On Oct. 1, 2020, Accelerated Decommissioning Partners and Duke Energy completed a transaction to begin decontamination and dismantlement of the Crystal River Nuclear Plant in Citrus County, Fla., in 2020 instead of 2067 – nearly 50 years sooner than originally planned.

The process involves removing, packaging, and shipping radioactive materials, such as the reactor vessel, to an off-site licensed disposal facility, and then demolishing buildings.

Under the contract reached in May 2019, Duke Energy remains the Nuclear Regulatory Commission-licensed owner of the nuclear plant, property, and equipment (except the dry cask storage facility assets) and retains ownership and control of the trust fund that pays for the decommissioning.

Duke Energy will also continue to have access to the site and will pay Accelerated Decommissioning Partners only for work completed.

Accelerated Decommissioning Partners became the Nuclear Regulatory Commission-licensed operator responsible for decommissioning the plant in compliance with all state and federal regulations.

Accelerated Decommissioning Partners also became responsible for operating and maintaining the on-site dry cask storage facility and owns the dry cask storage system assets, including the used nuclear fuel assemblies.