Susquehanna Steam Electric Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Susquehanna Steam Electric Station |
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| Country | United States |
| Location | Salem Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates | 41°5′20″N 76°8′56″W / 41.08889°N 76.14889°W |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | November 2, 1973 |
| Commission date | Unit 1: June 8, 1983 Unit 2: February 12, 1985 |
| Construction cost | $7.983 billion (2007 USD) |
| Owner(s) | Talen Energy (90%) Allegheny Electric Cooperative (10%) |
| Operator(s) | PPL Corporation |
| Website Susquehanna Nuclear Power Plant |
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The Susquehanna Steam Electric Station is a large nuclear power plant. It sits right on the Susquehanna River in Salem Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. This plant uses nuclear energy to create electricity for many homes and businesses.
Contents
How the Plant Works
The Susquehanna plant has two special machines called boiling water reactors. These reactors use heat from nuclear reactions to boil water and make steam. The steam then spins giant turbines, which create electricity. The plant started making power in 1983.
Many people work at the plant to keep it running safely. Over 1,100 employees work directly at the site. The plant can produce a huge amount of electricity every day.
Who Owns and Runs It?
For a long time, a company called PPL operated the plant. In 2015, a new company named Talen Energy took over most of the operations. Allegheny Electric Cooperative also owns a small part of the plant.
Keeping Things Safe
Safety is very important at a nuclear power plant. In 1982, there was a small electrical fire, but no one was hurt. In 1985, a small amount of water with very low levels of radioactivity leaked inside the building. It was safely collected and processed, and no radiation left the building.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is a government group that makes sure nuclear plants are safe. In 2009, the NRC allowed the Susquehanna plant to keep operating for another 20 years.
Plans for a New Plant
Years ago, there were plans to build another nuclear plant nearby, called the Bell Bend Nuclear Power Plant. However, these plans were later canceled in 2016.
People Living Nearby
Nuclear power plants have special safety zones around them. These zones help keep people safe in case of an emergency.
- The first zone is about 10 miles wide. It focuses on protecting people from any airborne radioactive material.
- The second zone is about 50 miles wide. This zone is about making sure food and water are safe from contamination.
In 2010, about 54,686 people lived within 10 miles of the Susquehanna plant. About 1.7 million people lived within 50 miles. Larger cities like Wilkes-Barre and Scranton are also within 50 miles of the plant.
Earthquake Safety
The NRC studies the risk of earthquakes at nuclear power plants. They estimated that the chance of an earthquake strong enough to damage the Susquehanna plant's reactor is very low.
See also
In Spanish: Planta de energía nuclear Susquehanna para niños
