United States Nuclear Power Generators Prepare for the Future

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Researched by Industrialinfo.com (Industrial Information Resources Incorporated; Houston, Texas). The United States nuclear energy generating sector is preparing for the future by planning nuclear generating unit additions and is initiating the licensing renewal process to extend existing unit lives by 20 years. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the Department of Energy (DOE), and some Investor Owned Utility (IOU) companies are studying ways to shorten the permitting process for new nuclear unit construction. Interested parties hope to reduce permit processing time down to five years as opposed to the ten plus years it can now take.

Companies like Dominion (NYSE: D) (Richmond, Virginia), Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR) (New Orleans, Louisiana), and Exelon Generation Company LLC (Kenneth Square, Pennsylvania), a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC) (Chicago, Illinois) are leading the way in the development of new nuclear generating units. These companies along with other Investor owned utilities Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) (Charlotte, North Carolina), Progress Energy (NYSE:PGN) (Raleigh, North Carolina), Constellation Energy Group (NYSE: CEG) (Baltimore, Maryland), and Tennessee Valley Authority (NYSE:TVC) (Knoxville, Tennessee) control the majority of nuclear generation and are also working on how to extend units lives by 50% from 40-years to 60-years.

Click on the image at right to view the Operational US Nuclear Units Table

Currently there are 103 active nuclear reactors at 67 sites in the United States producing over 103,000 megawatts (MW). To date, there have been seven plants and 14 units with renewal applications completed, representing 11,863 MW or 14.86 percent of the total nuclear capacity. There are ten plants with 16 units that are being reviewed by the NRC for the life extensions. If approved that would mean another 14,877 MW or 18.64 percent. Some of the plants will need additional or new cooling systems, new steam generators, new reactor heads, updated control systems, improved safety systems and new turbine/generators or new components.

There are several sites that are considering adding new nuclear generating units, including Amergen's Clinton nuclear station, and at Entergy's Grand Gulf nuclear station.

Aiding in reduction of permitting time the government has pre-approved seven types or models of reactors that can range from 100 MW with Pebble Bed Reactor to 1,000 MW or more.

Opponents of the use of nuclear energy, point out the hazards regarding these plants due to safety and environmental concerns. While nuclear plants do not emit air pollutants, such as NOx, SO2, Particulates, CO2, and mercury, storage of spent fuel is a great concern in the industry. The Federal Government has approved moving forward with the Yucca Mountain Project for disposal of nuclear waste as a solution to this problem. Plant safety for nuclear operations has always included strict inspections of operations and equipment. Since the terrorist attacks of 9-11 there has been increased attention given to protection against terrorism and sabotage.