Things are really starting to pick up in Spring City, Tennessee. Local day cares, hotels, hardware, and grocery stores are showing signs of better sales and higher profits. No, this is not the much anticipated economic recovery. This boost to the local economy is the result of some 1,600 workers and contractors who have flocked to the area to finish construction on the Watts Bar Unit 2 nuclear power plant. As many as 2,500 are scheduled to arrive by December of this year.
Construction of two nuclear reactors at Watts bar began in 1973. However cost overruns, political climate, protests by environmentalists, and lower estimates in demand delayed construction considerably. Unit 2 construction was halted at 80% completion in 1988 and unit 1 was not completed until 1996.
Spring City is the first among other areas such as Bay City, Texas and Levy County, Florida that may one day enjoy the economic benefits of hosting a newly completed nuclear generating station.
In 2007, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) decided to complete the construction on the second reactor. Completion is expected to cost TVA approximately $2.49 billion.
Upon completion, the Westinghouse Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) will produce 1,200 MegaWatts of emmision free energy and will supply as many as 650,000 homes. Combined, Unit 1 and 2 will supply electricity to as many as 1.3 million homes in Tennessee. The second unit will also become a source of several hundred new well paying permanent jobs for an area that has been hard hit by the economic collapse of the past year.
Some hurdles remain for TVA in the venture however. As of yet, the company only has the original construction license granted by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. In order to begin operation (expected 2013), the company will need to apply for an operating license. The process for obtaining such a license has proven to be lengthy in the past and can be delayed by frivolous law suits from environmental organizations with a history of intervention in new energy projects.
Despite previous setbacks and remaining obstacles, the local area is already beginning to feel an economic boost during otherwise tough economic times. As the nuclear renaissance continues, many other areas will also see the economic benefit both in reduced utility bills and new high paying jobs.
~Man Overboard
Images used in this Post
Watts Bar Nuclear Power Plant image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons published under the CC license.
7 Comments
It is good to hear that this project is getting picked up after decades of hang-ups. But those hang-ups are the roots of great frustration. I wonder the dollar amount that was wasted due to the unnecessary delays in this project. I would have to think there is a a certain amount of rework that has to happen at the hands of what were more than likely senseless delays.
But this is a classic example of better late than never. The real shame would have been an abandoned facility that was 80% complete. Jack, how many other “dead” nuclear projects are there in the country?
Well, there are two within 10 miles of your house.
I had no idea.
hey I’m a high school student at Central Valley high school in California and i am doing a research project on your career it would be a honor to be able to interview you if we could do that before 5/21 it would be greatly appreciated. if you can reach me before the night is over it would help because i need to write a business letter (no i wont be sending it) and i need your name(duh) and address if you dont mind
sorry forgot to put the “.com” on my last comment
hi sorry for not asking earlyer but what is the company address that ur plant works for
Sorry, not exactly the kind of information we like to publish on the internet.