- Constellation Energy is discussing with Pennsylvania officials the potential reopening of the Three Mile Island power facility, shut down since 2019.
- The infamous TMI-2 reactor experienced a partial meltdown in 1979, causing the most serious nuclear accident in U.S. history and leading to increased nuclear regulations and public apprehension.
- Restarting the facility poses significant economic, operational, and regulatory challenges, with mixed public reactions and renewed interest in nuclear energy driven by rising power demand.
Constellation Energy, the owner of Three Miles Island, is having a discussion with the Pennsylvania governor’s office and state lawmakers hoping to restart the Three Miles Island power facility after being completely shut down for five years.
History of Three Miles Island
Three Miles island is located in Londonderry Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania (near Harrisburg). On March 28, 1979, one of the nuclear reactors, TMI-2, at Three miles Island experienced a partial meltdown causing a severe tragedy. This accident occurred at the Generating Station along the Susquehanna River and it is the most serious nuclear power plant accident in the United States. The TMI-2 reactor accident is rated Level 5 on a seven-point logarithmic International Nuclear Event Scale.
The accident started with failures in the non-nuclear secondary system, followed by a stuck-open pilot-operated relief valve (PORV) in the primary system, allowing significant water leakage from the pressurized isolated coolant loop. The initial mechanical failures were worsened by operators initially not identifying the incident as a loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA). Inadequate TMI training and operational procedures left both operators and management unprepared for the worsening situation caused by the LOCA. Throughout the accident, these insufficiency were exacerbated by design flaws, including inadequate control design, the presence of multiple similar alarms, and equipment failures to indicate either the coolant inventory or the position of the stuck-open PORV resulting in days of high radiation levels. The cleanup at TMI-2 ended in 1993 costing about $1 billion (equivalent to $2 billion in 2023). TMI-1 restarted in 1985, but retired in 2019.
The accident solidified public apprehensions about nuclear safety and led to stricter regulations for the nuclear industry. It hastened the diminishing efforts to construct new reactors. Activists in the anti-nuclear movement voiced concerns regarding potential health impacts in the affected regions. After the incident, the number of reactors under construction declined in the U.S.
Today
The conversation Constellation Energy had with the governor’s office and state lawmakers was described as “beyond preliminary,” indicating that Constellation is planning to revive part of the Three Miles Island, where the nuclear unit they are considering restarting is separate from the one that melted down. There is no nuclear plant that has been reopened after shutting down in the U.S.
Constellation spokesperson Dave Snyder said “Though we have determined it would be technically feasible to restart the unit, we have not made any decision on a restart as there are many economic, commercial, operational and regulatory considerations remaining.”
Restarting the facility is anticipated to be expensive and logistically challenging, while also likely facing resistance from the public and political spheres due to safety and environmental concerns.
The reactions of the nearby residents are mixed.
Mary Hockenberry, who evacuated during the 1979 meltdown, expressed strong opposition: “Just don’t do it. You’re going to hurt too many people’s lives, so it’s not worth it.”
In contrast, Andrea Hoover, who resides near the entrance to the Three Mile Island facility, sees potential benefits: “I think it would be good for the economy, job-wise, and also for cleaner energy too.”
Despite the expected high costs, logistical challenges, and potential public and political opposition stemming from safety and environmental concerns, nuclear energy is experiencing a resurgence of interest in the United States. This renewed interest is driven by rising power demand, especially from the technology sector.
In June, Constellation informed Reuters that it had finished an engineering study of Three Mile Island. However, the company’s decision on whether to proceed with reopening the facility remains uncertain.