A three-judge panel with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) denied a filing by the state of Massachusetts to stop the license approval of Entergy’s (NYSE: ETR) 685 MW Pilgrim nuclear power plant in Massachusetts.

Reuters reports that the panel said the state’s opposition was based on the accident at the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan back in March. The NRC said in the article that any lessons learned from the Fukushima accident would be implemented at all new or existing reactors in the U.S. NRC is currently implementing seven safety recommendations from the NRC’s Near-Term Task Force.

The license for the Pilgrim plant is set to expire in 2012. Entergy applied in 2006 to renew it for 20 years until 2032. The plant can continue to operate so long as the renewal process is ongoing.

The state can appeal the ruling to the full commission.

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