Keeping it Under Pressure
February 18, 2014
There are lots of acronyms and terminologies when talking about a nuclear power plant, but one term in particular carries a lot of weight when you refer to the safe operation of a nuclear power plant; maintaining containment pressure. To understand ... Read More
Do we have enough nuclear fuel?
February 11, 2014
Did you know? A single uranium fuel pellet contains as much energy as 480 cubic meters of natural gas, nearly a ton of coal or 149 gallons of oil. Where does it come from and do we have a plentiful supply for U.S. nuclear plants? Uranium is a common ... Read More
Importance of water at nuclear plants
January 22, 2014
Water is essential to sustaining human life. It's also essential to the production of electricity at nuclear power plants which are designed to use as little water as possible. Read More
Nuclear Meets the Demands of the Polar Vortex
January 14, 2014
The frigid impact of the “polar vortex” affected most of the U.S.Credit: AccuWeather.com Last week, as the arctic air of the “polar vortex” made its way across the country, temperatures reached record lows and energy demand reached record highs. ... Read More
Learning Firsthand from Fukushima
December 03, 2013
In September, chief nuclear officers (CNOs) representing all operating U.S. commercial nuclear energy facilities traveled to Japan to see the impact of the 2011 Fukushima event firsthand. More than 20 nuclear leaders from the U.S. spent a week touring ... Read More
The upside of nuclear uprates
November 20, 2013
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) places restrictions on the maximum amount of electricity a nuclear power plant can produce. The NRC determines this maximum output for each nuclear unit, which is based on individual factors and specifications. ... Read More
Why don't all nuclear plants have cooling towers?
November 13, 2013
On a clear day, you can easily see the Harris Nuclear Plant’s 523-foot high cooling tower from downtown Raleigh, about 20 miles away. However, if you drive 180 miles southeast to the Brunswick Nuclear Plant in Southport, N.C., you won’t see a cooling tower. Since both are nuclear power plants, why does only one have a cooling tower? Read More
New Video Celebrates the People Behind the Power
October 09, 2013
With a fresh look and brand, Duke Energy needed a compelling new way to show off its most powerful asset – its employees. The result is this 3-minute video that introduces the new Duke Energy and what goes on behind the light switch. The video, ... Read More
50 years later: Source of power generation gives life to a community
October 01, 2013
What began as an engineering project to meet the energy needs of a developing region became a catalyst for growth, economic prosperity and created a community all its own. In 1959, Duke Energy began construction on Cowans Ford Dam which impounded the ... Read More