Template:Infobox NPP
The Salem Nuclear Power Plant is a two unit pressurized water reactor nuclear power station located in Lower Alloways Creek Township, New Jersey (South Jersey) in the United States. It is owned by PSEG Nuclear LLC and Exelon Generation LLC.
Salem Nuclear Power Plant is two of four nuclear power units in New Jersey. The others are the two at the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station, and the Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Station. As of January 1, 2005, New Jersey ranked 10th among the 31 States with nuclear capacity for total MWe generated. In 2003, nuclear electricity generated over one half of the electricity in the State.[1]
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Salem shares an artificial island in the Delaware Bay with the Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Station.
The reactors, both PWRs, were built by Westinghouse, and began commercial operation in 1977 (Unit 1) and 1981 (Unit 2). The two-unit plant has a capacity of 2275 MWe. Unit 1 is licensed to operate until August 13, 2016 and Unit 2 is licensed to operate until April 18, 2020.
The New York Times has reported that, in the 1990s, the Salem reactors were shut down for two years because of maintenance problems.[2] Consultants found several difficulties, including a leaky generator, unreliable controls on a reactor, and workers who feared that reporting problems would lead to retaliation. In 2004, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission took on additional oversight of the Salem plants and increased the monitoring of them.[2]
An extensive investigation by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the subsequent review by hired consultants have found many minor problems, such as lack of routine maintenance and low morale among personnel, but declared the plant safe.[3]
Both reactors use Delaware Bay as a source of cooling water. Salem units 1 and 2 have a water-intake building with a rotating screen to collect debris that is later washed off. Sometimes thick layers of grass clog the intakes and the reactors run at reduced power for weeks as a result.[4] All of the waste heat produced in the steam cycle (about 2 gigawatts) is dumped into the bay. A plume of warmer water produced by the power plant is visible on the satellite pictures of the bay.[5]
Actor Bruce Willis worked at Salem Nuclear Power Plant as a security guard before pursuing acting. [6]
Hope Creek-Salem
The entire PSEG nuclear complex as seen from Augustine Beach, Delaware |
Salem
The Salem portion of the complex |
Template:U.S. Nuclear Plants Coordinates: 39°27′46″N 75°32′08″W / 39.4627°N 75.5356°W
  | Problems cited at nuclear plant in South Jersey - The New York Times > Log In |
| | Official PSEG website - The Salem Generating Station |
| | New Jersey Nuclear Industry - State Nuclear Industry - New Jersey |
| | Delaware Bay - delaware bay - Google Maps |
| | U.S. team finds errors at Salem Nuclear Plant - U.S. Team Finds Errors At Salem Nuclear Plant - The New York Times |
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