Revival of Nuclear Power: Constellation Energy's Ambitious Project at Three Mile Island

Constellation Energy has taken a crucial step towards reactivating the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant by ordering a main transformer valued at $100 million. This device is the largest single component needed for the reactor's comeback in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. To resume operations, Constellation has committed to investing a total of $1.6 billion by 2028. This decision is based on a thorough assessment of the site, where the infrastructure and necessary equipment were comprehensively evaluated. A strategic coup was achieved by the company in September 2024 with the signing of a 20-year power supply agreement with Microsoft to support the restart efforts. The plant, located on an island in the Susquehanna River, will supply 835 MW of electricity, thereby offsetting the power consumption in Microsoft’s data centers. The focus is on the reactivation of Unit 1, which ceased operations in 2019 for economic reasons. Constellation aims to resume power production by this unit by 2028, but it faces several physical and regulatory challenges, including compliance with U.S. and local regulations. Investments are also being made in the renewal of the reactor's turbine, generator, and cooling systems, which are crucial for operational readiness. In July 2024, Constellation held discussions with the governor's office and state legislators of Pennsylvania to secure funding for a potential restart of a unit of the Three Mile Island facility. These actions indicate that the company is diligently working towards the reactivation of a part of the nuclear plant, which operated from 1974 to 2019.