Peach Bottom reaches megawatt generation milestone

Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station
Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station | Courtesy of Exelon Corp.

Exelon Corp. announced Tuesday that its Peach Bottom Unit 2 Atomic Power Station reached the 1,320 megawatt per hour milestone.

The facility was able to reach this threshold through an extended power upgrade project that began in 2010 with the guidance and approval of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

“The state-of-the-art equipment upgrades underway at Peach Bottom are making this safe and reliable facility even stronger and more efficient,” Mike Massaro, Peach Bottom site vice president, said. “As part of the power up-rate project, we are replacing or enhancing key components site wide to ensure reliability and provide an additional margin of safety.”

During the modernization project, the Peach Bottom facility replaced turbines for high and low pressure, power transformers, steam dryers and a complete overhaul of the Unit 2 and 3 generators. This project also provided temporary and permanent employment opportunities for contractors and technicians throughout Pennsyvania and York County. 

According to the announcement, the full project is expected to be completed next year. The power station will be able to generate enough energy for an additional 250,000 residences and businesses in the county and the region once upgrades are complete.

“This milestone highlights Exelon’s pioneering investments in modern equipment and new technologies to deliver additional carbon-free electricity for consumers,” Chris Mudrick, Exelon senior vice president for Mid-Atlantic operations, said. “It would not have been possible without years of hard work from the Peach Bottom team, supported by Exelon’s corporate organization and thousands of skilled contractors.”