Enrico Fermi Nuclear Generating Station
| Company type | Nuclear power plant |
|---|---|
| Industry | Energy |
| Founded | August 1956 |
| Headquarters | Monroe, Michigan , United States |
Area served | Michigan, Ohio, Ontario |
| Products | Electricity generation |
| Owner | DTE Energy |
The Enrico Fermi Nuclear Generating Station is situated on roughly 1,200 acres along the shore of Lake Erie near Monroe, Michigan. This nuclear facility, owned and operated by DTE Energy, is positioned roughly halfway between Detroit and Toledo, and its presence can be observed from certain areas in Ontario and Ohio. The site comprises two reactors: construction of Unit 1 commenced in August 1956, reaching criticality by August 1963; Unit 2 was granted its construction permit in September 1972, achieved criticality in June 1985, and began commercial operation in November 1988. The plant’s electrical output is delivered to the grid through two single-circuit 345 kV transmission lines along with three 120 kV lines, all managed by ITC Transmission.
The station bears the name of Italian nuclear physicist Enrico Fermi, a Nobel Prize winner and a trailblazer in reactor technology. Its initial unit was designed as a prototype fast breeder reactor. On October 5, 1966, Fermi 1 experienced a partial meltdown of fuel without any release of radioactivity; although repairs were made, the unit was ultimately decommissioned by 1972.
In August 2008, then-presidential candidate John McCain visited the plant during his campaign, marking the first time an active nuclear facility was toured by a U.S. presidential candidate while campaigning.
Fermi 1
Fermi 1 was a prototype fast breeder reactor with a capacity of 69 MWe, developed on-site between 1956 and 1963 and achieving its first criticality on August 23, 1963. On October 5, 1966, it experienced a partial fuel meltdown impacting two out of its 92 fuel assemblies. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) verified that no unusual radioactive emissions occurred.
This reactor utilized liquid sodium as coolant and operated as a fast breeder reactor producing approximately 200 MW thermal power or 69 MW electrical power from metallic uranium fuel enriched to about 26%. The core dimensions were roughly 30 inches in diameter and height, containing 92 fuel assemblies encircled by 548 depleted uranium assemblies. It featured two control rods alongside eight safety rods. Initially engineered to reach up to 430 MW thermal and produce as much as 125 MWe with upgraded uranium oxide fuel, the plant was retired before these enhancements could be implemented.
In addition to the reactor, a 168 MWe oil-fired boiler was installed in 1966 to operate the turbine-generator during reactor outages.
The partial meltdown occurred when an obstruction in an orifice beneath the lower support plate restricted sodium coolant flow, resulting in overheating of multiple fuel rod subassemblies — with temperatures soaring to about 700 °F instead of the anticipated 580 °F.
Following an extended shutdown involving fuel replacement and repairs, Fermi 1 resumed operation at full power in July 1970. However, due to financial limitations and aging infrastructure, it ceased operation permanently on November 27, 1972. The plant was officially decommissioned on December 31, 1975 under the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). Later designated SAFSTOR by the NRC because of residual radioactivity, decommissioning efforts recommenced in May 1996 but were suspended by November 2011 with only minimal activity remaining. The facility continues to be maintained under SAFSTOR status.
Fermi 2
Fermi 2 is a General Electric boiling water reactor rated at 1,202 MWe and operated by DTE Energy. Announced in July 1968, it reached initial criticality in July 1985 and began full commercial service on January 23, 1988.
The reactor vessel houses a total of 764 fuel assemblies along with 185 control rods. Originally equipped with an English Electric turbine generator, this was replaced by a General Electric unit following a turbine blade failure in 1993. Within the reactor vessel, water is transformed into saturated steam which powers the main turbine-generator. Afterward, steam condenses and recirculates through a closed secondary loop cooled by two natural draft cooling towers standing approximately 400 feet tall. These towers use ambient air for cooling with minimal additional water drawn from Lake Erie.
Electric power is transmitted through two primary 345 kV lines that also supply safety-related equipment; these are supported by three supplementary backup lines operating at 120 kV. Plant safety systems are backed up by four diesel generators along with four combustion turbine generators providing emergency power when needed.
Fermi 3
The initial Fermi 3 initiative, commissioned in 1972 to match the specifications of Fermi 2, was terminated in 1974.
In September 2008, Detroit Edison submitted a request to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) seeking a Combined Construction and Operating License (COL) for an additional reactor at the existing site. The design proposed is a GE Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR) with a capacity of 1,550 MWe. The review process for the application was expected to last approximately four years, followed by an estimated six years for construction, with projected expenses reaching up to $10 billion. CEO Anthony Earley emphasized that nuclear energy continues to be the most economical baseload power source over time, although construction would only move forward when conditions regarding timing and budget are advantageous.
By March 2009, several citizen organizations submitted formal objections to the NRC, citing concerns about potential radioactive contamination, toxic emissions, and thermal effects on the western basin of Lake Erie.
The NRC granted the combined license in May 2015; nonetheless, DTE Energy had no immediate plans to commence building. As of 2025, both DTE and state lawmakers have indicated a willingness to progress with Fermi 3, maintaining the NRC license while not initiating active construction efforts.
Electricity production
In 2021, Enrico Fermi produced a total of 9,369 GWh.
