The Nuclear Decommissioning Collaborative today released their foundational report investigating the socioeconomic impacts of nuclear power plant closures on surrounding host communities. Socioeconomic Impacts from Nuclear Power Plant Closure and Decommissioning takes a unique look at these impacts, the barriers to planning and mitigation, and offers recommendations to nuclear closure communities
across the nation.
“These communities continue to face real losses and ongoing hardship,” said Jim Hamilton, Founder and Executive Director of the Nuclear Decommissioning Collaborative. “While there is increased attention being paid to the plight of these communities, economic development planning remains a challenge and many struggle finding the capacity to begin their recovery.”
A typical nuclear power plant may operate in a relatively rural area and contribute upward of $400M annually to the local and regional economics. Upon closure, the socioeconomic ripple effects are swift, severe and widespread with local public services (e.g., schools and emergency responders) tending to suffer significant cutbacks.
Findings from the report include:
- Chronic resource limitations continue to hinder community efforts to plan for, and mitigate, socioeconomic impacts from closure.
- Plant closure and decommissioning presents a steep learning curve with no clear roles for community engagement, peer-to-peer dialogue and community collaboration at a national level.
- The long-term presence of spent nuclear fuel hinders economic development and presents an enduring barrier to economic recovery.
- The lack of a coordinated federal framework with limited focus on socioeconomic impacts hinders assistance to host communities and increases inefficiencies.
- Recovery planning in the event of closure is best undertaken while the nuclear power plant is still operational.
The full report is available on the Nuclear Decommissioning Collaborative’s website.
