Calvert Cliffs 3

Calvert Cliffs 3
Name	Calvert Cliffs 3
Location	Lusby, Calvert County, Chesapeake Bay
Owner	Constellation Energy
Operator	Constellation Energy
Reactor type	Pressurized water reactor
Status	Proposed

Calvert Cliffs 3

Calvert Cliffs 3 is a proposed nuclear reactor project sited on the Chesapeake Bay shoreline in Lusby, within Calvert County. The proposal has intersected with federal and state agencies such as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Maryland Public Service Commission, as well as corporations like Constellation Energy and vendors represented by Westinghouse Electric Company, General Electric, and Bechtel Corporation. The project has been the focus of litigation involving parties including the Sierra Club, NRDC, and local governments, and has implications tied to statutes like the National Environmental Policy Act and the Atomic Energy Act.

Background and Site

The site lies adjacent to the existing dual-unit Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant complex on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay, near transportation corridors used by Interstate 95, U.S. Route 301, and regional rail lines operated historically by CSX Transportation. Regional stakeholders include St. Mary's County, Anne Arundel County, and municipal entities such as the Town of North Beach. Federal oversight has engaged agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration because of coastal siting proximate to habitats monitored by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and protected areas akin to Calvert Cliffs State Park.

Design and Technical Specifications

The proposed unit is described as a large-capacity Pressurized water reactor with reactor technologies analogous to designs promoted by Westinghouse Electric Company and design certification frameworks overseen by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Technical parameters under discussion have paralleled genera of advanced large light-water reactors licensed under 10 CFR Part 52 and have considered balance-of-plant systems supplied by firms like Bechtel Corporation and General Electric. Supporting infrastructure considerations include cooling water intake/outfall configurations subject to Clean Water Act review and seismic siting assessments informed by standards from the American Society of Civil Engineers and guidance issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

Licensing and Regulatory History

Licensing has required interactions with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission through combined license processes reflecting precedents set by projects such as the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant and regulatory actions invoking the Atomic Energy Act. State-level review included filings with the Maryland Public Service Commission and environmental review frameworks influenced by the National Environmental Policy Act and consultations under the Endangered Species Act with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Litigation over licensing leveraged case law from circuits that have adjudicated disputes involving parties like the Sierra Club and Natural Resources Defense Council challenging federal authorizations.

Construction and Project Timeline

Initial development milestones referenced project-planning activities comparable to timelines for units at Vogtle and sites like Finland Olkiluoto whereby pre-construction permitting, site preparation, and supply-chain mobilization were contingent upon procurement agreements with firms like Westinghouse Electric Company, contractor arrangements with Bechtel Corporation, and financing commitments involving institutions such as the Export–Import Bank of the United States and private equity participants. Schedule uncertainties mirrored industry-wide adjustments observed after events affecting Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant and market shifts following regulatory decisions by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Environmental and Community Impact

Environmental review addressed potential impacts to the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem, including considerations for habitats linked to species listed under the Endangered Species Act and water-quality protections enforced via the Clean Water Act and oversight by the Environmental Protection Agency. Community concerns involved emergency planning coordinated with Calvert County officials, cross-jurisdictional coordination with Anne Arundel County, and input from civic groups such as the Sierra Club and Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Fisheries, tourism tied to sites like Assateague Island National Seashore, and cultural resources under the purview of the National Park Service and Maryland Historical Trust were central to impact assessments.

Economic and Financing Aspects

Financing discussions invoked models used in projects backed by entities like Southern Company at Vogtle and financing instruments involving the Department of Energy loan programs, participation by state public utility commissions such as the Maryland Public Service Commission, and potential engagement by multilateral lenders and private investors. Economic analyses weighed capital costs against rate impacts on customers represented by utilities in the PJM Interconnection market and compared long-term generation value to alternatives from projects like Dominion Energy renewables and combined-cycle plants supplied by General Electric turbomachinery.

Controversies and Legal Challenges

The project attracted litigation from environmental organizations including the Sierra Club and the Natural Resources Defense Council, administrative challenges before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and appeals invoking statutory frameworks like the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act. Debates echoed disputes seen in proceedings related to the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant and regulatory scrutiny prompted by incidents at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Local governments and civic groups pursued legal and administrative remedies while national organizations engaged in public campaigns involving stakeholders such as Constellation Energy and federal agencies including the Department of Energy.

Category:Nuclear power stations in Maryland