"Watts Bar 2
"While the focus is on new technology, TVA undertook a detailed feasibility study which led to its decision in 2007 to complete unit 2 of its Watts Bar nuclear power plant in Tennessee. The 1177 MWe reactor is expected to come on line in 2013 at a cost of about $2.5 billion. Construction was suspended in 1985 when 80% complete and resumed in October 2007 under a still-valid permit, and is progressing on time and budget. Its twin, unit 1, started operation in 1996. Completing Watts Bar 2 utilizes an existing asset, thus saving time and cost relative to alternatives for new baseload capacity. It was expected to provide power at 4.4 ¢/kWh, 20-25% less than coal-fired or new nuclear alternatives and 43% less than natural gas."
It has been so long ago I can’t remember the date. I will never forget the event.
TVA decided to continue unit 1 but suspend work on unit 2 at Watts Bar. They let a contract for a high security guard station to permit entry to unit 1 and block of unit 2. My contract was for providing and installing bullet resistant glass. I provided and installed all the glass per specs and got paid in full.
Months after my work was complete, a TVA (read that Union) carpenter told his buddies the glass wouldn’t break and struck it with a hammer. He broke the innermost of the several layers of the 1.75” glass. TVA provided a change order for a new lite and I sent a crew to remove and replace the damaged glass.
Months later, I received on my telex a long message from TVA indicating that the work was not according to specs and the glass must be replaced within some ridiculously short time before final acceptance or I was subject to some liquidated damages of $500 thousand per day. The label on the glass was different and indicated the thickness was 1 3/16 not 1 3/4”
Well, I knew that was wrong because it would have been obvious to my glaziers because the glazing tape would be far too small to fill the rabbet. Any way I hit the trail for Soddy Daisey to see what was the problem. Sure enough the etched label was different and incorrect. Loud pleas to the manufacturer got results, but not in time to meet the deadline before the mortal daily liquidated damages took effect
Then, lo and behold, a miracle. Three Mile Island melted. All nuclear operations were placed on indefinite shutdown. The work at Watts Bar was stopped. The new glass was produced and eventually we were allowed back in to replace the mislabeled replacement.
Why did I not check it? The firsts replacement was shipped directly to TVA stores at Watts Bar, not to my shop.
My company did all the glass work at Watts Bar and at Sequoyah.