Nuclear renaissance in the United States: Difference between revisions
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==History== |
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In April 2009, Ameren Missouri canceled plans to build a second reactor at its mid-Missouri nuclear power plant. A key stumbling block was a law barring utilities from charging customers the costs of a new power plant before it starts producing electricity. The new nuclear plant would have cost at least $6 billion.<ref>[http://primebuzz.kcstar.com/?q=node/18179 Nuke plant is, well, nuked. Not gonna happen]</ref><ref>Terry Ganey. [http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2009/apr/23/amerenue-pulls-plug-callaway-2/ AmerenUE pulls plug on project] ''Columbia Daily Tribune'', April 23, 2009.</ref> |
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In August 2009, the Tennessee Valley Authority, faced with "falling electric sales and rising costs from cleaning up a massive [[Kingston Fossil Plant coal fly ash slurry spill|coal ash spill in Tennessee]]", trimmed plans for the potential four-unit Bellefonte nuclear plant to one reactor.<ref>[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009619802_apustvanuclear.html?syndication=rss TVA plan for Ala. nuclear plant drops to 1 reactor]</ref> |
In August 2009, the Tennessee Valley Authority, faced with "falling electric sales and rising costs from cleaning up a massive [[Kingston Fossil Plant coal fly ash slurry spill|coal ash spill in Tennessee]]", trimmed plans for the potential four-unit Bellefonte nuclear plant to one reactor.<ref>[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009619802_apustvanuclear.html?syndication=rss TVA plan for Ala. nuclear plant drops to 1 reactor]</ref> |
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Revision as of 04:09, 19 February 2011
This is a list of proposed nuclear reactor units across the United States. As of March 2010, U.S. regulators were expecting applications to build 26 new nuclear power reactors.[1] As of July 2010, fourteen of the new applications are for Westinghouse's AP1000 reactor which has been criticized on safety grounds;[2][3] the NRC anticipates completing the overall design certification review for the AP1000 around September 2011.[3] Several license applications filed with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for proposed new reactors have been suspended or cancelled.[4][5][6] The number of reactors with any serious prospect of being built as of the end of 2010 is about a dozen.[7][8]
History
In April 2009, Ameren Missouri canceled plans to build a second reactor at its mid-Missouri nuclear power plant. A key stumbling block was a law barring utilities from charging customers the costs of a new power plant before it starts producing electricity. The new nuclear plant would have cost at least $6 billion.[9][10]
In August 2009, the Tennessee Valley Authority, faced with "falling electric sales and rising costs from cleaning up a massive coal ash spill in Tennessee", trimmed plans for the potential four-unit Bellefonte nuclear plant to one reactor.[11]
In March 2010, Exelon withdrew its application for a construction and operating license for a twin-unit nuclear plant in Victoria County, Texas, citing lower electricity demand projections. The decision left the country’s largest nuclear operator without a direct role in what the nuclear industry hopes is a nuclear renaissance. In August 2010, Exelon bought John Deere Renewables, and is moving into wind power.[12]
As of September 2010, ground has been broken the Vogtle project and one other reactor in South Carolina. The prospects of a proposed project in Texas, South Texas 3 & 4, have been dimmed by a falling out among the partners. Two other reactors in Texas, four in Florida and one in Missouri have all been "moved to the back burner, mostly because of uncertain economics".[13]
