The Shocking Effects Of Bringing Nuclear Energy To Arizona

On April 26th, 1986, just outside of Pripyat, Ukraine, a nuclear reactor exploded. The reactor was a main part of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, which began to fall into disarray almost immediately.

The fallout (no pun intended) from the disaster has turned the city into an irradiated wasteland, and survivors lived the rest of their shortened lives in as much pain as a human being can experience.

Why are we bringing this technology to Arizona again?

New Nuclear Power Plants Coming to Arizona

Across the United States, 28 states host 54 nuclear power plants. Arizona only has one within its borders, at Palo Verde, but this station is the largest in the U.S., producing around 4,000 megawatt hours per day. Its efficiency has led Arizona to delay construction of any new nuclear energy stations, until now.

Now, Salt River Project, Arizona Public Service, and Tucson Electric Power, Arizona's largest utility companies, are coming together to bring a new plant to the state. The proposed station would be a Generation III+ Small Modular Nuclear Reactor , much less powerful than Palo Verde.

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What are Nuclear's Effects on Arizona?

While many still think back to the tragic disasters of Chernobyl and Three Mile Island when discussing Nuclear Energy, these were isolated events, and are in no way a representation of nuclear power's safety. These plants are usually the safest facilities a government can make, and they keep getting safer.

Currently, Nuclear Energy in Arizona powers around 630,000 homes per day, and with the addition of the new plant, another 50,000 will be added. The money for the project will be coming from a $900 million grant from the Department of Energy, meaning taxpayers will not be affected. The plant is planned to be operational by 2040.

[ABC15]