Salem Nuclear Power Plant

Infobox NPP
Status = O


caption = The Salem NPP, image courtesy of the NRC
Utility = Exelon (43%)
PSE&G (57%)
Location = Lower Alloways Creek
Supplier = Westinghouse
Type = PWR
Capacity = Unit 1: 1,174 MW
Unit 2: 1,130
generation = Unit 1: 9,158 GWh
Unit 2: 9,669
for_year = 2007
av_annual_gen = Unit 1: 9,230 GWh
Unit 2: 8,751
generators = 2 - GE 25kV
Start = Unit 1: June 30, 1977
Unit 2: October 31, 1981
Expires = Unit 1: August 13, 2016
Unit 2: April 18, 2020
Region = 1
website = [http://www.pseg.com/companies/nuclear/salem.jsp Salem – PSE&G]

The Salem Nuclear Power Plant is a two unit pressurized water reactor nuclear power station located in Lower Alloways Creek Township, New Jersey (South Jersey) in the United States. It is owned by PSEG Nuclear LLC and Exelon Generation LLC.

Salem Nuclear Power Plant is two of four nuclear power units in New Jersey. The others are the two at the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station, and the Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Station. As of January 1, 2005, New Jersey ranked 10th among the 31 States with nuclear capacity for total MWe generated. In 2003, nuclear electricity generated over one half of the electricity in the State. [cite web |url=http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/nuclear/page/at_a_glance/states/statesnj.html |title=New Jersey Nuclear Industry |accessdate=2008-08-23 |quote=The leading source of electricity in 2004 in the State was nuclear power. In 2004, National nuclear generation reached record levels. In New Jersey, the nuclear industry's share of electric output dropped by 4 percent as coal and gas modestly increased their share. |publisher=Department of Energy ]

Location

Salem shares an artificial island in the Delaware Bay with the Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Station.

Reactors

The reactors, both PWRs, were built by Westinghouse, and began commercial operation in 1977 (Unit 1) and 1981 (Unit 2). The two-unit plant has a capacity of 2275 MWe. Unit 1 is licensed to operate until August 13 2016 and Unit 2 is licensed to operate until April 18 2020.

afety issues

An extensive investigation by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the subsequent review by hired consultants have found many minor problems, such as lack of routine maintenance and low morale among personnel, but declared the plant safe. [Citation
last = Sullivan
first = John
title = Problems cited at nuclear plant in South Jersey
newspaper = New York Times
pages =
year = 2004
date = October 11, 2004
url = http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/11/nyregion/11salem.html.]

Water use

Both reactors use Delaware Bay as a source of cooling water. Salem units 1 and 2 have a water-intake building with a rotating screen to collect debris that is later washed off. Sometimes thick layers of grass clog the intakes and the reactors run at reduced power for weeks as a result. [Citation
last = Wald
first = Matthew L.
title = U.S. team finds errors at Salem Nuclear Plant
newspaper = New York Times
pages =
year = 1994
date = May 1, 1994
url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9801E7DC1430F932A35756C0A962958260.] All of the waste heat produced in the steam cycle (about 2 gigawatts) is dumped into the bay. A plume of warmer, dirtier water produced by the power plant is visible on the satellite pictures of the bay. [cite web
title = Delaware Bay
work = Google maps
publisher = Google
year = 2008
url = http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=delaware+bay&sll=39.085055,-75.18183&sspn=0.761093,1.299133&ie=UTF8&ll=39.460691,-75.538505&spn=0.005914,0.010149&t=h&z=17
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-08-08]

Notable employees

Actor Bruce Willis worked at Salem Nuclear Power Plant as a security guard before pursuing acting. Comment on The Daily Show, 6/26/07.]

References

External links

* [http://www.pseg.com/companies/nuclear/salem.jsp Official PSEG website]
* [http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/nuclear/page/at_a_glance/reactors/salem.html DoE Page]
*http://www.nukeworker.com/pictures/thumbnails86.html