NorthStar Group Services has completed an agreement to take ownership of the 1600-acre Vallecitos Nuclear Center in Sunol, California from GE Vernova and GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas (GEH).
The transfer, approved by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, allows NorthStar to proceed with nuclear decontamination and environmental site restoration at the facility.
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The transaction, announced in May 2023, has received all necessary approvals, including the licence transfer from GEH to NorthStar.
The agreement follows a model similar to that of NorthStar’s purchase of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power station in Vermont, which was approved in 2018.
The Vermont project is expected to be completed by 2026.
NorthStar CEO Scott State stated: “Our team has developed deep experience in the safe and efficient decontamination, decommissioning and restoration of former nuclear reactor sites across the country, including the successful implementation of NRC license termination plans at five other research reactor sites nationwide.
“We appreciate GEH’s recognition of our expertise and the trust in our abilities this deal represents.”
Since May 2023, NorthStar has been active at the Vallecitos site, continuing work initiated by GEH.
In November 2023, NorthStar achieved a significant milestone by removing the Vallecitos boiling water reactor (VBWR) and transporting it to a disposal facility operated by NorthStar affiliate, Waste Control Specialists, in Texas.
NorthStar will also manage additional low-level radioactive waste from the decommissioning process at the Waste Control Specialists facility.
VBWR was the first privately owned nuclear power plant to deliver significant electricity to a public utility grid.
Under the decommissioning completion agreement, NorthStar aims to restore the Vallecitos complex for future commercial or industrial use.
NorthStar, through its Accelerated Decommissioning Partners joint venture, is also decommissioning the Crystal River 3 nuclear reactor in Florida under a contract with Duke Energy.
