Tennessee Valley Authority
Bellefonte Site
Bellefonte Nuclear Unit 1, in Hollywood, Ala., is currently in the design and engineering phase. When complete, Bellefonte Unit 1 will provide low-cost, reliable and clean energy for the Tennessee Valley.
Background
The TVA board of directors approved moving forward with design and engineering of Bellefonte Unit 1 in August 2011. The added 1,260-megawatts of nuclear capacity the plant would produce supports TVA's Integrated Resource Plan and Vision of low-cost and cleaner energy. Construction permits were first issued for two Bellefonte units in 1974. Work was suspended in 1988 in response to declining growth in power demand. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission reinstated the construction permits in 2009.
Key points
- Unit 1 will produce enough electricity to power about 750,000 homes with clean, zero-emission energy.
- Completing Bellefonte Unit 1 will put an existing asset to work - using $1.9 billion of steel, concrete and other infrastructure that is already at the site.
- The modernized facility will have the latest equipment and technology to meet the latest safety standards and regulations. Bellefonte Unit 1 will be among the safest, most advanced nuclear power plants in the country.
- Safety is the overriding priority of TVA’s nuclear program. The Bellefonte project will have the benefit of lessons learned across the industry and from Watts Bar Unit 2 – ensuring the latest quality and safety standards are in place.
Construction
- Depending on regional economic and power demand factors, Bellefonte construction could begin after construction and fueling is completed at Watts Bar Unit 2.
- Bellefonte Unit 1 construction will include new equipment, including steam generators, a modern control room and state-of-the-art digital instruments, and refurbishing any remaining components to like new condition.
- Construction is expected to create about 2,800 construction jobs and 650 permanent jobs.
- The projected cost to complete Unit 1 is $4.9 billion; a review of the estimate to complete is in progress.
June 2012