Humboldt Bay Power Plant—Past, Present and Future

The text and photos illustrate the history, current activities and future of the site projects.

1956 to 1958	Fossil Operations began with Unit 1 commissioned in 1956 and Unit 2 in 1958. Photo looks North, showing the two units with offices, shop and switchyard in foreground.
1963		Nuclear (Unit 3) came on line in 1963. Photo looks South, showing the initial construction of the concrete caisson (which will contain the reactor below grade) for Unit 3, adjacent to Unit 2.
1976 to 1986	Unit 3 was shut down in 1976 for refueling and seismic upgrades. Upgrades and repairs subsequently extended the planned shutdown period. In that interval, there were significant changes to nuclear safety standards for reactor operation and design. Ultimately, the decision was made that further modifications were not economical, and that Unit 3 would not be restarted. In 1986, PG&E requested an NRC license amendment for SAFSTOR, a condition which would permit Unit 3 to store nuclear fuel, but not operate. This SAFSTOR license was received in 1988.
1999		The Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) is constructed. The ISFSI consists of concrete vaults where the fuel transport casks will be stored below grade in the hill NW of the plant.
May 2008	Non-fuel Spent Fuel Pool (SFP) materials were shipped to Barnwell, SC to permit ISFSI cask loading. The photo shows an ISFSI cask in the SFP cask pit, ready for fuel loading.
July 2008		First cask of spent fuel is carried from the Unit 3 Spent Fuel Pool to the ISFSI.
December 2008	Completed fuel transfer to the Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI).
December 10, 2008	Humboldt Bay Generation Station (HBGS) Groundbreaking. The HBGS will consist of 10 large reciprocating engines. HBGS will be 33% more efficient than the existing HBPP fossil fuel Units 1 and 2 with 83% fewer ozone precursors and 33% fewer CO2 emissions. It will use a closed loop cooling system with negligible water usage, eliminating the need to use water from Humboldt Bay for once-through cooling.
January to March 2009		Dismantled and removed Fuel Oil Storage Tank #2 to clear an area for equipment access, material laydown and worker parking.
May 1, 2009	Decommissioning Kick-off in new parking lot.
May 4, 2009	Work to prepare for Nuclear Decommisioning begins with removal of Unit 3 Generator Transformers. This permits access to the Generator on top of the turbine foundation at the left side of the photo.	.
June 2009		The nuclear Unit 3 Reactor Shield Plug was removed, exposing the Drywell cover above the Reactor. Two workers inspect cover, noting signatures of workers who closed the Drywell in 1986.
July 2009	The Unit 3 Generator Exciter is removed to provide access to the Generator, and eventually to the Turbine and Condenser. Work in the background is construction of the HBGS foundations.
September 2009		Unit 3 main generator removal. The turbine is located behind the concrete wall in the background.
October 2009	Nuclear Plant disassembly begins.
October 2009		The new generators for the Humboldt Bay Generating Station (HBGS) arrive.
April 2010	HBGS construction completed.
July 2010	HBGS enters full operation. Fossil Units 1&2 permanently shut down and decommissioning begins.
March 2012	Unit 3 spent fuel pool removal begins.
April 2012	Fossil decommissioning completed. Unit 3 reactor vessel removal begins.
October 2012	Prepare Unit 3 buildings for demolition to begin.
October 2013	Actual demolition of Unit 3 building begins.
June 2014	Site restoration begins.
December 2015	Site restoration complete and Unit 3 NRC license terminated.