Initial opposition for constructing the plant was led by Citizens for Safe Power,the Audubon Naturalist Council, the Natural Resources Council of Maine, and Maine’s Governor Kenneth M. Curtis, in the form of a petition to the Atomic Energy Comisson; asking for the suspension of the plants operating license due to the concern with environmental and safety issues.[1] The group failed to stop construction but succeeded in persuading the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to impose stricter environmental standards and monitoring. After the malfunction of the Three Mile Island power plant in Pennsylvania, two concerned citizens of Wiscasset, Raymond and Patricia Shadis,led a 1,000 participant march to the capital of Maine to propose a statewide anti nuclear petition. The initiative to eliminate nuclear power in Maine was voted on several times between 1982 and 1987, however it failed to get the needed support each time.[1] Finally in 1987, after narrowly missing a vote to shut down the power plant the Nuclear Regulatory Committee (NRC), decided to investigate the power plant for safety violations.[1] Due to violations found in 1996, the plant underwent decommissioning and is now no longer in working order.[1]

  1. ^ a b c d Bisgaard-Church, Elliana (25 September 2011). "Citizens protest against Maine Yankee Nuclear Power Plant, Wiscasset Maine 1979-87". Global Nonviolent Action Database.