McGuire Celebrates 30 Years of Being an Industry Leader and Devoted Member of the Community
This plant will be a good neighbor. And, will provide power to the prosperous, progressive Piedmont Carolinas.
- William Bulgin McGuire, Duke Power President
(1959 – 1971)
On December 1, 1981, McGuire Nuclear Station produced its very first megawatt of electricity, becoming the second nuclear power plant in Duke Energy’s fleet. McGuire, located about 17 miles Northwest of Charlotte, was aptly named after Duke Energy’s President from 1959 to 1971, William Bulgin McGuire. In 1969, McGuire announced that Lake Norman — the state’s largest man-made lake — built by Duke Energy in 1963 by damming the Catawba River with Cowans Ford Hydroelectric Station, would become home to McGuire Nuclear Station. Construction at the site began two years later in 1971, required 40 million man hours, 12,000 tons of steel and over 230,000 cubic yards of concrete. Since the day McGuire went into commercial operation, safety and security of the plant and its neighbors became its number one priority. Today, 30 years later, McGuire stands as an industry leader in safety and performance and a devoted member of the Lake Norman community.
As you might imagine, when you’ve been around for 30 years you’re going to experience some change as well as a multitude of milestones. Some of the more obvious changes are upgrades to the plant’s technology and systems. Perhaps the biggest changes came from events which impacted the country in one way or another. The events of 9/11 brought about heightened security and emergency response readiness. Some of the more visible signs of security you’ll see today as a result of 9/11 are additional security officers, a blocked entrance once open to employees and the addition of boulders, jersey barriers and other materials surrounding the perimeter of the plant. And while it is still too early to draw final conclusions from the recent nuclear related events in Japan with regard to the U.S. nuclear energy program, lessons learned will be incorporated based on this experience into the design and operation of McGuire, as well as nuclear plants across the world to ensure its continued safe operation.
One thing you’ll find that hasn’t changed much at the plant, are its employees. Nearly 40 percent of McGuire’s 1,100teammates have been at the site since the early days of construction. Their vast experiences and years of service have made them pioneers of safety at the site; it’s one of the reason why such a strong nuclear safety culture exists today -- a work environment where employees are dedicated to putting safety first. A strong nuclear safety culture describes the cornerstone of McGuire’s operations, causing it to be the industry leader it is today.
Throughout the changes the plant has undergone, it has also experienced several record breaking moments. McGuire has repeatedly set records for capacity factor (the ratio of the plants actual output and its potential output) and consecutive day runs. In 2010, Duke Energy’s nuclear fleet set a capacity factor record of 95.88 percent, breaking its record set in 2002. In 2004, McGuire’s unit 1 set another record, running 512 days without ever having to power down between refueling cycles; the first record was set in 1990.
Perhaps equally important to McGuire’s strong operational performance is its involvement in the community. Nearly five years after McGuire began operating; the EnergyExplorium opened its doors in 1986. The onsite energy education center has become somewhat of an integral fixture at McGuire, allowing members of the public to gain a better understanding of nuclear energy through interactive exhibits and presentations. In addition to presentations and exhibits, the EnergyExplorium is known for the variety of annual events it hosts each year. Perhaps the most well-known is the Charlotte Symphony. Each summer McGuire becomes a favorite destination and welcomes thousands of visitors to its lawn. This year, 10,000 visitors listened to the sounds of the Charlotte Symphony with McGuire in the backdrop.
In addition to community events, giving back is one of the fundamental values shared by McGuire employees as evidenced by the remarkable imprint they have left on the community. Every year, McGuire participates in several site drives and strives to give back more to the community than previous years. Through the drives, employees donate fans for the elderly during the hot summer months, warm coats for the needy in the winter, toys and bikes for disadvantaged children before Christmas, school supplies for students, cellphones for soldiers and blood to support the American Red Cross.
For the past 30 years McGuire has made a difference not only by providing safe, reliable electricity, but also by the work its employees do in the community to improve the lives of others through community service projects. We’re proud to be a part of the community and we look forward to operating safely and reliably for another 30 years.
To commemorate McGuire’s 30th anniversary, several events were held to thank teammates who help keep safety and security at the forefront each day. In addition, a media tour was held in November, which for the first time, allowed a large group of media professionals into McGuire’s used fuel pool. Coverage and photos from the media tour and the 30th anniversary employee fall festival can be found below.
Coverage of Media Tour - Courtesy of WBTV