Major Upgrades at Constellation Nuclear Stations Ensure Carbon-Free Electricity for 15 Million This Summer
June 10 2022 - 10:37AM
Business Wire
Over 13,000 workers supported maintenance
projects during spring refueling outages to keep power supplied
24/7 during hot summer months and beyond
Over 13,000 workers performed technology upgrades and equipment
maintenance during six refueling outages at Constellation nuclear
plants this spring, investments that will prepare the plants for
the hot summer months ahead. The cutting-edge upgrades and
preventive maintenance will ensure Constellation’s nuclear fleet,
which serves 15 million American homes and businesses, will have
access to safe, affordable, carbon-free electricity this summer to
help combat any periods of high heat or humidity.
During the refueling outages, workers replaced or refurbished
dozens of pumps and motors, performed quality assurance inspections
on reactor and fuel components, and completed tens of thousands of
other technical tasks to ensure the power plants provide
uninterrupted carbon-free electricity for up to 24 straight
months.
“Constellation is helping accelerate this country’s transition
to a carbon-free future and it begins with our zero emissions
nuclear fleet running nonstop through the summer,” said Joe
Dominguez, CEO of Constellation. “We met our commitment to
operational excellence last winter by keeping our plants running
throughout the cold months despite challenging weather conditions.
Our investments in the plants this spring will help us maintain
that level of performance during the upcoming summer months, as the
climate crisis continues to produce extremely hot weather.”
This summer, nuclear reliability could be especially helpful in
moderating electricity prices for Illinois customers.
Constellation’s 24/7 carbon-free baseload nuclear power displaces
generation from fossil-fuel plants that may experience further
spikes in gas and oil costs. This is in addition to the $1 billion
credit Constellation’s nuclear plants are projected to deliver for
northern Illinois ratepayers as a result of the Climate &
Equitable Jobs Act passed last year.
The refueling outages would not be possible without support from
thousands of skilled electricians, pipefitters, welders,
carpenters, laborers, steamfitters and other trades people on site
performing thousands of inspections, tests and maintenance
activities that cannot be done while the unit is online. Along with
replacing about one-third of the fuel in each reactor, workers
completed other major projects during the nuclear outages this
spring, including:
- In Illinois, workers at Quad Cities Unit 2 performed an
overhaul and inspection of the turbine on one of the redundant core
cooling systems; a full technical inspection of the Byron Station
Unit 2 main generator; and a comprehensive inspection of two
reactor recirculation flow control valves at LaSalle County
Generating Station.
- In the east, workers at Calvert Cliffs Station in Maryland
replaced the Unit 1 main generator connections. At Limerick Station
in southeastern Pennsylvania, technical experts performed a full
inspection of the main turbine. At Nine Mile Point in upstate New
York, workers replaced all four of the Unit 2 main power
transformers, improving the station’s ability to maintain safe,
reliable, carbon-free power for the upstate New York area.
“We carefully schedule these important upgrades, maintenance
activities and technical inspections during periods of lower power
demand to ensure our carbon-free nuclear units remain online 24/7
through the blistering summer months ahead,” said Tim Hanley, chief
operating officer at Constellation.
About Constellation
Constellation is the nation’s largest producer of carbon-free
energy and the leading competitive retail supplier of power and
energy products and services for homes and businesses across the
United States. Headquartered in Baltimore, its generation fleet
powers more than 20 million homes and businesses and is helping to
accelerate the nation’s transition to clean energy with more than
32,400 megawatts of capacity and annual output that is 90 percent
carbon-free. Constellation has set a goal to eliminate 100 percent
of its greenhouse gas emissions by leveraging innovative technology
and enhancing its diverse mix of hydro, wind and solar resources
paired with the nation’s largest carbon-free nuclear fleet.
Constellation’s family of retail businesses serves approximately 2
million residential, public sector and business customers,
including three-fourths of the Fortune 100. Learn more at
www.constellation.com or on Twitter at @ConstellationEG.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220610005387/en/
Brett Nauman Constellation Communications 309-433-6894
brett.nauman@constellation.com
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