The Student Experience: Field Trip to Millstone Nuclear Powerplant

As conversations surrounding energy infrastructure dominate public and governmental discourse, nuclear power has emerged as a focal point as a result of its potential to provide stable, low carbon energy. With this in mind, students from the Yale Schmidt Program organized a visit to Connecticut’s Millstone Power Station. The visit offered students a rare firsthand look into the working intricacies of a modern nuclear power plant that is one of the state’s most critical energy facilities. This was an opportunity rarely afforded to college students owing to the negative public sentiment surrounding nuclear energy on campuses.

Millstone Power Station, owned and operated by Dominion Energy, is the backbone of Connecticut’s energy grid. Reactors function by heating water into steam, which drives turbines to generate electricity. The Millstone facility spans some 90 acres. With a total capacity exceeding 2 GW, it generates enough electricity to power 2 million homes, accounting for more than half of the state’s energy consumption and over 90% of its renewable energy production. Of its three reactors, two are currently operational, with Unit 1 having been decommissioned in 1998 after exceeding its operational lifespan. Beyond electricity, Millstone creates almost 4,000 jobs and contributes $1.5 billion to Connecticut’s economy annually.

The tour was split into two sections: a tour of the training area for nuclear personnel and a presentation from the Millstone security team on how the plant is protected.

Nuclear safety, as repeatedly emphasised by the plant directors, remains the plant's top priority, with protocols reflecting the lessons learned from past incidents like Fukushima or Three Mile Island. Visitors were reassured that radiation exposure risks were negligible, and, according to plant directors, were lower than what might be encountered at a coal plant. Onsite, robust safety systems ensure that reactors remain controlled and cooled, supported by highly trained operators working around the clock. Millstone’s training program, accredited by the U.S. government, includes a 20-month curriculum culminating in operator licensing. A highlight of the tour was exploring the plant’s simulator, where new operators are rigorously trained. Interestingly, the training system emphasises broad operational knowledge, with every operator being trained in every role. This effectively prepares personnel to handle complex, system-wide challenges to ensure smooth plant operations. This approach contrasts with some of the more compartmentalised models seen from international crises, which have faced criticism for limiting situational awareness when different operators did not have a holistic view of plant operations and thus mistakes were made.

Security at Millstone was another area that was heavily emphasised on the trip. A presentation by Millstone’s security team showcased the integration of physical and cybersecurity measures. Physical security at the plant is a significant operation, reflecting the heightened awareness post-9/11 of nuclear facilities as potential targets. Access to the plant’s critical areas involves multiple layers of control, including security cards, biometrics, and explosives detection. Additionally, physical barriers and bulletproof watchtowers reinforce the facility's defences. The tour also included a visit to Millstone’s shooting range. Boasting the largest on the east coast, the range was equipped with significant technologies, allowing for multi-level and reduced visibility shooting, supporting both plant security personnel and external agencies. Once a year, the plant’s physical defences are put to the test with a simulated assault on the facility, involving a coordinated effort from plant security, military personnel and local law enforcement. Another extremely important aspect of plant security that was covered was the stringent cybersecurity measures, with critical systems physically isolated from external networks, alongside robust protocols for plant operations that require external databases. The security team at Millstone was very willing to answer questions from the group, providing an in-depth assessment of all aspects of plant security and day-to-day operations.

Nuclear power, often overshadowed by controversies and misconceptions, remains one of the cleaner energy sources available. Millstone’s staff emphasized the importance of public education in dispelling myths and fostering support for nuclear initiatives. For instance, all the plant's spent fuel is securely stored onsite in advanced containment systems, demonstrating the industry's commitment to environmental stewardship. With governments and industries recognizing nuclear energy as a cornerstone of a sustainable and resilient energy strategy, facilities like Millstone are poised to play an even greater role in addressing future challenges.

This visit served not only as an educational opportunity but also as a reminder of the collaborative effort required to support energy transitions. Nuclear power, far from being a relic of the past, stands ready to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving world, and is a much safer energy system than public sentiment leads one to believe.