Maine Yankee provided an average of 20 percent of Central Maine Power’s generation capacity during its 26 years of service, with nuclear power accounting for 47 percent of the company’s power mix at the peak in 1976.
Concerns over the safety of atomic power led to three ballot initiatives between 1980 and 1987 that would have mandated the plant’s closure, none of which passed.
The aging plant, which would have required a costly refit to remain safe and viable, went offline on December 6, 1996.
