Tennessee Valley Authority Approves Finishing Construction on Bellefonte Nuclear Generating Station

On Thursday night the Tennessee Valley Authority, August 18th 2011, has approved the finishing the construction of a nuclear power plant in Alabama. Building of the nuclear power plant, the Bellefonte Nuclear Generating Station, started in 1974 but stalled in 1988 after funds ran out and the need for a new plant wasn't exactly required at the time.

When the construction of nuclear plant finishes around 2020 it'll be the 105th nuclear power plant in the nation. It is also said that at least four other nuclear power plants may be constructed by 2020 depending on how many lower-cost power plants (such as natural gas power plants) are constructed by then. This plant is estimated to cost around $4.9 billion in approved funds while offering 2,800 construction jobs and 650 permanent employee work after the Bellefonte Nuclear Generating Station has completed construction. When in operation it will provide enough electricity estimated to 750,000 homes in the region of the nuclear power plant.

The only thing stopping the building of the nuclear power plant now is getting approval from the Nuclear Regulator Commission to be the plant which many expect to be granted. Of course, i expect protesters to come out in the coming months and years opposing the building of this nuclear power plant. What's already being brought up is the Fukushima Daiichi meltdown in Japan as reason why we shouldn't build this plant and move on to "newer" alternative energy sources.

Which would be great, and i would be in support of, but most of them do not provide the energy needs required by this nation. Especially the energy-hogging major cities that are filled with anti-nuclear power 'activists'. Perhaps if they did their part and demand lowered power usage in their own homes and amongst all the lights, LED and LCD displays and other extraneous energy strains in their cities then maybe what they have to say would have more sway. But unless they're willing to force energy usage cuts in their cities then they have no right to say a thing. But we'll just have to wait and see if the plant is finished by 2020 and not halted over environmental concerns.