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CHARLEVOIX, Mich., Aug 29, 2006 /PRNewswire-FirstCall
More than 700 former and current workers, elected officials, and business and nuclear industry leaders gathered today to celebrate the return of the Big Rock Point nuclear plant site to a green field. "As the first commercial nuclear plant in Michigan, Big Rock Point and its workers were pioneers in safely employing the atom for electrical generation," said David Joos, Consumers Energy's chief executive officer and a former Big Rock Point employee. "The plant and its workers continued that leadership throughout decommissioning and site restoration by again employing a number of innovative practices and processes to safely return the site to a natural state. Today, we celebrate the results of their work and dedication." Big Rock Point was shut down permanently on Aug. 29, 1997 after 35 years of providing electricity for Consumers Energy customers. Workers have been decommissioning and restoring the site for the past nine years. All the former nuclear plant structures have been removed and the area restored to a natural state. "Consumers Energy has fulfilled its promise to return this spectacular piece of property to a condition much as we found it more than 45 years ago," said Robert Fenech, Consumers Energy's senior vice president of nuclear, fossil and hydro operations. "While this milestone truly is one to be remembered and celebrated, we also are here to remember and celebrate the significant contribution that this small, 67-megawatt plant made to the entire nuclear industry and the contribution that the plant workers made to this community." Big Rock Point was named a Nuclear Historic Landmark for its many contributions to the nuclear and medical communities. It was Michigan's first, and the nation's fifth commercial nuclear plant. At the time of its closing in 1997, it was the nation's longest running and oldest operating nuclear plant. The plant achieved a number of operational and decommissioning milestones that have helped set industry standards. "For the past nine years we have lived through a transition from the nation's longest running nuclear plant into an internationally recognized leader in the decommissioning process," said Kurt Haas, the Big Rock Point site general manager. "Through it all we have never lost our focus on our three main goals of safety, efficiency, and preparing our workers for their next challenge. "Today I am proud to say that we have completed our mission. This achievement is a direct testament to the skills, talent, and professionalism of the men and women who built the plant, then safely operated it for 35 years, and now, fittingly, have returned this site to a natural state," Haas said. A State of Michigan Historical Marker and a permanent landmark honoring the achievements of the plant and its workers will be located on or near the plant site. The plant's spent nuclear fuel is stored in dry fuel storage containers located on Consumers Energy property near the plant site. It will remain there until the U.S. Department of Energy meets its obligation to accept and store spent fuel from commercial nuclear plants. Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, provides natural gas and electricity to nearly 6.5 million of Michigan's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. For more information about Consumers Energy, visit our Website at http://www.consumersenergy.com . SOURCE Consumers Energy News Provided By |
