Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant

Infobox Nuclear power plant
name = Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant

---

caption = Shearon Harris Unit 1
country = United States of America
location = New Hill, Wake County, North Carolina
coords = coord|35|38.0|N|78|57.3|W|region:US-NC_type:landmark|display=inline,title
owner = Progress Energy
operator = Progress Energy
built =
start = 1987
end =
r_supplier = Westinghouse
r_active = 1
r_active_mw = 900
r_shutdown =
r_shutdown_mw =
r_construction =
r_construction_mw =
r_canceled =
r_canceled_mw =
r_planned = 2
r_planned_mw = each 1100
capacity = 900
generation =
for_year =
av_annual_gen =
net_gen =
status = O
generators = Unit 1: 900 MW
architect =
cost = $3.9 billion
construction =
expires =
nrc_region = Region II
website = [http://www.progress-energy.com/aboutenergy/powerplants/nuclearplants/harris.asp Progress Energy Harris Plant]
as_of = 4 June 2008The Shearon Harris nuclear power plant is a single Westinghouse designed pressurized-water nuclear reactor operated by Progress Energy. Located in New Hill, North Carolina, in the United States, about 20 miles (30 km) southwest of Raleigh, it generates 900 MWe, has a 523 foot (160 m) natural draft cooling tower, and uses Harris Lake for cooling. The reactor achieved criticality in January 1987 and began providing power commercially in May of that year.

The Shearon Harris site was originally designed for four reactors, but construction and budget issues resulted in three of the reactors being cancelled. The original budget estimated a cost of $1.1 billion for four reactors; the final cost of the single reactor that was constructed was nearly $4 billion.cite news | first=John | last=Murawski | coauthors= | title=Triangle picked as a nuclear site | date=2007-10-24 | publisher= | url =http://www.newsobserver.com/104/story/392027.html | work =Raleigh News & Observer | pages = | accessdate = 2007-10-18 | language = ] However, in 2006, Progress Energy succeeded in their efforts to gain approval for two additional reactors (of the Westinghouse AP1000 design) at the Shearon Harris site. Expansion of the plant will require raising the water level of Harris Lake by 20 feet, [cite news | first=John | last=Murawski | coauthors= | title=Progress prepares for new reactors | date=2007-09-20 | publisher= | url =http://www.newsobserver.com/business/nc/nuclearpower/story/709925.html | work =Raleigh News & Observer | pages = | accessdate = 2007-10-18 | language = ] decreasing the size of Wake County's largest park, with the Cape Fear River as a backup water source.

Controversy

The Raleigh–Durham area of North Carolina is one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in America, and with that growth comes increased demand for electricity. (Raleigh is located in Wake County, the site of Shearon Harris.) However, nuclear reactors are a highly contentious issue among some citizens of North Carolina. [See for example: "The Gender Gap and Nuclear Power: Attitudes in a Politicized Environment", L.S. Solomon, D. Tomaskovic-Devey and B.J. Risman, "Sex Roles", No. 5/6 1989] Citizen groups maintain that Shearon Harris' safety and security record is insufficient. [cite news | first=Sue | last=Sturgis | coauthors= | title=The Report is Bullshit | date=2006-03-29 | publisher= | url =http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A29678 | work =The Independent Weekly| pages = | accessdate = 2007-10-18 | language = ] However, the plant's technical and security systems have passed Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) standards [http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/HAR1/har1_chart.html NRC Performance Summary, 1Q 2008] ] as of 2008, including protection and security. Nonetheless, opponents cite at least one incident that highlights weaknesses with the security safeguards. The transport of the waste from those two plants to Shearon Harris takes place six times a year and involves loading shipping casks onto heavily-guarded trains and trucks. In 2002, between one and two "inmates on work release" accidentally boarded a train that was carrying nuclear waste to Shearon Harris. [cite news | first=Jim | last=Waren | coauthors= | title=Security Breach on Nuclear Waste Train. Inmates Jump Wrong Train, Revealing Vulnerability of CP&L Shipments | date=2002-04-30 | publisher= | url =http://www.nirs.org/press/04-30-2002/1 | work =Nuclear Information and Resource Service | pages = | accessdate = 2007-10-18 | language = ] These issues led to the formation of citizens' action groups such as NC WARN (North Carolina Waste Awareness and Reduction Network). However, in August of 2007, NC WARN dropped a lawsuit against Progress Energy that was intended to delay or prevent expansion of Shearon Harris, claiming that continuing their legal battle would cost at least $200,000. [cite news | first=John | last=Murawski | coauthors= | title=Nuclear license fight dropped | date=2007-08-21 | publisher= | url =http://www.newsobserver.com/business/story/677401.html | work =Raleigh News & Observer | pages = | accessdate = 2007-10-18 | language = ]

Passive fire protection

Shearon Harris, not unlike other NRC licensees, has used Thermo-Lag endothermic fireproofing for the purpose of circuit integrity to protect safe-shutdown wiring between the nuclear reactor and the control room. The Thermo-Lag scandal became known as a result of disclosures by whistleblower Gerald W. Brown. To mitigate the problem, the plant used another fireproofing system, which subsequently also failed fire testing, requiring the operator to use further means to mitigate the problem.

References

External links

* [http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/ops-experience/fire-protection/fire-barriers.html NRC treatise on circuit integrity measures, including Shearon Harris]
* [http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/new-licensing/col/harris.html NRC Public Information regarding the Units 2 & 3 Expansion Proposal]
* [http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/nuclear/page/at_a_glance/reactors/shearonharris.html DoE information]
* [http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A32458 INDY News article about local opposition to NRC safety oversight]
* http://www.nukeworker.com/pictures/thumbnails-101.html
* http://science.howstuffworks.com/nuclear-power.htm