Bellefonte Nuclear Plant
PSAD-76-86: Published: Mar 1, 1976. Publicly Released: Mar 1, 1976.
Additional Materials:
- Full Report:
Contact:
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has a large commitment to the development of nuclear power, the best short-range assurance of an adequate supply of electricity which is both environmentally acceptable and economical. Bellefonte, TVA's fourth nuclear power plant, is located near Scottsboro, Alabama. Responsibility for licensing nuclear power plants and assurance of safe operations lies with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
TVA's original cost estimate for the Bellefonte Nuclear Plant was $650 million, an estimate based on prior experience and projected inflation. The revised estimate is $1.2 billion. This figure was arrived at by following basic estimating techniques. The increase was caused by inflation, delays, interest costs, and additional construction man-hours. The projected opening of commercial operation has been postponed nearly 3 years, to June 1980, for reasons including delays in gaining access to the site, the collection of environmental impact data, the extension of the construction period, TVA manpower restrictions, and revised NRC guidelines. One such holdup was related to redesigning certain components to meet earthquake resistance standards. NRC and TVA are considering standardization of nuclear plant design to minimize the effect of common delay factors. TVA customarily overlaps later design stages with early phases of construction, which agency officials deem a means of reducing costs. Future modifications may be necessary, but TVA is taking steps to anticipate and mitigate this possibility. To satisfy estimates of electric power demand in TVA's service area, the construction of seven nuclear power plants will be required, and TVA has planned its expansion to conform with this schedule.
Dec 10, 2020
Uranium Management:
Actions to Mitigate Risks to Domestic Supply Chain Could Be Better Planned and CoordinatedGAO-21-28: Published: Dec 10, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 10, 2020.
Dec 8, 2020
-
Offshore Wind Energy:
Planned Projects May Lead to Construction of New Vessels in the U.S., but Industry Has Made Few Decisions amid UncertaintiesGAO-21-153: Published: Dec 8, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 8, 2020.
Nov 19, 2020
-
Nuclear Waste Disposal:
Better Planning Needed to Avoid Potential Disruptions at Waste Isolation Pilot PlantGAO-21-48: Published: Nov 19, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 19, 2020.
Oct 29, 2020
-
Nuclear Safety:
DOE and the Safety Board Should Collaborate to Develop a Written Agreement to Enhance OversightGAO-21-141: Published: Oct 29, 2020. Publicly Released: Oct 29, 2020.
Oct 15, 2020
-
Nuclear Weapons:
NNSA Plans to Modernize Critical Depleted Uranium Capabilities and Improve Program ManagementGAO-21-16: Published: Oct 15, 2020. Publicly Released: Oct 15, 2020.
Jul 24, 2020
-
Nuclear Weapons:
Action Needed to Address the W80-4 Warhead Program's Schedule ConstraintsGAO-20-409: Published: Jul 24, 2020. Publicly Released: Jul 24, 2020.
Jun 24, 2020
-
National Nuclear Security Administration:
Analyzing Cost Savings Program Could Result in Wider Use and Additional Contractor EfficienciesGAO-20-451: Published: Jun 24, 2020. Publicly Released: Jun 24, 2020.
Jun 9, 2020
-
Nuclear Weapons:
NNSA Needs to Incorporate Additional Management Controls Over Its Microelectronics ActivitiesGAO-20-357: Published: Jun 9, 2020. Publicly Released: Jun 9, 2020.
May 13, 2020
-
Environmental Liabilities:
DOE Needs to Better Plan for Post-Cleanup Challenges Facing SitesGAO-20-373: Published: May 13, 2020. Publicly Released: May 13, 2020.
May 12, 2020
-
Hanford Waste Treatment Plant:
DOE Is Pursuing Pretreatment Alternatives, but Its Strategy Is Unclear While Costs Continue to RiseGAO-20-363: Published: May 12, 2020. Publicly Released: May 12, 2020.
Looking for more? Browse all our products here
Explore our Key Issues on Energy
- Air Quality
- Climate Change Funding and Management
- Climate Change Response
- Department of Energy's Contract Management for the National Nuclear Security Administration and Office of Environmental Management - High Risk Issue
- Economic Sanctions
- Electricity Markets, Grid Security and Resilience
- Hardrock Mining on Federal Lands
- Improving Federal Programs that Serve Tribes and Their Members - High Risk Issue
- Limiting the Federal Government's Fiscal Exposure by Better Managing Climate Change Risks - High Risk Issue
- Management of Federal Oil and Gas Resources - High Risk Issue
- Managing Federal Lands and Waters
- Nuclear Energy
- Nuclear Nonproliferation
- Nuclear Waste Disposal
- Nuclear Weapons and Forces Sustainment and Modernization
- Oil, Natural Gas, and Alternative Fuels
- Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Security of Radioactive Materials
- Tribal and Native American Issues
- Understanding Climate Change
- U.S. Arctic Interests
Explore our other Key Issues here
