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TVA’s multi billion nuclear reactor dollar gamble in Alabama

TVA gambles on Bellefonte nuclear reactors,  Footprints, August 11th, 2011 › Nuclear, SACE Reports › Dr. Stephen A. Smith › Southern Alliance for Clean Energy has long been concerned with the Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) push to add more nuclear reactors to their energy mix in spite of readily available energy efficiency and renewable energy alternatives. But TVA’s dogged pursuit to complete the nearly forty-year-old, antiquated Bellefonte site in Alabama is a unique and especially risky proposition. Simply put, finishing these two abandoned and degraded reactors is a multi-billion dollar bet TVA should not place. The risks to public health and safety, potential financial impacts to TVA ratepayers and U.S. taxpayers are too significant to ignore.

On August 9, 2011 SACE released a report titled  “TVA’s Bad Nuclear Bet: Gambling BILLION$ on Bellefonte Reactors.” I strongly encourage you to read the full report; it documents in detail the significant risks TVA faces in their attempt to complete Bellefonte. The report includes a technical analysis from Mr. Arnold Gundersen, Chief Engineer of Fairewinds Associates, Inc., a nuclear engineer with nearly forty years of experience. A short video also summarizes his analysis. Seven major areas that need to be addressed when restarting construction at Bellefonte have been identified including:

  • Containment Problems Unique to Bellefonte
  • Groundwater Intrusion That Is Weakening Bellefonte’s Foundations
  • Missing Critical Nuclear Quality Assurance Documents and Completed Record
  • Cannibalization of Bellefonte’s Operating Systems
  • Bellefonte’s Unique Design
  • Historical Precedence
  • Post Fukushima Lessons Learned…..

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August 15, 2011 - Posted by | business and costs, USA

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