Pilgrim Nuclear Station near Boston looks like it will get a license extension

Vermont Yankee gets all the nuclear power will-it-or-won't-it relicensing attention, but Pilgrim Station in Plymouth, Mass., is also up for renewal. Its path is easier because Massachusetts has no say over the new license; it's only up to the feds. (Vermont is unique in the nation in giving the state legislation partial authority over nuke plants.)

As the Globe reports (here), Pilgrim's 20-year extension has been backed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. That means relicensing by the commission itself is likely, although not guaranteed. The license expires June 8, but the plant can continue operating until the commission actually votes.

Pilrim is a 688 megawatt plant, a little bigger than Vermont Yankee (605 mW), which is owned by the same company, Entergy. It's much smaller than Seabrook (1,244 mW), which is owned by a Florida-based utility. Seabrook's license doesn't run out for many years, although the owner is already pushing for an extension.

Vermont Yankee has gotten relicensing OK from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission but was rejected by the state senate and things are sort of in limbo. The plant is still operating.