Seabrook Station Nuclear Power Plant

Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant

Industry	Nuclear power generation
Founded	1990 in Seabrook, New Hampshire, United States
Founder	Public Service Company of New Hampshire (PSNH)
Successor	NextEra Energy Resources (since 2002)
Headquarters	Seabrook , United States
Area served	New England electrical network
Products	Electricity generation (nuclear)
Owner	NextEra Energy Resources (88.2% controlling share), municipal utilities in Massachusetts (remaining shares)
Number of employees	650 (2013)
Parent	NextEra Energy Resources

The Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant, also known as Seabrook Station, is a nuclear energy facility located in Seabrook, New Hampshire, United States. It lies approximately north of Boston and south of Portsmouth. Since commencing operations in 1990, its single 1,244-megawatt reactor has stood as the largest individual power generator on the New England electrical network and ranks as the region’s second-largest nuclear installation after the two-unit Millstone Nuclear Power Plant in Connecticut.

Initially designed to include two reactors, only Unit 1 was brought online in 1990—14 years following the issuance of its construction permit. The second unit was ultimately abandoned amid public opposition, escalating costs, and financial difficulties. These factors contributed significantly to the bankruptcy of the plant’s original owner, PSNH. Ownership and operation of the facility have been under NextEra Energy Resources since 2002.

Construction of Seabrook Station

The Public Service Company of New Hampshire (PSNH) initiated plans for a nuclear power station in 1966, first considering a site in Newington. However, a permit was denied due to its proximity to Pease Air Force Base. Subsequently, the location was shifted to Seabrook, with construction blueprints finalized by 1972. PSNH anticipated bringing the first reactor online by 1979 and the second by 1981, estimating total costs below $1 billion. Early projections were optimistic, with minimal resistance expected and unanimous local support.

Construction commenced in August 1976 with participation from sixteen utility companies. Regulatory obstacles soon arose; notably, the EPA rejected the proposed cooling water discharge system in 1976—a decision that was reversed in 1978. Public protests and acts of civil disobedience intensified in 1977, resulting in over 1,400 arrests. The 1979 Three Mile Island accident further diminished investor confidence. Six New Hampshire municipalities within the 10-mile emergency planning zone declined to develop evacuation strategies, prompting intervention by the NRC in 1980. Opposition also came from six Massachusetts towns and political figures such as Governor Michael Dukakis, leading to legal disputes.

By 1984, mounting financial pressures and regulatory challenges led to the cancellation of the second reactor after reaching only 25% completion and spending $800 million. Unit 1 was finalized in 1986; however, PSNH’s significant debt load caused it to declare bankruptcy in 1988—one of the largest corporate bankruptcies recorded in the United States at that time.

Seabrook Station’s completion occurred nearly a decade behind schedule with expenses approaching $7 billion. The NRC later acknowledged shortcomings in its oversight practices, describing them as "fragmented and uncoordinated," which imposed substantial burdens on both government agencies and the economy through excessive regulation.

NextEra Energy and Recent Developments

Seabrook Station was initially owned by more than ten utility companies spanning five states in New England. In 2002, FPL Energy (currently known as NextEra Energy Resources) acquired a majority interest for $836.6 million, obtaining an 88.2% controlling share. The remaining ownership stakes remain with municipal utilities in Massachusetts. Seabrook is among five nuclear power plants managed by NextEra Energy, which also operates Florida Power & Light’s St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant and Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Station, along with NextEra Energy Resources’ Duane Arnold Energy Center and Point Beach Nuclear Generating Station.

During the 2008 U.S. presidential election, Republican candidate John McCain advocated for constructing a second reactor at Seabrook. This proposal received measured support but faced significant financial and regulatory obstacles.

In 2009, the facility was officially renamed NextEra Energy Seabrook, though it continues to be widely referred to as Seabrook Station.

By 2017, decreasing valuations of nuclear plants, including Seabrook’s, led the town of Seabrook to implement a 9.9% tax hike to compensate for diminished tax revenues from NextEra Energy. Two years later, New Hampshire lawmakers proposed House Bill 1661 to eliminate Seabrook’s property tax exemption on components related to pollution control; however, the legislation did not pass in 2020.

