Watts Bar's 2nd nuclear reactor now operational

[Thunderpup]

I like hearing this sort of stuff, though i will admit to being biased as i work in the nuclear industry.

 

http://www.nei.org/News-Media/News/News-Archives/TVA-s-Watts-Bar-2-Officially-Begins-Operating

 

"Oct. 19, 2016—The Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) new Watts Bar 2 nuclear reactor today officially began producing electricity for more than 650,000 homes and businesses. Having successfully completed a rigorous power ascension testing program and operated at 100 percent power for 20 days, the 1,150 megawatt reactor joins its sister plant to provide carbon-free electricity to consumers in TVA’s seven-state service territory.

“This is a historic day. At a time when our nation and the world are seeking cleaner sources of affordable, reliable energy, Watts Bar Unit 2 is poised to produce tremendous environmental and economic benefits for communities in the Tennessee Valley for decades to come,” Nuclear Energy Institute President and Chief Executive Officer Marvin Fertel said.

“On behalf of the nuclear energy industry, NEI congratulates TVA and its supporting contractors and suppliers for this outstanding accomplishment.”

Watts Bar 2 is the first new nuclear reactor to begin commercial operations in the United States in the 21st century and coincidentally brings the number of U.S. reactors to an even 100. Nuclear energy facilities in 30 states generate 19 percent of America’s total electricity and nearly 63 percent of its carbon-free electricity.

“Nuclear energy along with wind and solar are the foundation for achieving our clean air goals, as reflected in the recent commitment between the United States, Canada and Mexico to cleanly generate one-half of North America’s electricity by 2025,” Fertel said. “We must take advantage of the strengths each of these energy sources offers.”

In addition to the North American pact, the U.S. is a party to the Paris Agreement that will come into effect Nov. 4 and to which America has committed to reduce its carbon emissions from power plants by 32 percent by 2030. State and regional clean energy standards, such as New York’s Clean Energy Standard, are expected to play increasing roles in meeting the United States’ national and international carbon reduction commitments.

TVA has a long-range goal to develop a cleaner portfolio of generation sources. The addition of Watts Bar 2, along with other decisions to lower carbon output, will help TVA achieve its goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 60 percent over 2005 levels within the next four years.

Based on historic capacity factors, Watts Bar 2 alone will generate electricity equivalent to one-third of the production from all wind turbines installed in the United States in 2015, and it will do so around-the-clock.

The Watts Bar power station prevents the emission of approximately 15 million metric tons of carbon dioxide—equivalent to taking more than three million cars off the road.

Full-scale operations of Watts Bar 2 will provide strong economic benefits to the region. The now two-reactor plant will provide nearly 1,000 permanent jobs paying above-average wages and contribute an average $470 million in goods and services each year to the regional economy, helping to drive the expansion of existing businesses and new business formation.

“We’re in a hotbed for industrial growth and have been meeting with clients that are heavy industrial users of electricity,” says Dennis Tumlin, executive director of the Rhea County Economic and Tourism Council. “Watts Bar Unit 2 is a big plus for us in attracting new businesses because they value the additional reliable power, knowing we can meet their needs.”

Watts Bar 1 began operating in May 1996. Combined, the two reactors produce 2,300 megawatts of electricity for nearly 1.3 million households.

“Thousands of men and women committed to completing Watts Bar Unit 2 safely and with high quality, and achieving commercial operations is a testament to their ability to deliver on that promise,” said Joe Grimes, TVA’s executive vice president of generation and chief nuclear officer."