Pilgrim Shuts Down During Blizzard

Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station experienced an automatic shutdown at 9:18 p.m. due to a loss of off-site power, WBZ Channel 4 is reporting. We'll have more on the shutdown.

Prior to the storm, local environmental groups asked the NRC to require the plant to shut down, according to Plymouth Daily News.

Karen Vale of Cape Cod Bay Watch and Pine DuBois of the Jones River Landing Association say that Local groups have asked the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to order Entergy Corporation, Pilgrim's operator, to take the reactor offline during the storm to prevent an unacceptable risk to the public and the environment. This storm differs from Hurricane Sandy because it is hitting Plymouth during high tide, not low tide, and will be accompanied by heavy snow and ice.

According to WBZ's Twitter feed, @cbsboston, the plant declared an Unusual Event, the lowest of the four levels of emergency classification at about 10 p.m., and the NRC is monitoring the reactor cooldown and efforts to restore off-site power.

WBZ Boston News ‏@cbsboston

NRC: The Pilgrim nuclear power plant experienced an automatic shutdown at 9:18 p.m. due to a loss of off-site power. - @PeterWBZ

47m WBZ Boston News ‏@cbsboston

NRC: The plant subsequently declared an Unusual Event -- the lowest of four levels of emergency classification -- at about 10... - @PeterWBZ

47m WBZ Boston News ‏@cbsboston
NRC: We will be monitoring the cooldown of the reactor and efforts to restore off-site power. - @PeterWBZ