Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Station |
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Hope Creek NPP, image courtesy of the NRC
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| Country | United States |
| Location | Lower Alloways Creek, Salem County, New Jersey |
| Coordinates | 39°28′04″N 75°32′17″W / 39.46778°N 75.53806°W |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | March 1, 1976 |
| Commission date | December 20, 1986 |
| Construction cost | $8.510 billion (2007 USD) |
| Owner(s) | PSEG |
| Operator(s) | PSEG |
| Website Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Station |
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The Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Station is a large nuclear power plant in Lower Alloways Creek Township, New Jersey, United States. It sits on Artificial Island right next to the Salem Nuclear Power Plant.
This power plant is owned and run by PSEG Nuclear LLC. It has one main part, called a unit, which uses a special type of nuclear reactor called a boiling water reactor (BWR). This reactor was made by General Electric. The plant was planned to have two units, but the second one was never built.
Hope Creek started making electricity on July 25, 1986. It was first allowed to operate until 2026. However, in 2011, PSEG got permission to keep it running for another 20 years. Together with the nearby Salem plant, the Hope Creek complex is one of the biggest nuclear power facilities in the eastern United States. It helps New Jersey get more than half of its electricity from nuclear power.
Contents
How Hope Creek Works
Hope Creek uses a boiling water reactor (BWR) to create electricity. This is different from the Salem Nuclear Plant next door, which uses pressurized water reactors (PWRs).
The Cooling Tower
One of the most noticeable parts of Hope Creek is its huge natural-draft cooling tower. You can see this tower from many miles away in both Delaware and New Jersey. On clear days, you can even spot it from the Delaware Memorial Bridge and from high up in Philadelphia. This tall tower helps cool down the water used in Hope Creek's single reactor. The Salem plant, however, cools its water differently and doesn't use a cooling tower.
Unique Reactor Building
Hope Creek's reactor building looks a bit like a dome, which is more common for pressurized water reactors. However, its inside is still designed like other boiling water reactors. The main part that holds the reactor is called a drywell/torus structure. The outer building acts as a second layer of protection and holds many important safety systems for the reactor.
People Living Nearby
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) sets up special zones around nuclear power plants for safety.
- Plume Exposure Pathway Zone: This zone is about 10 miles (16 km) (16 km) around the plant. It focuses on protecting people from breathing in any radioactive material that might get into the air.
- Ingestion Pathway Zone: This zone is much larger, about 50 miles (80 km) (80 km) around the plant. It's about making sure food and drinks don't get contaminated by radioactivity.
In 2010, about 53,811 people lived within 10 miles of Hope Creek. About 5.5 million people lived within 50 miles, including those in the city of Philadelphia.
Earthquake Safety
Nuclear power plants are built to be very strong. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission studies the risk of earthquakes that could harm a reactor. For Hope Creek, the chance of an earthquake strong enough to cause damage to the reactor is very, very small. It's estimated to be about 1 in 357,143 each year. This shows how carefully these plants are designed to be safe.
Images for kids
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The entire PSE&G nuclear complex as seen from Augustine Beach, Delaware
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The Hope Creek portion of the complex
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View of Salem/Hope Creek Nuclear Power Plant from the Delaware Memorial Bridge (I-295/US 40)
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Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Station from Delaware River, May 2012
See also
In Spanish: Planta de energía nuclear Hope Creek para niños
