Montague Nuclear Power Plant

The Montague Nuclear Power Plant was to consist of two 1,150-megawatt nuclear reactors to be located in Montague, Massachusetts. The project was proposed in 1973 and canceled in 1980,^[1] after $29 million was spent on the project.^[2]

On 22 February 1974, Washington's Birthday, organic farmer Sam Lovejoy took a crowbar to the weather-monitoring tower which had been erected at the Montague site. Lovejoy felled 349 feet of the 550-foot tower and then took himself to the local police station, where he presented a statement in which he took full responsibility for the action. Lovejoy went on trial in September 1974 on charges of malicious destruction, but was acquitted on a technicality.^[2][3] Lovejoy's action galvanized local public opinion against the plant.^[2][3]

A total of 63 nuclear units were canceled in the USA between 1975 and 1980.^[4] Many nuclear plant proposals were no longer viable due to the downturn of electricity demand increases, significant cost and time overruns, and more complex regulatory requirements. Also, there was considerable public opposition to nuclear power in the USA by this time.^[5]

See also

• Anti-nuclear protests in the United States
• List of books about nuclear issues
• List of canceled nuclear plants in the United States
• Nuclear power debate
• Nuclear power in the United States

References

1. ^ Some of the Major Events in NU's History Since the 1966 Affiliation
2. ^ ^{a b c} Utilities Drop Nuclear Power Plant Plans Ocala Star-Banner, January 4, 1981.
3. ^ ^{a b} Anna Gyorgy (1980). No Nukes: Everyone's Guide to Nuclear Power South End Press, ISBN 0896080064, pp. 393-394.
4. ^ The Changing Structure of the Electric Power Industry p. 110.
5. ^ Nuclear power: Futures, Costs, and Benefits p. 16.