Alstom site prime for small reactors
Last Sunday’s Times Free Press had a fascinating article by Dave Flessner about modernizing nuclear power. The nuclear power industry has about a hundred data points that show that building a one-of-a-kind nuclear power plant is not economical. Small modular nuclear plants will be a tremendous improvement because they will be built to a thoroughly engineered and standardized design in a factory with better cost, quality and schedule control.
I am glad TVA is taking the lead on this; however, there is one more thing TVA should demand from GE Hitachi in return for its financial support: The factory should be located in Chattanooga at the former Alstom plant. This would shorten the lead time needed to start manufacturing because new buildings and supporting infrastructure would not be needed. This facility has a history of producing nuclear reactors, so it is well suited for this purpose. This is a golden opportunity to bring a new industry with good paying jobs to the Tennessee Valley as well as providing a new source of clean, safe, reliable, carbon free electricity and keeping our money close to home.
Jim Olson