating capacity. This decision caused a year’s delay in the planning stage and a postponement in filing the Shoreham application for a construction permit until May, 1969. It also increased the cost estimate for construction of the plant from $70 million to $217 million. This was the first of many increases over the next 15 years.
LILCO also announced plans for two more reactors to be built in Jamesport and Lloyd Harbor.
In 1970, residents rallied to kill the Lloyd Harbor plans, and Jamesport never progressed beyond the drawing board stage, but it helped to delay the process and increase the costs of Shoreham. In 1973, construction on the Shoreham plant began. Cost overruns escalated estimated construction costs to $2 billion by the late 1970s due in part to design changes ordered by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
- 1979 - The new target date for commercial operation.
Three Mile Island and Chernobyl
In
1979, the accident at Three Mile Island occurred and in 1986, Chernobyl . This
triggered major changes in NRC requirements and practices and had a profound
impact on the licensing of the Shoreham plant, particularly with respect to
planning for emergencies.
In the wake of these nuclear accidents, the NRC ruled that operators of nuclear plants work out evacuation plans in cooperation with state and local governments. Elected officials from local entities nearly unanimously joined the opposition, saying their communities could not be evacuated quickly in the event of an accident.
Shoreham Deemed “Safe”
- In 1981, the NRC declared Shoreham safe for operation.
On February 17, 1983, the Suffolk County Legislature passed a resolution by a 15-1 vote asserting that the county could not be safely evacuated. The newly-elected Governor of New York, Mario Cuomo, ordered state officials not to approve any LILCO-sponsored evacuation plan.
- In 1985, LILCO received federal permission for low-power 5% tests.
The Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant operated intermittently over a period of two years, resulting in approximately two full power days by the time of its shutdown in June, 1989. On Feb. 28, 1989, after more than two years of negotiations and aborted deals, Governor Cuomo and LILCO Chairman William J. Catacosinos signed off on an agreement that would shutter the plant forever but that made ratepayers shoulder the responsibility for most of its costs.
