Watts Bar Sticking to New Schedule

TVA says 2,500 workers are on the job trying to finish Watts Bar Unit 2. Image courtesy TVA

The Tennessee Valley Authority says an over-budget nuclear reactor is back on track, at least on its new track.

TVA committed to giving an update on Watts Bar Unit 2 every quarter until the reactor comes online. The new report came with a companion video.

“Work has tracked consistently near or above its goal for staying on schedule. And, it’s within budget.”

That’s a new schedule, and a new budget though. The reactor – which should power 650,000 homes – will still be three years late. And the budget is on pace to exceed original projections by $2 billion.

Even after regrouping, TVA says there are two regulatory unknowns that could either slow things down further or increase costs. New precautions may be required following the disaster in Fukushima, Japan. And the Nuclear Regulatory Commission says it won’t license new reactors until there’s a long-term plan for the spent fuel.