On October 8, 2010, Constellation Energy Vice President and COO Michael J. Wallace informed the US Department of Energy that it was abandoning its partnership with Electricite de France (EDF) to build the Calvert Cliffs #3 nuclear plant due primarily to the high cost and "burdensome conditions" that the loan guarantee conditions which the United States government would place on the project. Wallace, in his letter, stated that any next steps in the further pursuit of the loan guarantee and the overall project were "for EDF to determine".[14] Press reports at the time[15][16] were indicating that this announcement could lead to the abandonment of the project, although negotiations between Constellation and EDF were continuing throughout October on possibilities and conditions for the advancement of the project by EDF alone in the absence of Constellation's participation.[17][18]
Applications
ABWR | Total Units: 2 | ||
---|---|---|---|
South Texas | 2 Units | 1358MWe x2 | |
APWR | Total Units: 3 | ||
Comanche Peak | 2 Units | 1700MWe x2 | |
North Anna | 1 Unit | 1538MWe[19] | |
AP1000 | Total Units: 13 | ||
Bellefonte | 2 Units | Trimmed plans to one reactor in August 2009[20] | |
Clinton | 1 Unit | ||
Levy County | 2 Units | 1105MWe x2 | |
Shearon Harris | 2 Units | 1100MWe x2 | |
Virgil C. Summer | 2 Units | 1100MWe x2 | |
Vogtle | 2 Units | 1117MWe x2 | |
William States Lee III | 2 Units | 1117MWe x2 | |
EPR | Total Units: 3 | ||
Bell Bend | 1 Unit | 1600MWe | |
Callaway | 1 Unit | Canceled April 2009[21][22] | |
Calvert Cliffs | 1 Unit | 1600MWe; project status uncertain due to Constellation Energy pullout from venture in October, 2010 | |
Nine Mile Point | 1 Unit | 1600MWe | |
ESBWR | Total Units: 1 | ||
Enrico Fermi | 1 Unit | 1520MWe | |
Undecided | but at least ESP filed | Total Units: 8 | |
Grand Gulf | 1 Unit | 1550MWe[23] | |
HT3R | 1 Unit | Currently in the design phase. HT3R is expected to be operational by 2021. | |
River Bend | 1 Unit | 1550MWe[24] | |
Susquehanna | 1 Unit | ||
Turkey Point | 2 Units | 1111MWe x2 or 1550MWe x2 | |
Victoria | 2 Units | Delayed July 2009[25][26] | |
Total sites |
See also
- Nuclear renaissance
- Economics of new nuclear power plants
- Generation III reactor
- Nuclear power in the United States
References
- ^ New Reactors (USNRC lists)
- ^ AP1000 containment insufficient for DBA, engineer claims Nuclear Engineering International, 29 April 2010.
- ^ a b Robynne Boyd. Safety Concerns Have Delayed Approval of First U.S. Nuclear Reactor in Decades Scientific American, July 29, 2010.
- ^ Eileen O'Grady. Entergy says nuclear remains costly Reuters, May 25, 2010.
- ^ Nuke plant is, well, nuked. Not gonna happen
- ^ Terry Ganey. AmerenUE pulls plug on project Columbia Daily Tribune, April 23, 2009.
- ^ Matthew L. Wald (December 7, 2010). Nuclear ‘Renaissance’ Is Short on Largess The New York Times.
- ^ Nuclear power in America: Constellation's cancellation, (October 16, 2010), The Economist, p. 61.
- ^ Nuke plant is, well, nuked. Not gonna happen
- ^ Terry Ganey. AmerenUE pulls plug on project Columbia Daily Tribune, April 23, 2009.
- ^ TVA plan for Ala. nuclear plant drops to 1 reactor
- ^ Matthew L. Wald. A Nuclear Giant Moves Into Wind The New York Times, August 31, 2010.
- ^ Matthew L. Wald. Aid Sought for Nuclear Plants Green, September 23, 2010.
- ^ Letter from Michael J. Wallace, Constellation Energy, to US Department of Energy Deputy Secretary Dan Poneman, October 8, 2010. [1].
- ^ Darren Goode. Constellation pulls plug on nuke reactor and $7.5 billion DOE loan The Hill, 9 October 2010.
- ^ Peter Behr. Constellation Pullout From Md. Nuclear Venture Leaves Industry Future Uncertain The New York Times, October 11, 2010.
- ^ "Constellation Energy Releases Statement Regarding EDF Letter on UniStar Joint Venture", Constellation Energy press release, October 13, 2010. [2].
- ^ Letter from Michael J. Wallace, Constellation Energy, to Thomas Piquemal, Group Executive Vice President, Electricite de France, October 15, 2010.[3].
- ^ Dominion Virginia Power Selects Mitsubishi's US-APWR Reactor Design for Possible Expansion at North Anna Nuclear Plant
- ^ TVA plan for Ala. nuclear plant drops to 1 reactor
- ^ Nuke plant is, well, nuked. Not gonna happen
- ^ Terry Ganey. AmerenUE pulls plug on project Columbia Daily Tribune, April 23, 2009.
- ^ Entergy bids goodbye to ESBWR
- ^ Entergy bids goodbye to ESBWR
- ^ Exelon delays plan for Texas nuclear plant
- ^ Exelon bids goodbye to GE Hitachi ESBWR
External links
- "Combined License Applications for New Reactors". U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). July 2, 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-08.