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The technology is complex, but the basic premise is simple: make steam to turn a turbine that spins a generator to make electricity. The Susquehanna plant uses the energy released by splitting atoms to make steam. Click here to see an animated view of how it works.
The Susquehanna plant uses the energy of nuclear fission to make steam. The heat produced when uranium atoms are split causes water in the reactor to boil.
Steam produced in the reactor passes through turbines. Each turbine has rings of fan-like metal blades. As steam passes over the blades, the turbines turn very fast.
The turbines are connected to a generator, where an electromagnet spins inside a ring of copper wire to produce electricity.
When the steam has done its work, it is cooled, turning back into water that is pumped back into the reactor to begin the cycle all over again. | | 
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Here's the lineup of programs for May at the Susquehanna Riverlands
Family Fishing Education Day
Saturday, May 17, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Advanced registration required
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and Columbia County Bassmasters Association, in conjunction with PPL and the Berwick Borough Community Policing Program, are sponsoring a free Family Fishing Education Program at Lake Took-A-While in the Riverlands for families with children ages 8 to 15 (children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian).
Fishing equipment and lunch will be provided for participants. Children do not need a fishing license for this event. More information can be found at the Fish and Boat Commission Web site at www.fish.state.pa.us. In addition, the borough of Berwick will have its Community Policing Trailer, educational information and an appearance by McGruff, the Crime Dog. PPL will provide activities for children too young to participate (must be accompanied by a parent or guardian) and will have Riverlands and energy information and perimeter tours of the power plant available.
Space is limited, so advanced registration is required for this event. To register, please call Mike Monico at 570-752-3223 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Registration deadline is Saturday, May 10. This event will be held rain or shine.
All programs and activities will be held at the Susquehanna Energy Information Center and are free and open to the public. For more information on the Energy Information Center, click here.
Visit the Susquehanna plant
If you are looking for a free, fun and educational activity for the family, stop at the Susquehanna Energy Information Center on Route 11 for a guided visit to the nuclear power plant.
The Information Center is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
To schedule a group presentation, call 1-866-832-3312.
As a corporation, and as individuals, we understand our responsibility to do the right thing. Read PPL's Corporate Responsibility Report. | |
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PPL Installing, Testing New Susquehanna Plant Sirens
Installation of new sirens began in March, continuing PPL's replacement of the original emergency notification system for the Susquehanna nuclear plant.
“The siren system at the Susquehanna plant is a prominent symbol of the plant in the community,” said Joe Scopelliti, Susquehanna community relations manager. “The sirens can be used to notify the community of emergencies, not only at the plant, but for any purpose. Several of the sirens are shared with local fire companies, which use them for fire calls.
“Over the past 25 years since the original siren system began operating, it has only been used once — in 1987 to warn residents of Nanticoke about a fire at an industry that had chemicals on site,” he said.
ANS Services LLC of Salem, N.J., is removing the 76 sirens installed in 2006 that did not work to PPL’s satisfaction and replacing them with new ones manufactured by American Signal Corporation, Scopelliti said. Each new siren will be tested right after installation, he added. Installation is expected to be completed early this summer.
“It may be necessary for the crew working at the siren to sound it several times to confirm that it is operating properly,” Scopelliti said. “The test will consist of operating the siren at full volume for various amounts of time up to as long as three minutes.
“We understand the frustration caused by repeated siren tests in 2007, and we will make every effort to minimize the inconvenience when testing the new sirens,” he said.
All of the sirens in the new system will undergo a simultaneous full three-minute test later in the year. PPL will notify the public before that test. PPL’s original siren system, installed when the plant began operating, will remain in place and continue to function until the new system is completely installed, tested and accepted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. |
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PPL supports a bipartisan bill announced by two U.S. Senators that represents an effective and realistic plan to begin addressing the level of climate-changing greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere.
PPL believes a unified, national approach is essential to meet the global challenge of climate change successfully.
The bill would limit greenhouse gas emissions to 2006 levels by 2020, and 1990 levels by 2030. It also calls for a 60 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
PPL believes the bill takes the realistic approach of first slowing the growth of greenhouse gas emissions, then reducing them over time. |
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The Susquehanna Warrior Trail Council celebrated the groundbreaking of a new rails-to-trails project on Aug. 3 at PPL’s Susquehanna Riverlands.
When complete the new 18.5 trail will connect seven communities along the river – extending from the Riverlands north to Larksville.
The Susquehanna Warrior Trail Council – which includes two PPL Susquehanna employee volunteers, Dan Shane and Lance Kittleson – has been working for more than 10 years to make the trail a reality to increase the recreational opportunities available in the community.
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Operating a nuclear power plant is a public trust. At Susquehanna, every aspect of the plant’s design, every operating procedure and every work rule promotes safety.
Susquehanna has multiple security features; a well-trained security force that consists of PPL employees; extremely strong containment structures surrounding each reactor; and a comprehensive emergency response plan that involves the plant, local officials, law enforcement agencies. and the state and federal governments.
Susquehanna also is a mainstay of the local economy. The plant provides good-paying jobs, anchors the local tax base and supports many community organizations. With our request to extend the operating licenses for both reactors, we intend to remain an important part of the community for many years to come. | |
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Joe Scopelliti, a 23-year veteran with PPL Corporation, has been named manager of community relations for the company’s Susquehanna nuclear power plant near Berwick, Pa.
Scopelliti is a member of the Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce, Central Susquehanna Community Foundation, Shamokin Area Industrial Corp., Tri-Chamber Foundation Inc., Milton Area Industrial Development Association Committee, Berwick Rotary Club and local American Nuclear Society chapter.
He is a past chairman of the Berwick Area Chamber of Commerce, chairman of Faith United Evangelical Lutheran Church and campaign chair for the Berwick Area United Way.
He is active in fundraising for the Berwick Area United Way, the United Way of Columbia County, the Columbia-Montour Council of Boy Scouts of America and the Berwick Area YMCA. | |
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