Page 316 - Beyond Decommissioning

Case studies of nuclear redevelopment 297

suspended. Construction of unit 5 (only 16% complete) ceased in 1982. Of the initial
five nuclear units, only unit 2 went operational. For several years, WNP-3 equipment
was maintained in view of a future restart. Eventually the WPPSS administration
permanently terminated WNP-3 and closed the preservation fund (1994-5).
The Satsop Redevelopment Project took over the site ownership in 1999.
No structural demolition was considered at the time, but some large components
were planned to be removed and the buildings had to be refurbished for new purposes.
Some 9 ha were kept by WPPSS for a future combustion turbine power plant (later
constructed and operated under the name of Grays Harbor Energy Center.) This plant
has been generating 650 MW since 2008.
When in 1983 the WPPSS defaulted on 2.25 billion dollars in bonds, WNP-3 was
placed in an extended construction delay while nearly 76% complete. Construction of
WNP-5 ceased in 1982 while only 16% complete. Of the original five proposed
nuclear units, only WNP-2 was completed and went operational.
Equipment at WNP-3 was preserved to allow a possible restart of construction.
However, in 1994, the WPPSS board adopted a resolution to terminate WNP-3,
and preservation funding was discontinued the following year. In 1999, the ownership
of the site was transferred to the Satsop Redevelopment Project.
At the time, none of the plant structures were to be demolished, although some
equipment (such as the WNP-3 turbine) was to be removed and the buildings were
to be refurbished to support an industrial, business, or research park.
Satsop Business Park is a little bit of everything. The robust infrastructure of the
original nuclear site sat unused for many years. Citizens of Grays Harbor recog-
nized the value of this infrastructure and workedtotransferownership to apublic
development authority. The Grays Harbor Public Development Authority
(GHPDA) successfully converted the site from an unfinished state to a mixed-
use business park. In 2013, the GHPDA transferred the properties and management
of the Park to the Port of Grays Harbor. Reuse has brought a varied mix of business
and activity to the campus, ranging from an outstanding acoustical lab to film
shoots to an impressive tunnel training site used by the City of Seattle Fire
Department.
In general, Satsop offers:
l Ready to be used offices and meeting halls with access to fiber-optic telecommunications
through multiple private providers.
l Park tenants can access a labor pool drawn from a population of 200,000 within a 50-km
circle.
Motorways, railways, and Grays Harbor within easy reach.
l
Training facilities. From tunnel and enclosed space training to military preparedness and
l
customized events. Colleges nearby.
Onsite power as well as natural gas, industrial water, and sewer resources. Sewage treatment
l
plant available.
Diversity of film settings, from remote forests to cooling towers and concrete alcoves. Since
l
it was abandoned as a nuclear project, the site has provided the filming set for several pro-
jects and a “Metal Church” video. For example, “Echo at Satsop” was filmed there in the
aftermath of the 2011 Fukushima accident.