In the 1960s, TVA began expecting a large increase in the electrical demand for the 1970s, and 1980s. TVA ordered 7 nuclear power plants to combat this. These plants include Browns Ferry, Sequoyah, Watts Bar, Bellefonte, Phipps Bend, Yellow Creek, and Hartsville. Land along the Cumberland River was acquired by TVA in the late 1960s for construction of the plant. TVA released their draft environmental impact statement[1] for the construction of the four unit General Electric BWR/6 in late 1974. It was planned to be the largest nuclear power plant in the world at the time.[2][3]
The power plant was split up into two plants, Plant A (units A1 & A2) and Plant B (units B1 & B2). Each reactor would operate at 3,579 MWth, and have an electrical output of 1,233 MWe. The units were cooled both by a Natural Draft Cooling Tower, and a Spray Pond. The Cooling Tower was 535 feet tall.[1]
The Turbo generators were to be manufactured by Brown, Boveri & Cie (Now ABB Ltd), a Swiss electrical engineering company. It was designed for 1800 RPM, It was going to have a max wattage of 1,285 MWe, and had a max voltage of 24,000 V.[1]
Construction
Hartsville Nuclear Power Plant Cooling tower 1983
Construction began in April 1977 after the issuance of the construction permits[4]. Existing housing was demolished to make way for the new reactors.[1] The Spray ponds were partially dug out, the Water Intake Pumping Station is partially constructed, and the Condensate Circulating Water (CCW) Pumping stations had only reached their foundations before cancellation.
Unit A1
Unit A1 was the most complete before cancellation at 44%[5] completion. The Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) was installed, and parts of the Mark III Containment structure were in place. The Turbine hall floor had just began construction, leaving large holes to the condenser hall from where the turbines and generator would have been. The cooling tower's main concrete structure was completed, however it missing the inner components.
Unit A2
Unit A2 was the second most complete unit, at 34% completion[5]. The RPV was also installed, but is missing many parts of the Mark III Containment structure, making the RPV easily visible. The Turbine hall floor is in similar condition to the one in unit A1. The Cooling tower's steel frame base was completed, but the main structure had not begun construction.
Unit B1
Unit B1 was the third most complete unit, at 17% completion[5]. The support structure for the RPV had just began construction. The Condenser hall was dug out completely. The Cooling tower did not begin construction.
Unit B2
Unit B2 was the least complete unit, at 7% completion[5]. The foundations for the containment building had just begun, but the walls were not added yet. The condenser hall was partially dug out. The Cooling tower did not begin construction
Cancellation and Legacy
Plant A as viewed from the East (Turbo Generator Side)
In 1979, The Three Mile Island Nuclear Accident had sprouted a new anti-nuclear wave, which had affected public opinion on the Hartsville plant. At the time, it was projected that the project would cost $13.8 billion (equivalent to $40.55 billion in 2022), more than TVA spent creating its entire power system at the time.[6]
The killing blow came when it became evident to TVA that the electricity demand they had projected for the 1980s was nonexistent. TVA had decided to cancel the Plant B reactors indefinitely on March 22, 1983.[5][7] In July 1984, TVA staff recommended the shutdown of Plant A to their Board of the directors, citing possible cost increases, and the power demand situation. The Tennessee Valley Authority decided to pull the plug on the final 2 reactors, and shut down Plant A on August 29, 1984.[5]
The site today remains abandoned. A few small buildings were demolished, but the main structures remain intact. The site has become a popular urban exploration and thrill seeker hotspot, which TVA is actively combating.[8]
^United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Docket Nos. STN 50-518, STN 50-519, STN 50-520, and STN 50-521 Tennessee Valley Authority Hartsville Nuclear Plants, Units A1, B1, A2, and B2 Notice of Issuance of Construction Permits. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 1977. pp. all.
