Close Oyster Creek Fact Sheet

New Jerseyans Deserve Clean, Safe Power

The Problem:
Originally built in 1969, Oyster Creek, in Lacey Township, is the oldest operating nuclear power plant in the country. Ignoring public opinion and motivated by profits, Exelon Corporation, the company that owns the plant, has applied to the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for a 20-year license extension.

If this license extension is granted, New Jersey will be the test-case for a 60-year old nuclear power plant. Oyster Creek’s major components were only designed to last for 40 years. Age-related factors have already led to a history of mechanical and equipment failures and unplanned shutdowns at Oyster Creek. As nuclear plants age, the rate of structural malfunctions increases--30 percent of recent equipment failures at nuclear plants were due at least in part to age-related degradation. The plant's reactor is also a faulty design, prohibited from further construction in 1972.

Oyster Creek is also located in the fastest growing county in the state, and Oyster Creek is storing hundreds of thousands of pounds of high-level radioactive waste on site. In the case of an accident or a terrorist attack, evacuation of the more than half million people living in nearby towns is nearly impossible. Lastly, Oyster Creek's water intake and discharge levels, currently in violation of the Clean Water Act, have degraded local waterways since the plant's inception.

The Solution:
Oyster Creek should be safely retired as soon as possible and no later than 2009, when its current license ends. The plant's operation is unnecessary-we can retire the plant and continue to get plenty of energy from the regional electricity grid. In the long term, we can replace Oyster Creek with energy efficiency and clean, safe, renewable sources like wind and solar power.

Nineteen towns neighboring Oyster Creek and the Ocean County Board of Freeholders have passed resolutions citing serious concerns about the plant's safety. In fact, nine towns, including Brick, Toms River, Berkeley and Lakewood-the four largest in Ocean County-call for Oyster Creek's immediate closure. In addition, all of the state legislators representing constituents living closest to the plant, Congressman Frank Pallone and Chris Smith are vocally opposed to a 20-year license extension.

Now Governor Corzine must take the next step and call for Oyster Creek's closure.

The time is ripe to close Oyster Creek. If this opportunity is missed, an aging nuclear plant will bind New Jerseyans for another two decades. Now is our chance to make sure Oyster Creek is retired safely, paving the way to a secure and healthy future for generations to come.