Nuclear Power in Washington State Kathleen M. Saul November 4, 2010 gCORE

Electrical Generation vs. Bomb Production The energy from the atom has been used for two different purposes:  In atomic bombs/nuclear weapons,  To generate electricity. The focus today: Electrical Generation  “Commercial Nuclear Power”

What is commercial nuclear power? A fancy way to heat water and generate steam to drive a turbine and create electricity.  Neutrons bombard the nucleus of a uranium- 235 atom, causing the release of other neutrons and a lot of heat. Those new neutrons go on to hit other uranium-235 nuclei in a self-sustaining reaction.

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Key Dates in the History of the U.S. Commercial Nuclear Industry

Timeline – 1940s The first sustained nuclear reaction took place in Chicago, under the direction of Enrico Fermi Atomic Energy Act creates the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and Joint Committee on Atomic Energy

Timeline – 1950s President Eisenhower presented "Atoms for Peace" speech Price-Anderson Nuclear Industries Indemnity Act enacted into law Atomic Energy Act passed by Congress International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) established under United Nations

Timeline – 1960s Oyster Creek, Nine Mile Point 1 came on line Dresden 1 came on line, the first privately financed nuclear power plant in the U.S.

Timeline – 1970s Dresden 2, Ginna, Point Beach 1 came on line HG Robinson, Monticello, Dresden 3, Palisades came on line Point Beach 2, Vermont Yankee, Pilgrim 1, Turkey Point 3, Surry 1 on line Quad Cities 1 & 2, Surry 2, Oconee 1, Turkey Point 4, Prairie Island 1 on line Kewaunee, Fort Calhoun 1, Cooper, Peach Bottom 2 & 3, Browns Ferry 1, Indian Point 2, TMI 1, Oconee 2 & 3, Arkansas 1, Prairie Island 2 on line Duane Arnold 1, Browns Ferry 2, Calvert Cliffs 1, Fitzpatrick, Donald Cook 1, Brunswick 2, Millstone 2, Hatch 1 came on line Indian Point 3, Beaver Valley 1 on line Browns Ferry 3, Crystal River 3, Brunswick 1, Calvert Cliffs 2, Salem 1 came on line North Anna 1, Donald Cook 2, David Besse 1 came on line Hatch 2 on line Accident at Three Mile Island National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) signed into law Federal Clean Air Act of 1970 took effect; EPA established EPA announced national air quality standards Middle East Oil Embargo Energy Reorganization Act abolished the AEC and established the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) established

Timeline – 1980s Fuel rupture in reactor at Saint-Laurent, France Arkansas 2, North Anna 2 on line Sequoyah 1, Farley 2, Salem 2, McGuire 1 came on line Sequoyah 2 on line Susquehanna 1, San Onofre 2 came on line Summer 1, LaSalle 1 & 2, McGuire 2, San Onofre 3, Columbia Generating Station, Callaway 1 came on line Diablo Canyon 1, Catabwa 1, Grand Gulf 1, Wolf Creek, Byron 1, Waterford 3, Susquehanna 2 on line Palo Verde 1 & 2, Limerick 1, Diablo Canyon 2, Millstone 3, River Bend 1, Catabwa 2, Hope Creek 1 on line Shearon Harris 1, Vogtle 1, Byron 2, Beaver Valley 2, Perry1, Clinton 1 came on line Palo Verde 3, Fermi 2, Nine Mile Point 2, Braidwood 1 & 2, South Texas Project 1 on line Vogtle 2, South Texas Project 2 on line National Academy for Nuclear Training established at INPO Meltdown at Chernobyl, Ukraine NRC begins program of reactor design standardization World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) formed

Timeline – 1990s Limerick 2, Comanche Peak 1, Seabrook 1 came on line Comanche Peak 2 on line Watts Bar 1 came on line Nuclear Energy Institute formed Accident at fuel preparation plant, Tokai-mura, Japan Deregulation of electric industry allowed by the Energy Act of 1992 Kyoto Protocol ratified Revision of rules and requirements for applying for licenses to build and operate nuclear power plants in the U.S

Timeline – 2000s NuStart Energy Development LLC formed Nuclear Power 2010 program unveiled Repeal of the Public Utility Holding Act of 1935 took effect 2001 National Energy Policy published Energy Policy Act of 2005 passed COLAs received for Calvert Cliffs 3, South Texas Project 3 & 4, Bellefonte 3 & 4, North Anna 3, William States Lee 1 & 2 Congress passed a $18.5 billion loan guarantee program for the nuclear industry COLAs received for Shearon Harris 2 & 3, Grand Gulf 3, Summer 2 & 3, Vogtle 3 & 4, Callaway 2, Levy Co. 1 & 2, Victoria Co. TX 1 & 2, Fermi 3, Comanche Peak 3 & 4, River Bend 3, Nine Mile Point 3, Bell Bend 1

Commercial Nuclear Power in Washington State

The History of The Washington Public Power Supply System (WPPSS) 1957: WPPSS organized to allow publicly owned utilities to combine resources and build power generation facilities. 1968: The Joint Power Planning Council set forth its outline for the Thermal-Hydro Power Program, including 20 new thermal plants by 1980.

1971: WPPSS made plans to construct and operate a commercial nuclear plant on the Hanford site (Plant 2).  Utilities would share the costs and benefits. 1972: WPPSS proposed a second plant near Hanford (Plant 1) and one at Satsop (Plant 3).  Costs to be covered through the sale of the power generated. 1973: The IRS decreed the type of financing used for Plants 1, 2, and 3 would no longer be tax exempt.

1973: WPPSS announced plans for Plant 4 near Hanford and Plant 5 at Satsop.  Based on forecasts of continuing growth in electrical demand, WPPSS enticed utilities to buy shares of the projects.

Sample Scenario:

1981: Revised demand forecasts call into question the need for Plants 4 and : WPPSS terminated work on 4 and 5.  Partner utilities were still on the hook for the costs. Ratepayers sued, saying the agreements utilities had entered into were not legal. Courts sided with the ratepayers.

1983: WPPSS defaulted on the bonds it had issued to cover the costs of plants 4 and 5: $2.25 billion. 1983: WPPSS mothballed Plants 1 and : Plant 2, Columbia Generating Station, began producing power.

Challenges Faced by WPPSS Overambitious forecasts, primarily based on Bonneville numbers. Inexperience with nuclear management and construction.  Quality control issues. Design changes as construction progressed. Changes in safety standards. Increased costs and interest rates. Environmental backlash against nuclear power.

WPPSS Sites

WPPSS Unfinished Plant 5 near Satsop, WA, 2000 Courtesy Grays Harbor Community Development Corp.

The Hanford Site and Columbia Generating Station Columbia Generating Station

WPPSS Plant 2 (Columbia Generating Station) Courtesy Energy Northwest

Columbia Generating Station Today Capacity: 1150 MW of electricity. Emissions avoided (vs fossil fuel plants):  9,750 tons of sulfur dioxide.  11,900 tons of nitrogen oxide.  7,960,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide. 27 casks of spent fuel/by-products stored on site.

7.5% Based on:

References Too many to list.  See me.