For more than 50 years I've had the pleasure to call the Seacoast area my home. I'm also fortunate to own and operate our family-run business Preston Real Estate in Hampton and on Seabrook Beach. There are a lot of reasons we've been able to stay in business for so long starting with hard work, caring for our customers, and passion for the work we do. But directly across the marsh from our Seabrook office, I can see a constant reminder of another reason for our continued success — the nuclear power plant Seabrook Station.

To the Editor:



For more than 50 years I've had the pleasure to call the Seacoast area my home. I'm also fortunate to own and operate our family-run business Preston Real Estate in Hampton and on Seabrook Beach. There are a lot of reasons we've been able to stay in business for so long starting with hard work, caring for our customers, and passion for the work we do. But directly across the marsh from our Seabrook office, I can see a constant reminder of another reason for our continued success — the nuclear power plant Seabrook Station.



I know that back when the plant was being constructed it was a pretty divided issue. Still to this day, there are people who don't care for the plant even though it has been a great neighbor and operating safely for almost 24 years. From my perspective and literally living and working in the plant's backyard, I know that our town and community is a better place because of Seabrook Station.



The most obvious benefit one normally associates with Seabrook Station is the huge amount of tax revenue the plant contributes to the town. This money is used to improve our overall way of life through better schools, emergency response, municipal services and infrastructure improvements among many other examples. In turn, these improvements attract new businesses and people to our area. And, the plant has helped keep our property taxes stable. We have not had the wild gyrations other towns go through.



Another benefit of the plant you don't hear much about, and probably the one that has the most direct impact on my business, is the refueling outages the plant conducts every 18 months.



While the plant is off-line for scheduled maintenance, that doesn't mean less work at the plant. In fact, it means an influx of an additional 1000 highly-specialized workers who come to this area to support the outage staying for about two months. While that may not sound like a long time, the economic impact it has to my business and others in the community is significant. Seabrook Station's outages generate about $100,000 of revenue for my clients, who rent out cottages or houses to these temporary workers. My clients tell me and I can see firsthand what a huge economic boost these refueling outages provide our community. And all of these workers — some who bring their families — shop, eat and entertain locally generating even more revenue for local business owners.



Being in the real estate business, I definitely know the value of having a good neighbor. Good neighbors are worth their weight in gold. Good neighbors don't impose themselves on you but just seem to be there when you need them. They are solid and reliable good citizens. I know for a fact the people of Seabrook Station throughout the years have consistently provided the town of Seabrook support helping to make it a more pleasant and safer community. Just two recent examples come to mind: first, the Hannah Road project took idling delivery trucks off Railroad Avenue creating peace and quiet for those residents; another example, Seabrook Station helped to build a new access road on its property taking trucks headed to the transfer station off of Rocks Road making that road safer and not the thoroughfare it was for the transfer station. Seabrook Station has quietly without fanfare provided the financial support and community leadership for these kinds of projects that have helped improve our quality of life.



Whatever side of the nuclear energy issue you may be on, you have to give Seabrook Station credit for the benefits it provides.



The plant is truly an economic engine that has fueled our economy supporting local businesses and improving the fabric of our life. My only complaint is I wish its refueling outages were longer.



Bob Preston



Preston Real Estate



Seabrook