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Senator Dave McCormick visited the Three Mile Island facility in Londonderry Township, Pennsylvania, on Monday (May 18) to discuss its planned revival. The site, known for the worst commercial nuclear accident in U.S. history, is set to restart its Unit One reactor, which closed in 2019 due to economic reasons. McCormick emphasized that the reopening symbolizes Pennsylvania's potential as a leader in energy production.
The project, part of the Trump administration's energy agenda, involves a 20-year agreement with Microsoft to match the power its data centers use. If regulatory hurdles are cleared, the reactor is expected to reopen on June 1, 2027. The facility, now called Crane Clean Energy Center, retains its 1970s control center, but many internal parts have been updated.
Constellation Energy, which is managing the project, has begun training staff and anticipates creating thousands of jobs. However, environmentalists and nuclear watchdogs have raised concerns about the restart's risks and the environmental impact, including the request for 73 million gallons of water daily from the Susquehanna River.
McCormick acknowledged these concerns, stating, "Every one of these projects has to be looked at holistically, considering all trade-offs." The project remains under scrutiny as it aims to balance economic benefits with environmental and safety considerations.