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A bulldozer moves coal that will be burned to generate electricity at the American Electric Power coal-fired power plant in Winfield, West Virginia.
The recent announcement regarding the reinstatement of operations at Three Mile Island marks a significant moment for the nuclear power sector in the United States. However, experts assert that the country must accelerate the construction of new nuclear facilities to meet the growing electricity demand, as emphasized by Mike Goff, acting assistant secretary for the Office of Nuclear Energy at the Department of Energy.
Goff stated that to adequately respond to the rising electricity needs, decrease carbon emissions, and safeguard the nation’s energy independence, the U.S. must at least triple its nuclear capacity. Currently, the United States boasts the world’s largest fleet of nuclear reactors, with 94 reactors in operation, generating around 100 gigawatts of power and contributing to more than 18% of the nation’s electricity supply in 2023.
To bridge the gap, Goff indicated that approximately 200 gigawatts of new nuclear output is necessary—akin to constructing 200 new reactors, based on the current average reactor capacity. “This is a monumental task,” he stated, noting that the U.S. formed a global coalition last December with a commitment to achieve this ambitious target by 2050. Major financial institutions like Goldman Sachs and Bank of America recently expressed support for this initiative during a climate conference in New York.
Goff regarded Constellation Energy’s plans to restart Three Mile Island by 2028 as a positive development. He emphasized that the facility had operated safely and efficiently prior to its closure in 2019 due to economic factors, clarifying that the reactor set to reopen, Unit 1, is distinct from the one involved in the 1979 partial meltdown incident.
Microsoft has decided to procure power from the plant to support its data centers, which Goff noted underscores the urgent need for additional reactors. “The demand from data centers for reliable, round-the-clock clean energy has increased significantly,” he pointed out, adding that nuclear power is ideally suited to meet these requirements.
Nevertheless, Goff acknowledged that reviving existing reactors will only provide a fraction of the required nuclear capacity, as the number of viable candidates for restart is limited. “The potential for restarts isn’t extensive,” he remarked, highlighting the necessity for proactive deployment of new facilities.
From Coal to Nuclear
Communities historically reliant on coal could facilitate the rapid expansion of nuclear power. As utilities across the nation move away from coal to embrace cleaner energy sources, a gap in energy supply has emerged, attributed to the slow pace of constructing new generation assets.
A recent study by the Department of Energy identified that decommissioned coal plants, those slated for retirement, and facilities still operating could collectively accommodate up to 174 gigawatts of new nuclear capacity across 36 states.
These coal sites already possess essential transmission infrastructure, significantly streamlining the process of establishing new nuclear connections. Moreover, the existing workforce familiar with energy operations could transition smoothly to nuclear roles, according to Goff. “Constructing nuclear plants at former coal sites presents opportunities for substantial cost savings, possibly around 30% compared to greenfield developments,” he asserted.
Despite these advantages, obstacles remain, particularly concerning the exorbitant costs and extended timelines associated with new nuclear projects. For instance, the Vogtle expansion in Georgia encountered significant budget overruns, exceeding $30 billion and experiencing delays that stretched several years longer than anticipated.
According to the DOE study, the expansion of existing nuclear facilities and the development at retired coal locations could potentially yield an additional 95 gigawatts of new reactors. In total, sites associated with both coal and nuclear capabilities might have the capacity for up to 269 gigawatts of additional nuclear generation.
The feasibility of achieving this potential hinges on whether innovative, smaller reactor designs are implemented, or if larger facilities providing a gigawatt or more of power are built. The rollout of smaller reactors could maximize the overall generation capacity, contingent on their future commercialization, which remains at least a few years away.
However, the increasing electricity demand from sectors such as data centers, manufacturing, and the overall electrification of the economy may spur the construction of larger reactors. For instance, the Three Mile Island revival would bring nearly a gigawatt of power back online, primarily for Microsoft’s requirements.
“This surge in power demand could catalyze further investment into large-scale reactors,” Goff stated.
Restarts Likely to Secure Greenlight
While the restart of existing reactors is not a comprehensive solution, maintaining and enhancing the current nuclear fleet remains essential. The U.S. previously faced a decade where numerous reactors were retired due to their inability to compete with the低 natural gas prices.
Current economic conditions are improving, bolstered by tax incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act, coupled with the growing acknowledgment of nuclear energy’s carbon-neutral benefits, noted Goff. “There is a newfound appreciation for the value of clean, reliable baseload electricity which nuclear provides,” he remarked.
The decision by Constellation to reopen Three Mile Island aligns with similar plans for the Palisades plant in Michigan, which Holtec International intends to restart by 2025. Both initiatives will undergo review and approval by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which Goff believes will be favorable given the established safety protocols of the operators.
Yet, securing permission to restart additional plants could prove challenging, according to Doug True, chief nuclear officer at the Nuclear Energy Institute. “It’s becoming increasingly complex. A number of these facilities are already in the process of being dismantled, and the conditions for repurposing them for nuclear use may not be feasible,” he noted.
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