Location:

Energy Nothwest's Columbia Generating Station is located in the desert of southeast Washington, about 10 miles north of Richland on the west side of the Columbia River.

Plant Description

• Plant Owners: Energy Northwest -- Richland, Washington
• Reactor system manufacturer/type and model: General Electric 1200 mWe boiling water reactor
• Turbine manufacturer: Westinghouse
• Plant licensed core thermal power: 3486 MWT
• Plant electrical output (MDC): 1200 MWE

History

• Construction began in 1972
• Fuel loading was completed in January 1984
• Initial Criticality: February 1984
• 1st reached full power: November 1984
• Commercial Operation: December 1984
• Power up-rate 5% -- 1994
• First refueling April 1986
• Improved low-pressure turbine rotors installed May 1992
• Adjustable speed drives for reactor recirculation pumps, digital feedwater control system placed in operation June 1996

Interesting Facts

• Plant 2 is the only commercial nuclear power plant operating in the Pacific Northwest.
• Plant 2 was one of the last plants in the country to switch from an annual refueling cycle. The current operating cycle is 18 months, ending in April 2001. The plant will then run on a 24-month cycle.
• Since 1994, the cost of power generated by Plant 2 has been reduced by 35 percent.
• Between 1994 and 199, non-outage worker radiation exposure has been cut by 68 percent.