Texas Nuclear Industry
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© Preparing for refueling at a South Texas Project reactor.South Texas Project (STP), used with permission. |
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©STP. The reactor core. |
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©STP. Inserting the fuel assembly in the reactor core. |
Contribution of Nuclear Power
As of January 1, 2005, Texas ranked 7th among the 31 States with nuclear capacity.
In 2004, the Nation set a new record for electricity generation at nuclear power plants. During 2004, the larger of Texas' two nuclear power plants was uprated in capacity, contributing to a new State record for nuclear output. For the first time, Texas generated more than 40 billion kilowatt hours. As a result, nuclear accounted for 2 percent more of the electricity supply than in either 2003 or 2002.
Like neighboring Louisiana, natural gas is the dominant fuel in the State's electricity sector. Also, like Louisiana, natural gas accounts for almost as much electricity as the 2nd ranked fuel (coal) and the 3rd ranked fuel (nuclear) combined.
Nearly 40 percent of Texas' electricity output relies on coal, and nearly all of that coal comes from captive mines (coal mines that are owned by the utilities they supply). Texas produces a low sulfur coal, an important consideration in the State's struggle to lower emissions rates. In 2002, Texas ranked highest in carbon dioxide emissions but fourth in sulfur dioxide emissions.
| Electricity Market in Texas (Percent Generated by Fuel) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yea | Coal | Natural Gas |
Hydro | Nuclear | Other |
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2004* |
39 |
48 |
** |
11 |
3 |
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2003 |
39 |
49 |
** |
9 |
3 |
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2002 |
37 |
52 |
** |
9 |
2 |
| Source: EIA-860, "Annual Electric Generator Report" and EIA-906, "Power Plant Report" *Total exceed 100 percent due to independent rounding **Less than 1 percent | |||||
| Nuclear Power Generation in Texas, 1990 through 2004 Million Kilowatt Hours |
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| Sources: Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-906, Power Plant Report, and predecessor forms. |
Texas Nuclear Highlights
- The South Texas Project ranks 16th on the National Energy Information Center's list of the 100 Largest Utility Plants in the United States (based on 2003 data). Comanche Peak ranked 51st.
- The Texas Institute for the Advancement of Chemical Technology prepared a study of the potential impact of nuclear power on the chemical industry on Texas Gulf Coast. The study noted that rising gas prices had resulted in chemical plant closings. The final report, published February 28, 2005, is available on-line from the Department of Energy at http://www.nuclear.gov.
Until the recent uprating of the number 2 reactor at Palo Verde in Arizona, the two South Texas Project (STP) reactors were the largest in the Nation. The twin Texas reactors are still large enough to place South Texas' capacity in the upper fifth of the Nation's power plants. EIA ranked STP 16th in 2003
The South Texas Power plant initially planned to shut down prior to the onslaught of hurricane Rita. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission sent several inspectors to observe conditions at the plant. It was decided to keep South Texas in operation. South Texas 2 was in the act of gradually bring power down to prepare for re-fueling, but South Texas 1 continued to operate at full power. The fact that on-site power was available in the event of an emergency was an essential factor in the decision.
| Nuclear Power Plants in Texas Net Generation and Capacity, 2004 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant Name | Nuclear Units | Capacity Net MW(e) |
Share of State Nuclear Generation (percent) |
Operator/Owner |
| Comanche Peak | Units 1 and 2 | R 2,208 | 47 | Texas Utilities Corp./(Same) |
| South Texas | Units 1 and 2 | R 2,560 | 53 | South Texas Project Nuclear Operating Co./(various) |
| Total | 4 Reactors | R 4,768 | 100 | -- | Source: Form EIA-860, "Annual Electric Generator Report," and Form EIA-906, "Power Plant Report." |
International Atomic Energy Agency PRIS file, Operating History, contains data on load factor, availability factor, historical output, and more.
License Renewal
According to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), all of the commercial reactors in Texas are fully licensed to operate until after 2020. The earliest expiration date for any of the four reactors is in 2027 (for South Texas 1).
Information on the current status of all license renewal applications appears on the NRC website at http://www.nrc.gov . To locate the data on this site, select "index" at the top and then choose the letter "l." Click on "license renewal".
Air Quality in Texas
Of the 50 States plus the District of Columbia, the electric industry of the State of Texas ranked highest in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2004. The State's electric industry ranks 5th highest in sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions and 3rd highest in nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.
| Texas
Airborne Emissions, Electricity Sector, 1990-2004 Metric Tons |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Carbon Dioxide CO2 |
Sulfur Dioxide SO2 |
Nitrogen Oxides NOX |
| 1990 | 208,487,057 | 568,924 | 662,759 |
| 1991 | 208,837,941 | 561,699 | 692,169 |
| 1992 | 207,800,877 | 572,615 | 626,685 |
| 1993 | 223,506,528 | 625,957 | 655,927 |
| 1994 | 217,821,547 | 561,585 | 629,966 |
| 1995 | 218,414,058 | 567,843 | 633,721 |
| 1996 | 228,973,825 | 727,374 | 452,768 |
| 1997 | 235,841,179 | 741,295 | 459,799 |
| 1998 | 245,214,616 | 605,338 | 483,961 |
| 1999 | 251,013,626 | 711,918 | 457,297 |
| 2000 | 260,396,425 | 625,837 | 432,079 |
| 2001 | 251,927,007 | 596,788 | 389,331 |
| 2002 | 255,805,898 | 576,085 | 328,522 |
| 2003 | 254,955,060 | 614,079 | 251,593 |
| 2004 | 255,651,224 | 574,503 | 226,204 |
| Sources: Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-906, Power Plant Report, and predecessor forms. | |||
| Texas Airborne Emissions, Electricity Sector, 1990-2004 (CO2)* |
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| *Carbon Dioxide |
Texas Airborne Emissions, Electricity Sector, 1990-2004 (SO2)* |
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| *Sulfur Dioxide |
Texas Airborne Emissions, Electricity Sector, 1990-2004 (NOX)* |
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| *Nitrogen Oxide |
More Information on Texas' Nuclear Industry
Nuclear Generation
Electricity generation by nuclear power plants is available for each reactor and each State for the following years:
Contact: