nuclear-news

The population within 50 miles (80 km) of Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station was 4,737,792 in 2010. Boston is at risk from any accident at this site.

The major risk to the Massachusetts Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station from Tropical Storm Jose seems to be possible loss of offsite power due to winds (LOOP). One of the strangest things about nuclear power stations is their need for offsite power: “The availability of ac power to commercial nuclear power plants is essential for safe operations and accident recovery. A loss of offsite power (LOOP) event, therefore, is an important contributor to total risk at nuclear power plants.” http://nrcoe.inel.gov/resultsdb/LOSP/

It is apparently this need for offsite power which has given rise to the conspiracy theory that nuclear power stations don’t really produce energy. It is also this fact which creates a major risk of a major accident, if backup power generators fail, as…