The former Three Mile Island power plant will restart the Unit 1 nuclear reactor as part of a deal with Microsoft, the Constellation Energy Corporation announced Friday morning.”Unit 1 here has a great legacy. Forty-five years this unit ran – stellar performance, reliability,” Constellation community relations manager Dave Marcheskie said.The Unit 1 reactor was shut down five years ago due to economic reasons. The restart comes as Microsoft signed a 20-year deal with Constellation to provide power for Microsoft’s data centers. The agreement paves the way for what the companies are calling the Crane Clean Energy Center.Constellation says they expect the refurbished power plant to be online in 2028.However, some community members and watchdogs think there are public health and safety concerns that must be addressed.”I am absolutely convinced that the governor, and the legislature, and the labor are full-throated in support of this, but I think they’re moving too quickly without the proper inspection and oversight,” said Eric Epstein.He’s the former chairman of Three Mile Island Alert, a group that promotes safe energy alternatives to nuclear power.Local leaders acknowledged a reserved reaction from some residents but noted there are big boosts to tax revenue that could accompany the restart.”We are very positively thinking about the reopening here. Cognizant of a lot of our residents who have concerns because we people that are here since the accident and have real concerns about safety,” Londonderry Township Supervisor Anna Dale said.A number of agencies will need to sign off on the plan, including the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.TMI restart planConstellation plans to make significant investments to restore:The plant’s turbineGeneratorMain power transformerCooling and control systemsRestarting a nuclear reactor requires:Approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory CommissionA thorough safety and environmental reviewPermits from relevant state and local agenciesConstellation will seek a license renewal to extend plant operations until at least 2054.Company leaders release statementsConstellation President and CEO Joe Dominguez | “Powering industries critical to our nation’s global economic and technological competitiveness, including data centers, requires an abundance of energy that is carbon-free and reliable every hour of every day, and nuclear plants are the only energy sources that can consistently deliver on that promise. … Before it was prematurely shuttered due to poor economics, this plant was among the safest and most reliable nuclear plants on the grid, and we look forward to bringing it back with a new name and a renewed mission to serve as an economic engine for Pennsylvania. We are especially honored to name this new plant after our former CEO Chris Crane, who was a fierce advocate for our business, devoting his entire career to the safe, reliable operation of our nation’s nuclear fleet, and we will continue that legacy at the Crane Clean Energy Center.”Microsoft VP of Energy Bobby Hollis | “This agreement is a major milestone in Microsoft’s efforts to help decarbonize the grid in support of our commitment to become carbon negative. Microsoft continues to collaborate with energy providers to develop carbon-free energy sources to help meet the grids’ capacity and reliability needs.”History of TMI: America’s worst nuclear accidentThe Unit 2 reactor at Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Dauphin County partially melted down on March 28, 1979.A combination of equipment malfunctions, design-related problems, and worker errors led to the partial meltdown.The incident prompted major changes in:Emergency response planningOperator trainingRadiation protectionOther areas of nuclear power plant operationsThe U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission increased its oversight due to the incident.Unit 2 was permanently shut down after the accident.Cleanup officially ended in December 1993.Below: Archival video, 1979 – Met-Ed officials announce partial meltdown.
The former Three Mile Island power plant will restart the Unit 1 nuclear reactor as part of a deal with Microsoft, the Constellation Energy Corporation announced Friday morning.
“Unit 1 here has a great legacy. Forty-five years this unit ran – stellar performance, reliability,” Constellation community relations manager Dave Marcheskie said.
The Unit 1 reactor was shut down five years ago due to economic reasons. The restart comes as Microsoft signed a 20-year deal with Constellation to provide power for Microsoft’s data centers.
The agreement paves the way for what the companies are calling the Crane Clean Energy Center.
Constellation says they expect the refurbished power plant to be online in 2028.
However, some community members and watchdogs think there are public health and safety concerns that must be addressed.
“I am absolutely convinced that the governor, and the legislature, and the labor are full-throated in support of this, but I think they’re moving too quickly without the proper inspection and oversight,” said Eric Epstein.
He’s the former chairman of Three Mile Island Alert, a group that promotes safe energy alternatives to nuclear power.
Local leaders acknowledged a reserved reaction from some residents but noted there are big boosts to tax revenue that could accompany the restart.
“We are very positively thinking about the reopening here. Cognizant of a lot of our residents who have concerns because we people that are here since the accident and have real concerns about safety,” Londonderry Township Supervisor Anna Dale said.
A number of agencies will need to sign off on the plan, including the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
TMI restart plan
- Constellation plans to make significant investments to restore:
- The plant’s turbine
- Generator
- Main power transformer
- Cooling and control systems
- Restarting a nuclear reactor requires:
- Approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- A thorough safety and environmental review
- Permits from relevant state and local agencies
- Constellation will seek a license renewal to extend plant operations until at least 2054.
Company leaders release statements
Constellation President and CEO Joe Dominguez | “Powering industries critical to our nation’s global economic and technological competitiveness, including data centers, requires an abundance of energy that is carbon-free and reliable every hour of every day, and nuclear plants are the only energy sources that can consistently deliver on that promise. … Before it was prematurely shuttered due to poor economics, this plant was among the safest and most reliable nuclear plants on the grid, and we look forward to bringing it back with a new name and a renewed mission to serve as an economic engine for Pennsylvania. We are especially honored to name this new plant after our former CEO Chris Crane, who was a fierce advocate for our business, devoting his entire career to the safe, reliable operation of our nation’s nuclear fleet, and we will continue that legacy at the Crane Clean Energy Center.”
Microsoft VP of Energy Bobby Hollis | “This agreement is a major milestone in Microsoft’s efforts to help decarbonize the grid in support of our commitment to become carbon negative. Microsoft continues to collaborate with energy providers to develop carbon-free energy sources to help meet the grids’ capacity and reliability needs.”
History of TMI: America’s worst nuclear accident
- The Unit 2 reactor at Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Dauphin County partially melted down on March 28, 1979.
- A combination of equipment malfunctions, design-related problems, and worker errors led to the partial meltdown.
- The incident prompted major changes in:
- Emergency response planning
- Operator training
- Radiation protection
- Other areas of nuclear power plant operations
- The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission increased its oversight due to the incident.
- Unit 2 was permanently shut down after the accident.
- Cleanup officially ended in December 1993.
Below: Archival video, 1979 – Met-Ed officials announce partial meltdown.
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