The Columbia Generating Station. It's the Northwest's only commercial nuclear power plant. Located in Richland, Wash., it's been relicensed to operate until 2043.
credit:
Flickr/Nuclear Regulatory Commission
RICHLAND, Wash. – Washington Governor Chris Gregoire is celebrating the new license that allows the Columbia Generating Station to run for another 20 years.
She spoke at a ceremony to hundreds of the plant’s employees Thursday. The southcentral Washington reactor is run by Energy Northwest. It’s the only commercial nuclear power plant in the Northwest. Gregoire says the Columbia Generating Station has little to do with the Hanford Nuclear Reservation’s legacy of waste.
“I truly understand the difference between a defense waste site and responsibly managed nuclear power plants. And we’re very fortunate to have it right here in our state,” the governor said.
A half-dozen protesters wearing clown paint and cowboy hats stood outside the guarded gates of the plant during the ceremony. The Columbia Generating Station is now scheduled to run until 2043.
(This was first reported by the Northwest News Network.)
Share your experiences as part of EarthFix's Public Insight Network.
Oregon/Washington: Is there buzz in your community about coal trains or new export terminals?
Join our Public Insight Network!
EarthFix is a public media project of Oregon Public Broadcasting and Boise State Public Radio, Idaho Public Television, KCTS 9 Seattle, KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio, Northwest Public Radio and Television, Southern Oregon Public Television and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