In April 2020, Massachusetts congressional representatives such as Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey urged both the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and NextEra to release details of Seabrook’s COVID-19 response plan amid safety concerns during a refueling outage involving hundreds of personnel. The NRC granted exemptions that permitted extended working hours and postponed inspections to reduce virus transmission risks.

Starting in the early 2020s, NextEra became involved in a dispute with utility company Avangrid over the New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) transmission project from Canada. Before connecting to the grid, upgrades to Seabrook’s primary generator breaker were necessary, triggering ongoing legal disagreements concerning upgrade expenses and accountability. In February 2023, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission directed NextEra Energy Resources to proceed with breaker enhancements planned for the fall 2024 refueling outage.

Relicensing

Seabrook Station applied in 2010 to extend its operating license from its original expiration in 2030 to 2050. In 2012, Massachusetts Representatives Edward Markey and John F. Tierney introduced H.R. 6554, known as the "Nuclear Reactor Safety First Act," which sought to prohibit NRC license renewals requested more than ten years prior to expiration—specifically targeting Seabrook’s extension—but this bill failed to advance out of committee.

During the relicensing process, concerns emerged regarding concrete deterioration caused by alkali–silica reaction (ASR) due to groundwater intrusion affecting the plant’s foundations, attracting political scrutiny at the local level. In June 2017, NRC personnel evaluated NextEra’s safety strategy addressing ASR and conducted an inspection of the facility. By October 2017, federal regulators permitted the watchdog organization C-10 to take part in reviewing the license amendment.

On March 12, 2019, the NRC granted a 20-year renewal of Seabrook’s operating license, extending authorization through March 15, 2050. Subsequently, C-10 submitted an emergency petition seeking to suspend this extension pending additional hearings on ASR issues; however, the NRC rejected this request in July 2019. In August 2020, the NRC’s Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) approved Seabrook’s concrete monitoring program but imposed further requirements aimed at safeguarding public health and safety.

In May 2021, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey voiced apprehensions regarding the ASLB ruling and called on the NRC to reopen proceedings for supplementary testimony while strengthening license conditions related to ASR surveillance.

Community impact

In 2013, the Nuclear Energy Institute emphasized Seabrook Station's notable economic and environmental benefits:

• Providing employment for 650 individuals earning salaries more than double the average in Rockingham and Strafford counties
• Supplying roughly 40% of New Hampshire’s electricity while preventing nearly 4 million tons of CO2 emissions annually—comparable to taking close to 700,000 vehicles off the road
• Injecting $535 million into the local economy and $1.4 billion nationwide every year, with each dollar generated stimulating $1.34 in local economic activity
• Contributing over $1 million to regional environmental organizations throughout the past ten years

Seabrook Station has played a crucial role for Massachusetts in complying with carbon emission standards. Its significance became particularly evident following the 2015 shutdown of Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant, which led to an increase in New England’s carbon emissions after five years of decline. According to ISO New England projections, decreases in nuclear energy production across the region are unlikely to be compensated by renewable sources but rather through greater reliance on natural gas. A 2011 forecast suggested that substituting Seabrook with a gas-powered facility would have resulted in nearly 94 million metric tons of CO2 emissions over 22 years—an amount similar to Arizona’s total emissions in 2009. By 2020, municipal utilities in Massachusetts derived only 2.43% of their energy from wind and solar; nonetheless, agreements involving Seabrook and Millstone Nuclear Power Plant in Connecticut increase their share of carbon-free energy to 38.22%.

In April 2018, New Hampshire’s decade-long energy plan highlighted that maintaining Seabrook Station as a zero-emission power source represents the most economical strategy for large-scale emission management. To replicate its output using wind or solar power would necessitate approximately 290 square miles of wind turbines or about 80 square miles of solar panels.

