Three Mile Island no longer just a pejorative, now an AI power plant
posted Sunday Sep 22, 2024 by Scott Ertz
For decades, the name Three Mile Island has been a pejorative slur for disaster. The expression "going Three Mile Island" has meant either something that has gone so far off the rails that it's unsalvageable or someone who has gotten so mad they need to be abandoned. No one has wanted to be associated with the name for any reason. That all changed this week with Microsoft's announcement that they are going to brave the waters and reopen the nuclear power plant to keep its AI operations more energy independent.
What is Three Mile Island?
Three Mile Island is a nuclear power plant located in south-central Pennsylvania, on a small island in the Susquehanna River. Construction of the plant began in 1968, and it became operational in 1974. The facility consisted of two reactors, Unit 1 and Unit 2, with Unit 2 coming online in 1978. The plant was designed to provide electricity to the surrounding region and was part of the broader expansion of nuclear power in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s.
The meltdown at Three Mile Island occurred on March 28, 1979, in the Unit 2 reactor. The incident began with a failure in the secondary cooling system, which led to the reactor overheating. A stuck-open relief valve allowed large amounts of reactor coolant to escape, causing the reactor core to overheat and partially melt down. The situation was exacerbated by operator errors and inadequate training, which led to a delay in recognizing the severity of the problem. The partial meltdown resulted in the release of small amounts of radioactive gases into the environment, but fortunately, there were no immediate health effects on the plant workers or the public.
The Three Mile Island accident had a profound impact on the nuclear power industry and public perception of nuclear energy. It led to widespread fear and skepticism about the safety of nuclear power plants, resulting in a significant decline in the construction of new nuclear facilities in the United States. The incident also prompted the implementation of stricter safety regulations and improved training for plant operators to prevent similar accidents in the future. Despite the severity of the accident, the cleanup of the Unit 2 reactor was completed in 1993, and the Unit 1 reactor continued to operate until it was retired in 2019.
Restarting Unit 1 for Microsoft
Recently, there have been plans to restart the remaining functional reactor as part of a deal to provide power to Microsoft data centers. Constellation Energy has now announced plans to restart the Three Mile Island Unit 1 nuclear reactor as part of a 20-year deal with Microsoft. The reactor, which was shut down in 2019, will be reactivated to provide electricity to power Microsoft's data centers. This agreement aligns with Microsoft's goal to match the power consumption of its data centers with carbon-free energy. The restart of the 835-MW reactor is scheduled for 2028, and it is expected to play a significant role in supporting Microsoft's sustainability initiatives.
The decision to restart Unit 1 is a significant development for both Constellation Energy and the nuclear power industry. It highlights the potential for nuclear energy to contribute to the growing demand for clean and reliable power sources. The partnership with Microsoft underscores the importance of corporate commitments to sustainability and the role of innovative energy solutions in achieving these goals. As the project progresses, it will be closely watched by industry experts and stakeholders interested in the future of nuclear energy and its role in addressing climate change.
Expect mixed reactions to the plan
The announcement of restarting Unit 1 at Three Mile Island has garnered mixed reactions from various stakeholders. On one hand, proponents of nuclear energy and clean power are optimistic about the move. They see it as a significant step towards reducing carbon emissions and meeting the growing energy demands of data centers, especially those used for artificial intelligence. Constellation Energy, the owner of the plant, has emphasized the safety and reliability of Unit 1, noting that it was one of the safest and most reliable nuclear plants before its shutdown. Microsoft has also highlighted the importance of this deal in achieving its sustainability goals and decarbonizing the grid.
On the other hand, there are concerns and criticisms from various groups. Some environmentalists and local residents remain wary of nuclear power due to the historical accident at Three Mile Island in 1979. They worry about the potential risks and the long-term safety of restarting an old reactor. Additionally, there are questions about the economic viability of the project, even with federal subsidies and tax breaks. Critics argue that the financial incentives might be better spent on other renewable energy sources like wind and solar. The project will likely face rigorous scrutiny from regulators and the public as it moves forward.
In the past few decades, every new planned nuclear project has been held up in courts with lawsuits from people looking to stop the building of new nuclear reactors. A lot of the fear over nuclear energy has come from the Three Mile Island disaster. However, the other reactor ran without incident for another 40 years following Unit 2's meltdown. So, Microsoft and Constellation Energy likely have a big fight ahead of them in the public, in the governemnt, and in court.
