The Bonneville Power Administration has approved Energy Northwest’s plans to increase the nuclear energy output at its Columbia Generating Station in Richland, Wash. by 186 megawatts by 2031.
The extended power uprate project is estimated to cost $700 million and should increase the station’s electrical output by 162 megawatts. The project will involve nearly 30 individual upgrades mainly focused on increasing the size of the pumps and motors, according to Energy Northwest’s May 22 press release.
Columbia’s biennial refueling outages between 2027 and 2031 should result in energy-efficiency improvements yielding 24 megawatts for a total of 186 megawatts, Energy Northwest said.
Energy Northwest plans to file its license amendment request in 2028 for the extended power uprate with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, according to the press release.
Columbia Generating Station, opened in 1984, currently produces 1,207 megawatts of electricity and is the third largest power resource in the Pacific Northwest region, according to the press release. It is also the only operating nuclear plant in the region.
BPA is a federal power marketing agency based in Portland, Ore. Approval occurred on May 20 after an 18-month analysis.
NEW: Via public records request, I’ve been able to confirm reporting today that a warrant has been issued for DOE deputy asst. secretary of spent fuel and waste disposition Sam Brinton for another luggage theft, this time at Las Vegas’s Harry Reid airport. (cc: @EMPublications)
DOE spent fuel lead Brinton accused of second luggage theft.
by @BenjaminSWeiss, confirming today's reports with warrant from Las Vegas Metro PD.
Waste has been Emplaced! 🚮
We have finally begun emplacing defense-related transuranic (TRU) waste in Panel 8 of #WIPP.
Read more about the waste emplacement here: https://wipp.energy.gov/wipp_news_20221123-2.asp
Editorial: Sam Brinton’s credibility is now an issue 🔓