BALTIMORE (Sept. 18, 2024) — As the country endured yet another brutal summer of extended heatwaves and extreme weather brought upon by climate change, Constellation’s carbon-free clean energy centers ran at nearly full power. The company’s 21 nuclear reactors at 12 sites from the Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast operated at a 98.1% capacity factor during the months of June, July and August to keep the lights on and air conditioners humming 24/7 for nearly 15 million homes and businesses.
Constellation technical experts prepared for the extreme summer heat by performing tens of thousands of tasks at nuclear plants during spring refueling and maintenance outages designed to help all reactors run uninterrupted during the hot summer months. Nuclear professionals completed important technology upgrades and equipment refurbishments, tested electrical and distribution equipment, and loaded new fuel. These tasks are beginning anew for the fall maintenance season in preparation for increased winter demand.
“There is no doubt that as extreme weather events and intense heat increase, especially during summer months, Constellation’s clean energy centers remain indispensable assets providing reliable and affordable carbon-free energy to American homes and businesses,” said Bryan Hanson, Constellation’s executive vice president and chief generation officer. “As we transition to cooler temperatures this fall, our fleet’s nuclear experts have already begun a comprehensive winter preparedness campaign to ensure the reliability of our facilities will continue in the winter months ahead.”
Constellation’s nuclear fleet in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast U.S. includes Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant in Calvert County, Maryland; Pennsylvania facilities Limerick Generating Station and Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station in Montgomery and York counties; and New York facilities Fitzpatrick Nuclear Power Plant and Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station in Oswego County and Ginna Nuclear Power Plant in Wayne County. Its Illinois nuclear fleet includes Braidwood Generating Station in Will County, Byron Generating Station in Ogle County, Clinton Power Station in DeWitt County, Dresden Generating Station in Grundy County, LaSalle County Generating Station, and Quad Cities Generating in Rock Island County.
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