Sparking the Reactors in Alabama

The Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Plant in Alabama restarted its Unit 1 reactor yesterday, 22 years after it was shut down for safety concerns. Once the largest nuclear power plant in the U.S., the revival is the result of a $1.8 billion renovation of the Tennessee Valley Authority's facility. The plant is capable of powering 1.95 million homes.

Will this mark a renewal in nuclear energy? The dangers are still there, and are seen in the history of the Browns Ferry plant. In 1975, an employee used a candle to check for air leaks in one of the reactors, which sparked a fire "considered the nation's worst nuclear power accident until the partial core meltdown of the Three Mile Island plant in 1979 in Pennsylvania," according to the Associated Press. However currently, spokespeople say that there are no reported problems.

Forbes reported that a watchdog group was questioning whether the plant should be operated at all:

Sara Barczak, safe energy director for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, said Browns Ferry has an "infamous history" that poses concerns even after the refurbishment. Reactors are most likely to have problems during and shortly after startups or as they age, she said, and Unit 1 falls into both categories.

"This restart is a high-alert time for safety," she said.

Sources: The Birmingham News, The Houston Chronicle, Forbes, The Decatur Daily, Tennessee Valley Authority