Beaver Valley Nuclear Generating Station, Nuclear power plant in Beaver County, Pennsylvania
Beaver Valley Nuclear Generating Station is a nuclear power plant in Shippingport, Pennsylvania, that operates two pressurized water reactors supplied by Westinghouse. The facility generates electricity by heating water to create steam that turns turbines, and it uses the nearby Ohio River for cooling water.
The first reactor unit began operation in 1976, with the second starting in 1987. Originally built and operated by Duquesne Light Company, the plant was acquired by FirstEnergy in 1999 and later by Vistra Energy in 2024.
The facility sits beside the Ohio River, roughly 25 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, and is visible from a distance due to its tall cooling towers. Visitors should know that access is restricted to designated areas for safety reasons.
The surrounding area was the site of the first commercial nuclear power station in the US, the Shippingport Atomic Power Station, which opened in 1957 and was attended by President Eisenhower. That historic facility helped establish nuclear energy as a viable power source for the nation.
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