Zombie nuclear plant idea
Bellefonte Nuclear Plant – often called the zombie plant that wouldn’t die – today is slightly less of a giant money suck for the 7 million customers who buy electricity generated by the Tennessee Valley Authority. That’s because TVA on Wednesday announced plans to lay off 400 of the 540 workers there.
Bellefonte is the $5 billion, unfinished TVA nuclear plant in Hollywood, Ala., 43 miles southwest of Chattanooga.
Yes, you heard that right: $5 billion and unfinished despite the fact that it was started in 1974 — 39 years ago. And no, it has never generated the first watt of electricity. Finishing the plant would cost at least another $4.9 billion, according to TVA.
Thank goodness TVA on Wednesday announced that once again (this is about the fifth time) the federal utility is at least slowing further work at Bellefonte.