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Get the Facts
View these articles about Harris Plant topics of interest to the community.
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- Harris Nuclear Plant video overview, 7 minutes
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The single-unit, 900-megawatt Harris Nuclear Plant is located near New Hill, N.C. The plant generates power for more than 550,000 homes. It is Progress Energy's newest nuclear plant, beginning commercial operation in 1987.
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Emergency preparedness
Harris Plant sirens are outdoor warning systems
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A view of the new sirens, which went into effect April 1, 2008.
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Did you know the purpose of the sirens in the 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone around the plant is to serve as an outdoor warning system in the event of an emergency? Residents sometimes call the plant after a siren test to explain that they could not hear the siren inside their home. The primary means of communication in an emergency are messages broadcast through commercial radio and television stations. Information would also be available via tone-alert weather radios.
If there were ever a real emergency at the plant requiring the sirens to be sounded, local radio and television stations would broadcast information and instructions to the public.
The alert notification sirens around the Harris Plant are tested annually at full-volume, silently every two weeks and for a short-duration test every quarter.
If you hear a loud, steady sound coming from one of the sirens around the Harris Plant, tune your radio to an Emergency Alert System (EAS) station. In our area, your primary EAS stations are 94.7 FM or 105.1 FM. Hearing a siren does not mean you should evacuate.
If you have questions, please call Progress Energy at 919-362-3261 or 1-800-443-8395 or send an e-mail.
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Harris Plant files to extend its operating license
The Harris Plant has been generating safe and efficient electricity for more than 550,000 homes each day since it came online in 1987. With its 900 megawatts of power produced, the plant provides 12 percent of the total electricity generated by Progress Energy Carolinas.
The Harris Plant is currently licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to operate for 40 years. That license expires in 2026. To ensure that the safe, reliable power provided today continues to meet electricity needs in the future, the Harris Plant is filing for a 20-year extension of its operating license.
What is license renewal?
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issues licenses for commercial power reactors to operate for up to 40 years and allows these licenses to be renewed for another 20 years. A 40-year license term was selected on the basis of economic and antitrust considerations—not technical limitations.
Public involvement
The public has an opportunity to be part of the license renewal process. There are a several open meetings, including commission meetings, advisory committee meetings and staff meetings throughout the process. Meeting information is made available to the public on the NRC Web site.
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Harris Energy and Environmental Center
The center, located about one mile from the Harris Nuclear Plant, features exhibits and programs on how nuclear energy is used to produce electricity.
Programs and films, generally geared toward middle school, high school, college students and adults, can be arranged by calling the E&E Center at 919-362-3261 or sending an e-mail. All group programs and individual visits must be arranged by appointment in advance, and are scheduled on weekdays during normal business hours.
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| Sydney Williams pedals a bike in the Harris Learning Lab to simulate the generation of electricity. |
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