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Its Nuclear Plant Closed, Maine Town Is Full of Regret

Posted by samzenpus on from the and-you're-done dept.

mdsolar writes in with a story about the fallout from a nuclear plant closing on a small town in Maine. "In a wooded area behind a camouflage-clad guard holding an assault rifle, dozens of hulking casks packed with radioactive waste rest on concrete pads — relics of the shuttered nuclear plant that once powered the region and made this fishing town feel rich. In the 17 years since Maine Yankee began dismantling its reactors and shedding its 600 workers, this small, coastal town north of Portland has experienced drastic changes: property taxes have spiked by more than 10 times for the town's 3,700 residents, the number living in poverty has more than doubled as many professionals left, and town services and jobs have been cut. 'I have yet to meet anyone happy that Maine Yankee is gone,' said Laurie Smith, the town manager. 'All these years later, we're still feeling the loss of jobs, the economic downturn, and the huge tax increases.'"

6 of 380 comments (clear)

  1. And no plutonium to show for it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Think of the space probes

  2. Bad choice of words by Chrisq · · Score: 3, Funny

    the fallout from a nuclear plant closing

    Maybe the fallout will cause a mutation in the town's economy.Together with the economic downturn it could be a toxic combination, resulting in an civic apocalypse.

  3. Re:This is disputed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Solar is dead. Most of the US doesn't get enough sun to make solar feasible.

    http://americablog.com/2013/02/fox-news-solar-only-works-in-germany-because-its-sunny-there.html

  4. Re:This is disputed by sycodon · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hold on... Where did you read that? ? ?

    No doubt, on the Internet.

    Bonjour!

    --
    When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
  5. Re:What a surprise by MightyYar · · Score: 3, Funny

    That's just liberal propaganda from Michael Moore. Flint was killed by the union.

    (Would I make a good troll?) :)

    --
    W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
  6. Re:This is disputed by desertrat_it · · Score: 3, Funny

    "Solar is dead. Most of the US doesn't get enough sun to make solar feasible. "

    Apparently I have been hallucinating all the sun in the Southern US States. Who knew that coulds could be so bright and shiny? Who knew that cloudiness would make me so sun... sorry, cloud-burned?

    Wow. I have been learned good.