Kesselring reactor gets funds to remain open this year

[hrmjustin]

Tim O'Brien

Milton

The U.S. government will provide an extra $24 million that will prevent the shutting down of a nuclear reactor at the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory's Kesselring site, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer said Wednesday.

The Navy will provide $16 million so that sailor training can continue at the site, and the Department of Energy will provide $8 million for the operation of a Connecticut-based computer system necessary to keep the reactor running, he said.

"It was a tightrope walk, and fortunately we succeeded," Schumer said. "This is hundreds of jobs for the Capital Region, and it's important for the security of our nation."

Closing the reactor would cause hundreds of sailors and about 100 employees to be reassigned outside the region or laid off, federal officials have said.

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Kesselring-reactor-gets-funds-to-remain-open-this-5479257.php