Power Plants

Brayton Point Power Station

Brayton Point Power Station Brayton Point Power Station was the largest fossil fuel power plant in New England, located at the confluence of the Taunton River and Mount Hope Bay in Somerset, Massachusetts. The facility was operated by various owners including New England Power Company and Dynegy.

Last verified: 2026-03-09

Legal & editorial

Written by Paul Danziger, J.D. · Edited by Rod De Llano, J.D. · Legally reviewed by Michelle Whitman (affiliated firm)

Editorial Policy & Advisory Board

Location: Somerset, MA
Industry: Coal & Oil-Fired Electric Power Generation
Exposure Era: 1960s–1980s
Primary Asbestos Products: Boiler insulation, Pipe insulation, Turbine insulation, Gaskets, Valve packing, Refractory materials
Job Categories at Risk: Boiler operators, Maintenance workers, Pipe fitters, Insulators, Electricians, Laborers

History & Asbestos Use

Brayton Point Power Station began operations in 1963 and grew to include four generating units burning coal and oil. As New England's largest fossil fuel plant, it was a critical part of the regional power grid for over 50 years. Asbestos-containing materials were used extensively during the plant's construction and expansion. The facility was decommissioned in 2017 and the iconic cooling tower was demolished in 2019, marking the end of an era for New England power generation.

Exposure Details

Workers at Brayton Point were exposed to asbestos through boiler insulation, pipe lagging, turbine wrapping, gaskets, valve packing, and refractory materials. The plant's four units required continuous maintenance, and workers regularly encountered deteriorating asbestos insulation. During outage periods, crews performed extensive insulation replacement work inside boiler enclosures and turbine halls, where airborne asbestos fibers accumulated in confined spaces.

Workers at Risk

The following job categories at Brayton Point Power Station had the highest risk of asbestos exposure:

Boiler operators
Maintenance workers
Pipe fitters
Insulators
Electricians
Laborers

Health Effects

Former Brayton Point workers have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, and asbestos-related lung cancer. The New England region has documented significant numbers of asbestos-related disease cases linked to power plants, shipyards, and industrial facilities. Workers who were employed during the plant's early decades face the highest risk due to minimal protective measures in that era.

Health information is based on established medical research on asbestos exposure. Asbestos is classified as a known human carcinogen by the National Cancer Institute, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Consult a physician for medical advice specific to your situation.

Compensation May Be Available

Workers exposed to asbestos at Brayton Point Power Station may be entitled to compensation through asbestos trust funds, personal injury lawsuits, or veterans benefits. Mesothelioma patients and their families have recovered billions in compensation from companies that manufactured or used asbestos products.

3 asbestos trust funds have been identified as potentially related to exposure at this site. Many mesothelioma patients qualify to file claims with multiple trusts simultaneously.

Find Out If You Qualify

Were You Exposed to Asbestos at Brayton Point Power Station?

Workers who were employed at Brayton Point Power Station between 1960s–1980s may have been exposed to asbestos-containing materials. If you've been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may have legal options including trust fund claims and lawsuits.

Speak with an Attorney — Free Request a Free Case Evaluation

Related Asbestos Trust Funds

Workers exposed to asbestos at Brayton Point Power Station may be eligible to file claims with the following trust funds:

Treatment Centers in Massachusetts

If you were exposed to asbestos at Brayton Point Power Station and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, these specialized treatment centers in Massachusetts may be able to help.

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Boston, MA

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VA Boston Healthcare System

Boston, MA

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Frequently Asked Questions

Was asbestos used at Brayton Point Power Station?

Yes. Brayton Point was built in the 1960s and expanded through the 1970s using asbestos-containing materials for boiler insulation, pipe insulation, turbine wrapping, gaskets, and refractory materials.

Who was at risk for asbestos exposure at Brayton Point?

Boiler operators, pipe fitters, insulators, maintenance workers, and electricians all faced significant asbestos exposure, particularly during outage maintenance when insulation was removed and replaced in confined boiler and turbine areas.

Can former Brayton Point workers file compensation claims?

Yes. Workers diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases after working at Brayton Point can pursue compensation through asbestos trust funds and legal claims, even though the plant has been decommissioned.

I worked here but I have no employment records. Does that end it?

No. Missing paperwork is normal after this long, and it is not what decides a claim. A Social Security earnings statement lists every employer you had, by year, and can usually be requested directly. Union records, W-2s and a DD-214 for military service do similar work. Coworkers who were there can also confirm conditions. What matters most is what you remember, written down in your own words.

My father or husband worked here and has since died. Can the family still file?

Yes. A wrongful death claim can be brought by the estate or eligible family members, and it is a separate route from a claim the patient would have brought themselves. It also runs on a different clock: the deadline generally starts at the date of death rather than the date of diagnosis, which means families are sometimes still in time when they assume they are not. Deadlines are set by each state, so confirm the one that applies to yours.

I never worked here, but a family member did. Could I have been exposed?

Possibly. Asbestos fibres travelled home on work clothes, in hair and in vehicles, and household members were exposed while washing laundry or greeting someone at the end of a shift. This is called secondhand or take-home exposure and it is a recognised route to a claim in its own right, not an exception. If you are documenting a family member's work history, write down your own contact with their work clothing as well.

Did you work at Brayton Point Power Station? Write this down now

You do not need a lawyer, a diagnosis, or a decision to do this. You need a piece of paper. Memory is the part of a claim nobody else can reconstruct for you, and it is the part that fades.

The years you worked there — approximate is fine, and a range is fine
Your trade or job title, and what you actually did day to day
Which building, unit, ship or area you spent your time in
Who else was there — names of crew, foremen, or anyone who could confirm it later
Anything you remember about the materials — write what you recall on your own, before looking anything up. Details you remember unprompted are the ones that hold up years later when you are asked under oath. Details you read on a website do not.

If you are doing this for a relative who has died, write down what you remember too, including work clothes brought home to be washed. Household exposure is a real claim, not an edge case.

Worked at Brayton Point Power Station? Tell us the years and your trade

That is usually enough to work out which claims are open to you — trust funds, a lawsuit, or VA benefits if the exposure happened in service. You do not need records, dates you are certain of, or the name of a product. If you are asking on behalf of someone who has died, a family member can file and the deadline runs differently. No cost, no obligation, and no pressure to decide anything today.

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Sources:

EPA records — accessed 2026-03-09
OSHA compliance records — accessed 2026-03-09
New England Power Company historical records — accessed 2026-03-09
Massachusetts DEP records — accessed 2026-03-09

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