Nuclear Energy in Michigan
Energy Overview
Michigan’s three nuclear power plants supply more than one-fourth of the state’s electricity generation. In 2006, Michigan nuclear power plants produced over 29 million Megawatt Hours (29,066,165 MWh) of electricity and operated at over 88.4% capacity. All three nuclear power plants are a part of the East North Central Grid (IL, IN, MI, OH, WI) which in 2006 was expected to consume 16.997 quadrillion Btu’s of electricity. By the year 2030, the East North Central Grid will require 20.128 quadrillion Btu’s of electricity per year, a 16% increase from 2006.
Clean Air Benefits
Counties – surrounding the Detroit-Ann Arbor area – have been designated as areas of “non-attainment” by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which means pollution levels persistently exceed national ambient air quality standards. Ozone and other air pollutants like soot and smog have can have major effects of concern for human health, including respiratory impairment in young children and the elderly. Grand Gulf supplies emissions-free power to the state of Mississippi and helps improve the air quality.
Nuclear energy produces no harmful greenhouse gases or gases that could produce ground-level ozone formation, smog or acid rain.
Nuclear power plants in Michigan avoided the emission of 181,200 tons of SO2; 49,200 tons of NOx; and 27.5 million metric tons of CO2 in 2006.
What does this mean? 49,200 tons of NOx are released into the air every year by 2.6 million passenger cars – there are only 4.8 million cars registered in Michigan.
TheDepartment of Energy estimates that Michigan uprates at nuclear power plants could supply 7% more electricity and avoid annual emissions of 5,700 tons of SO2, 1,400 tons of NOx and 1.5 million metric tons of CO2.
Economic Benefits
Nuclear power plants are good for Michigan’s economy, which has grown 1.0% each year over the past 5 years. If a new plant were built, it would provide:
1,400 to 1,800 construction jobs, with the majority at the plant site; 400-500 full-time, skilled professional worker jobs; and 400-500 jobs for the surrounding communities.
Employees at U.S. nuclear plants earn salaries approximately 40% more than average earnings in communities near the plants. The average annual salary for nuclear engineers was $80,000 in 2003.
Did You Know. . .?
On a cross-country flight, you will receive an average of 3-5 millirems of radiation. This is more than you would receive standing at the gate of a nuclear power plant 24 hours a day for a year. (Source: DOE)
The energy in one uranium fuel pellet – the size of the tip of your little finger – generates the same amount of electricity as 1,780 pounds of coal, 149 gallons of oil, and 17,000 cubic feet of natural gas.