Indian Point Unit 2 reactor officially shuts down

After more than 45 years in production, the Indian Point 2 nuclear reactor was shut down on April 30, as scheduled.

The facility, located at Indian Point Energy Center in Buchanan, N.Y., is owned and operated by Entergy Corp. The other operating unit at the site, Unit 3, is scheduled to shut down by April 30, 2021, permanently.

“Over the last 45 years, thousands of dedicated professionals have operated Unit 2 at Indian Point – safely, securely and reliably,” Chris Bakken, Entergy’s chief nuclear officer, said. “We owe each of them our thanks for a job well done and for their commitment to the highest standards of professionalism.”

Unit 2 opened on Aug. 1, 1974. Entergy purchased it in 2001. The respective shutdowns of Units 2 and 3 were announced in 2017 under a settlement agreement with the State of New York. It was the result of several factors, including sustained low current and projected wholesale energy prices that reduced revenues.

The company is working to help those workers at Unit 2 to find other work. Currently, more than 40 employees have accepted offers to continue with Entergy in other locations.

In April 2019, Entergy announced the proposed post-shutdown sale of the subsidiaries that own Unit 1, Unit 2 and Unit 3 to a Holtec International. Holtec will initiate decommissioning at Indian Point promptly following regulatory approvals. Holtec, through its affiliate Comprehensive Decommissioning International, will hire Entergy’s employees at Indian Point who have been selected for “Phase 1” of decommissioning.

Entergy owns and operates five nuclear power units and is committed to the continued operation of its nuclear fleet in those locations.