Electricity production

Seabrook Station Nuclear Power Plant Generation (MWh)

Year	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Annual (Total)
2001	41,921	777,519	448,121	832,051	839,779	834,215	861,957	835,010	834,916	723,475	801,877	861,902	8,692,743
2002	861,532	778,337	861,664	833,602	74,714	775,728	860,831	859,337	832,281	861,835	833,121	861,635	9,294,617
2003	861,034	777,401	861,171	832,708	862,309	834,673	862,222	861,602	820,133	124,682	715,873	862,480	9,276,288
2004	861,327	805,718	862,022	833,556	862,936	835,415	861,348	862,421	833,696	862,527	833,935</ small >	< small >862 ,672 </ small >	10 ,177 ,573
2005	< small >862 ,341 </ small >	< small >779 ,160 </ small >	< small >778 ,883 </ small >	0	< small >768 ,661 </ small >	< small >877 ,645 </ small >	< small >906 ,870 </ small >	< small >906 ,912 </ small >	< small >878 ,860 </ small >	< small >909 ,792 </ small >	< small >878 ,871 </ small >	< small >907 ,890 </ small >	9 ,455 ,885
2006	< small >907 ,440 </ small >	< small >819 ,423 </ small >	< small >907 ,933 </ small >	< small >877 ,444 </ small >	< small >908 ,907 </ small >	< small >879 ,308 </ small >	< small >909 ,271 </ small >	< small >900 ,773 </ small >	< small >773 ,949 </ small >	0	< small >587 ,972 </ small >	< small >925 ,436 </ small >	9 ,397 ,856
2007	< small >877 ,980 </ small >	< small >836 ,094 </ small >	< small >871 ,034 </ small >	< small >856 ,511 </ small >	< small >927 ,331 </ small >	< small >897 ,115 </ small >	< small >926 ,577 </ small >	< small >925 ,890 </ small >	< small >896 ,620 </ small >	< small >925 ,105 </ small >	< small >897 ,572 </ small >	< small >926 ,055 </ small >	10 ,763 ,884
2008	< small >567 ,522 </ small >	< small >840 ,007 </ small >	< small >922 ,125 </ small >	0	< small >667 ,538 </ small >	< small >856 ,165 </ small >	< small >927 ,107 </ small >	< small >925 ,640 </ small >	< small >896 ,541 </ small >	< small >926 ,492 </ small >	< small >895 ,088 </ small >	< small >926 ,089 </ Small >	9 350 314
2009  |  924 993  |  836 579  |  925 103  |  896 458  |  926 038  |  896 326  |  926 131  |  926 113  |  892 480  | 0  | 340 343  | 326 109	8 816 673
2010	927 742	837 938	926 131	898 144	928 582	898 222	927 501	925 652	894 276	926 149	892 658	927 060	10 910 055
2011	927 234	814 532	923 218	0	218 028	863 528	927 644	925 774	895 657	230 977	898 957	737 258	8 362 807
2012	686 107	736 148	782 071	698 730	785 079	758 859	782 130	786 418	351 833	17 280	888 147	916 379	8 189 181
2013	928 572	838 463	927 730	898 799	928 720	897 851	926 855	927 947	896 959	926 972	899 554	928 303	10 926 725
2014	927 753	838 349	924 168	145 911	928 290	898 153	928 334	926 279	896 814	927 169	899 018	928 027	10 168 265
2015	927 399	837 795	926 963	898 491	928 074	897 051	926 131	926 225	822 759	139	464 155	929 022	9 484 204
2016	873 846	869 998	773 858	901 301	931 020	899 774	928 958	926 246	897 061	928 360	900 912	929 829	10 761 163
2017	930 333	840 397	925 581	1	874 245	900 838	929 978	930 294	897 300	929 471	902 100	930 166	9 990 704
2018	930 613	840 633	929 256	900 810	931 139	900 493	929 824	927 694	881 873	62 127	899 007	928 227	10 061 696
2019	927 928	837 893	927 070	899 150	928 832	898 058	927 354	926 201	894 269	926 621	885 497	928 050	10 906 923
2020	928 053	868 306	917 653	56 214	855 391	732 887	927 487	926 703	896 511	928 340	899 423	928 228	9 865 196
2021	927 671	838 377	927 417	899 157	928 624	898 816	926 509	925 835	895 720	26 952	732 471	928 568	9 856 117
2022	928 237	838 502	926 877	898 677	929 014	897 880	927 660	922 448	896 600	927 418	899 985	928 230	10 921 528
2023	928 464	837 889	924 540	2	628 777	898 790	888 108	778 916	896 929	928 520	895 304	928 542	9 534 781
2024	928 657	868 789	927 403	899 602	904 962	899 488	928 222	925 881	896 859	115 441	515 760	865 798	9 676 862
2025	927 147	829 174	926 259	897 963

Significant Incidents

In 1998, a plant electrician was dismissed after reporting a safety issue related to system wiring. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) conducted an investigation and determined the dismissal constituted discrimination, resulting in a Severity Level III violation accompanied by a $55,000 penalty.

