7 June 2013

Two More Reactors Permanently Closed in the United States

On 7 June 2013 Southern California Edison (SCE) announced that despite a spending of over $500 million on repairs and replacement power they would permanently close units two and three at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). The decision comes after a 16 month battle to restart. Unit 1 at the station was closed in 1992. Californian Senator Barbara Boxer, Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, said of the decision: “This nuclear plant had a defective redesign and could no longer operate as intended. Modifications to the San Onofre nuclear plant were unsafe and posed a danger to the eight million people living within 50 miles of the plant”. When announcing the closure Ron Litzinger, SCE’s President said: “We think that our decision to retire the units will eliminate uncertainty and facilitate orderly planning for California’s energy future.” The closure of the SONGS, follows shortly after the closure of the Kewaunee reactor in May 2013.