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New Jersey Nuclear Industry |
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Report Updated:
August 18, 2006
Contribution of Nuclear Power As of January 1, 2005, New Jersey ranked 10th among the 31 States with nuclear capacity.The leading source of electricity in 2004 in the State was nuclear power (see Table). In 2004, National nuclear generation reached record levels. In New Jersey, the nuclear industry's share of electric output dropped by 4 percent as coal and gas modestly increased their share.
New Jersey Nuclear Highlights
New Jersey Nuclear Industry New Jersey has two BWR (boiling water reactor) single-unit nuclear power plants (Hope Creek and Oyster Creek) and the Salem nuclear plant with two PWR (light water reactor) units.
Information on the current status of all license renewal applications appears on the NRC web site at http://www.nrc.gov. To locate the data, select "index," then select the letter "l" and click on "License Renewal". International Atomic Energy Agency PRIS file, Operating History, contains data on load factor, availability factor, historical output, and more. Air Quality in New Jersey
Cooling Towers Viewing the massive cooling tower at Hope Creek, it is easy to understand why many people regard cooling towers as symbolic of nuclear energy. In truth, however, many nuclear facilities do not have cooling towers. Neither of the two light water reactors at the Salem plant, on the same site, have any. Nor are these structures limited to nuclear plants. Many are located at fossil fuel plants. Some are located at chemical plants. But the role of cooling towers at nuclear power plants differs from their purpose at other facilities. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, "A cooling tower is designed to remove heat by pumping water up into the tower and allowing it to fall down inside the tower. Air comes in from the sides of the tower and passes by the falling water. As the air passes the water, it exchanges some of the heat and evaporates some of the water. This heat and evaporated water flowing out the top of the tower is in the form of a fine cloud-like mist. The cooled water is collected at the bottom of the tower and pumped back into the plant for reuse. Cooling towers are used where land and (or) water are expensive, or where State of Federal regulations make alternatives impractical." The vapor rising from the cooling tower in the photograph is non-radioactive steam, not smoke. Although nuclear power plants in New Jersey and other States are free of harmful emissions, cooling towers are not without controversy. Some cooling towers rely on water drawn from natural waterways. There are exceptions, such as Palo Verde in Arizona, which uses purified sewage water. The State of New Jersey has raised concerns that the reliance of Hope Creek and the Nations' oldest nuclear plant, Oyster Creek, on natural waterways has resulted in fish kills. Because of re-licensing concerns this is a problem that owners are working diligently to address.
More Information on New Jersey's Nuclear Industry Nuclear Generation Electricity generation by nuclear power plants is available for each reactor and each State for the following years: Contact: |
see also:
annual
nuclear statistics back to 1953
projected
electricity capacity to 2025
international
electricity statistics