Calvert Cliffs' Unit 1 back up, running after scheduled outage

Calvert Cliffs nuclear plant in Lusby, Maryland, returned its Unit 1 reactor to full power this week after a scheduled refueling and maintenance work outage.

The facilities' two reactors can generate up to 1,756 megawatts when both units are operational. The plant hired 1,500 temporary workers, primarily from regional labor unions, to finish the necessary work in a timely fashion, with the annual process providing a boost to the local economy.

“During Calvert's annual refueling outages, the hotels are booked, the restaurants are full, and it is a great time to be a business owner in Calvert County,” Calvert County Department of Economic Development Director Linda Vassallo said.

In addition to replacing approximately a third of the unit’s fuel, the Calvert Cliffs team used the opportunity to perform maintenance tasks and tests, as well as conduct safety inspections on some plant components. This work, much of which must be done while the unit is offline, allows the plant, operated by Exelon, to continue safe and efficient operations while ensuring equipment reliability.