Greater Boston PSR Celebrates Closure of Nuclear Power Plant June 6, 2019

Activists protesting the Pilgrim nuclear power station in 2013

By Anna Linakis Baker, MPH, Executive Director, Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility

The Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station closed permanently on May 31! Pilgrim, located in Plymouth on Cape Cod Bay, was the only nuclear power plant operating in Massachusetts.

While the radioactive waste—and therefore much of the problem—will remain for thousands of years, it’s time to stop and celebrate this long-fought victory, which many of us have been part of for years.

In fact, the fight to address the threats from Pilgrim is what ultimately brought me to Greater Boston PSR two years ago, as I had organized concerned residents around Pilgrim issues for five years following the Fukushima disaster in 2011.  Greater Boston PSR folks served as invaluable resources during those years.

I would like to take a moment to recognize longtime environmental and public health warrior and hero, and GPBSR board member, Dr. Dick Clapp for all the work he has put in over the years to heighten awareness of the risks from Pilgrim Nuclear. Beyond Nuclear‘s newsletter this week references his work.

We may be a small group of (mainly) volunteers, but we are protecting humanity and the world one hard-fought victory at a time. I, for one, feel proud to be a part of this!