Kewaunee Power Station is a nuclear power plant that was shut down in May 2013. The fall of electricity prices, along with the rising popularity of natural gas, meant that the areas it served such as Green Bay had more power than they needed and the plant at Kewaunee was deemed surplus to requirements. Spent nuclear fuel rods are still kept on the site in dry cask storage. No specific plans have been made for the site, but it must be dismantled before 2073.
Prema Chandrathil, who is the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s public affairs officer, stated:
“We want to hear from members of the public on best practices, decision-making, and dialogue on the decommissioning process.”
The United States has one of the world’s best safety records when it comes to nuclear power, but the regulators are still mandated to get the community’s input before any major decisions are made on Kewaunee’s status. Communities tend to oppose nuclear power, often using poster printing as part of their demonstrations.
The Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act forces the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to provide Congress with a report on the community’s proposals. This means that they will have to hold meetings all over the country, as well as in Kewaunee’s surrounding areas.