In 2000, one of Seabrook Station's emergency diesel generators malfunctioned during testing due to crankcase overpressurization and damage caused by thermal expansion of the piston skirt. The NRC identified this as a White finding, citing insufficient corrective measures for deteriorated components.

A security fence installed by a subcontractor failed to meet NRC standards in 2005 due to design and testing shortcomings, which led to a $65,000 fine.

During the 2012 refueling outage, a magnitude 4.0 earthquake impacted the southern Maine coastline. An "Unusual Event" was declared; however, the plant's operations remained unaffected.

In 2013, Seabrook Station and its labor union narrowly avoided a lockout by finalizing a contract agreement at the last moment.

An electrical fire originating from an elevator motor in 2014 triggered an "Unusual Event" emergency classification. No injuries or safety risks were reported.

Following an NRC inquiry in 2015, a security guard received a three-year ban after being found to have blocked a rifle barrel with foreign materials.

A minor earthquake registering magnitude 2.7 occurred near the facility in 2018 without causing any damage or emergency conditions.

In mid-2020, two unplanned reactor shutdowns took place due to unexpected control rod insertions; all safety protocols operated correctly, ensuring safe reactor shutdowns.

On July 12, 2022, nine sirens within the plant’s 10-mile emergency zone were accidentally activated during routine testing. This false alarm led to beach closures in Hampton, Rye, and Seabrook and was attributed to human error.

Opposition from the Public

The successful 1975 campaign by the anti-nuclear movement in Germany that halted construction of the Wyhl Nuclear Power Plant inspired efforts to occupy the Seabrook Station site. After the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) granted Seabrook’s construction permit in 1976, the Clamshell Alliance was established.

On August 1, 1976, approximately 600 demonstrators assembled at Seabrook. By May 1977, more than 2,000 had occupied the site, resulting in "1,414 arraignments on criminal trespass charges," marking one of the largest mass arrests in U.S. history. The Clamshell Alliance inspired other anti-nuclear groups across the United States such as the Abalone Alliance and Crabshell Alliance. The protests became associated with the song "Old Settler's Song (Acres of Clams)".

Despite ongoing demonstrations, construction proceeded, ultimately leading to activist fatigue following the occupation in 1977.

In September 2017, activist Steve Comley Sr. and his nonprofit organization "We The People" sponsored an electronic billboard in Salisbury, Massachusetts, highlighting concerns about the absence of an evacuation plan for Seabrook Station. By January 2018, several municipalities including Merrimac, Massachusetts, urged the NRC to reassess the effectiveness of Seabrook’s evacuation strategy.

NextEra Energy issued a response:

Accident analysis

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has established two distinct emergency planning zones surrounding nuclear facilities: a 10-mile radius plume exposure pathway zone, which addresses airborne radioactive hazards, and a 50-mile ingestion pathway zone, which deals with the risk of radioactive contamination in food and beverages. As of 2010, the population residing within 10 miles of Seabrook was 118,747, reflecting a growth of 10.1% over ten years; within 50 miles, the population reached 4,315,571, marking an 8.7% rise. Notable urban centers located within the 50-mile radius include Boston, approximately 40 miles away.

According to the NRC's 2010 assessment, the probability of an earthquake causing core damage at Seabrook is estimated at one in 45,455 annually.

See also

• Seabrook 1977 – a documentary covering the protests during the plant’s construction period

External links

• Seabrook Station information, NextEra Energy
• Department of Energy page on Seabrook
• Seabrook Nuclear Plant Occupation resource featuring timelines, articles, and images