Oyster Creek Generating Station is located in Lacey Township, Ocean County, near the New Jersey Shore. Oyster Creek began operating in 1969 as the first large-scale commercial nuclear power plant in the United States. Its single boiling water reactor produces 625 net megawatts. Exelon, through its Exelon Nuclear subsidiary, owns and operates the facility.
The Site Vice President for Oyster Creek is Mike Massaro.
The Oyster Creek Plant Manager is Pete Orphanos.
Emergency Planning:
Oyster Creek employs a sophisticated emergency response plan to protect public health and safety. Both the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the state of New Jersey approved the plan. The Emergency Plan includes coordination with local counties, municipalities and school districts.
Supporting the Local Economy
Oyster Creek nuclear energy plant in Ocean County, NJ, is an integral part of the local economy. The plant provides jobs and makes purchases that stimulate the local economy directly and indirectly. The benefits to the area include jobs, tax revenues, economic output, labor income and contributions to the local community. And there are other intangible benefits, such as clean air, environmental stewardship and low, stable electricity prices. Oyster Creek's economic impact reaches beyond the local community to the state and even the national level.
Oyster Creek employs approximately 450 people, not including the plants security personnel. Oyster Creek creates approximately one additional job in Ocean County for every job at the plant. In addition to the plant's 450 employees, the economic activity generated by Oyster Creek creates another 563 jobs in the county. Given the combination of employees at the plant and secondary jobs created by Oyster Creek's economic activity, the plant is responsible for 915 jobs in Ocean County and 1,034 jobs across New Jersey.
The operation of the Oyster Creek plant increased wages to Ocean County residents by $52.9 million in 2003 and across New Jersey by $69.3 million.
The operation of Oyster Creek and the increased output associated with it accounts for 1,034 jobs in New Jersey and 915 jobs in Ocean County. In addition to earnings to workers, the plant and the economic activity generated by it account for $12.3 million in state and local tax payments.
The Oyster Creek plant pays an estimated $9.2 million in state and local taxes annually. Additionally, the economic activity generated by Oyster Creek contributes another $3.1 million in state and local taxes, through increased property, sales and income taxes. By combining direct and indirect taxes, the Oyster Creek plant accounts for $12.3 million in state and local tax payments.
Community Involvement
Oyster Creek has the largest employee-run United Way campaign in Ocean County and make up about a third of that agencies annual donations. In 2009, the station employees contributed $280,000 to the United Way of Ocean County.
The plant contributed another $70,000 toward community programs over a two-year period.
Oyster Creek employees participate in a number of community and civic activities such as, the bi-annual American Red Cross Blood Drive, a Thanksgiving food drive and an annual clothing drive