THREE MILE ISLAND BEGINS REFUELING OUTAGE

Operators at Three Mile Island Generating Station removed Unit 1 from service just after midnight Sunday to refuel the nuclear plant’s reactor and perform maintenance to ensure another reliable 24-month operating cycle. Earlier this year, Exelon Generation announced the early retirement of Three Mile Island in 2019 and, absent a legislative solution, the refueling outage that started today will be the station’s last.

“TMI’s employees and contractors are true professionals, and we remain focused on executing a safe and efficient refueling outage,” said TMI Site Vice President Ed Callan. “Regional power consumers rely on us to deliver clean, zero-emission energy that keeps the lights on, and the local community counts on our refueling outages to provide a boost to our local businesses.”

While the unit is offline, technicians will replace nearly one-third of the reactor’s secure, onsite fuel and perform hundreds of inspections and maintenance activities. To support that work, more than 1,200 local and travelling union craftspeople are onsite in Middletown, PA, patronizing local merchants.

“TMI’s refueling outages deliver a major economic boost for businesses in Central Pennsylvania, which ripples through our local economy,” said Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC President David Black. “More than 1,200 visiting tradespeople will be working in our community utilizing as many as 36,000 room nights which results in additional support purchases in local restaurants and stores.”

Three Mile Island is located along the Susquehanna River in Londonderry Township, Dauphin County, Pa. The station generates electricity for more than 800,000 homes and businesses. TMI’s 675 employees spend more than 100 volunteer hours and donate more than $300,000 to local charities and organizations annually. Join us on Twitter @TMI_Unit1.