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 837,317 | 749,423 | 826,750 | 706,554 | 820,950 | 788,930 | 807,415 | 808,623 | 789,911 | 682,435 | 4,215 | 732,906 | 8,554,429 |
| 2002 | 754,646 | 747,823 | 787,509 | 748,349 | 803,401 | 782,676 | 808,970 | 812,726 | 761,918 | 750,016 | 809,899 | 733,036 | 9,300,969 |
| 2003 | 792,252 | 739,490 | 715,806 | 0 | 511,787 | 794,164 | 815,027 | 647,050 | 634,415 | 829,640 | 808,058 | 831,137 | 8,119,826 |
| 2004 | 806,624 | 780,998 | 820,295 | 800,538 | 819,977 | 788,170 | 798,842 | 559,250 | 690,868 | 823,176 | 120,316 | 639,135 | 8,148,189 |
| 2005 | 638,803 | 580,711 | 836,444 | 795,506 | 824,948 | 651,229 | 382,159 | 808,499 | 787,950 | 817,527 | 803,264 | 829,535 | 8,256,575 |
| 2006 | 826,505 | 741,765 | 628,246 | ||||||||||
| 351,357 | 575,260 | 298,836 | 778,553 | 795,716 | 834,895 | 811,764 | 839,484 | 8,477,386 | |||||
| 2007 | 834,917 | 758,801 | 833,841 | 803,087 | 824,781 | 787,187 | 809,717 | 808,869 | 733,362 | ||||
| 295 391 | 828 414 | ||||||||||||
| 2008 | 824 333 | 686 950 | 832 186 | 801 333 | 823 695 | 782 492 | 808 543 | 812 034 | 783 971 | 825 617 | 803 232 | 829 020 | 9 312 406 |
| 2009 | 831 971 | 738 853 | 683 436 | ||||||||||
| 790 316 | 701 690 | 808 089 | 804 660 | 753 809 | |||||||||
| 482 400 | 829 456 | 7 405 908 | |||||||||||
| 2010 | 826 918 | 749 495 | 623 775 | 793 322 | 813 878 | 479 742 | 795 331 | 794 235 | 778 885 | 618 402 | |||
| 469 291 | 7 737 864 | ||||||||||||
| 2011 | 534 432 | 333 314 | 838 538 | 805 527 | 817 678 | 785 224 | 800 118 | 799 927 | 785 625 | 826 294 | 735 321 | 828 212 | 9 089 210 |
| 2012 | 834 658 | 777 846 | 656 219 | ||||||||||
| 653 365 | 600 935 | 37 766 | 524 001 | 419 846 | 538 502 | 96 113 | |||||||
| 5 121 312 | |||||||||||||
| 2013 | 537 127 | 489 402 | 529 856 | 432 891 | 357 159 | 512 775 | 522 400 | 526 801 | 275 094 | 789 239 | 791 587 | 834 631 | 6 598 962 |
| 2014 | 758 405 | 199 990 | |||||||||||
| 418 973 | 835 139 | 803 349 | 832 984 | 831 297 | 675 619 | 824 306 | 829 905 | 790 055 | 7 491 130 | ||||
2015
... [data continues similarly] |
Surrounding population
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) establishes two distinct emergency planning zones for nuclear facilities: a 10-mile plume exposure pathway zone addressing airborne radioactive hazards, and a 50-mile ingestion pathway zone concerning the consumption of contaminated food and beverages.
As of 2010, approximately 4,799,526 individuals resided within a 50-mile radius of the Enrico Fermi plant, representing a 3.4% decrease over the previous ten years. Prominent cities in proximity include Detroit, located 30 miles away, Toledo at 27 miles, and Windsor, Ontario, situated 26 miles across the Canadian border.
A 2021 analysis by the Radiation and Public Health Project (RPHP) reported an increase in cancer mortality rates in Monroe County between 2009 and 2018, implying a possible association with the Fermi facility. In contrast, investigations conducted by the American Cancer Society, National Cancer Institute, and the NRC have found no evidence supporting increased cancer risks for populations living near nuclear power plants. The NRC underscores that observed statistical correlations do not establish causality. Pete Dietrich, Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer at DTE Energy, challenged the RPHP findings as deceptive, reaffirming that radiation levels at Fermi and all U.S. nuclear installations are continuously monitored by qualified experts under NRC oversight.
Seismic risk
According to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's assessment in 2010, the probability of an earthquake intense enough to cause core damage at Fermi is estimated at one in 238,095 annually. This places Fermi as the 88th least susceptible site among nuclear power plants across the United States.
Reactor data
The Enrico Fermi Nuclear Generating Station comprises one active reactor, one unit that has been retired, and one reactor planned for future construction:
| Reactor Unit | Reactor Type | Electrical Generation Capacity | Construction Start | Initial Criticality | Commercial Operation Start | Permanent Shutdown | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net | Gross | ||||||
| Fermi 1 | LMFBR | 60 MW | 69 MW | 8/8/1956 | 8/23/1963 | 7/8/1966 | 11/29/1972 |
| Fermi 2 | BWR-4 | 1150 MW | 1202 MW | 9/26/1972 | 7/2/1985 | 1/23/1988 | |
| Fermi 3 (planned) | ESBWR | 1490 MW | 1550 MW | ||||
References
- We Almost Lost Detroit, John G. Fuller, Ballantine Books, 1976
- Normal Accident, Charles Perrow, Basic Books, 1984
- We Did Not Almost Lose Detroit, Earl M. Page, Detroit Edison Co., 3rd Edition, May 1976
- Notes from a principal engineer at the site (1967–2006)
- Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant Hazards Summary Report
- Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant, Atomic Power Development Associates, Inc., January 1959
External links
- Public Comments from meetings on FERMI 3 with the NRC, featuring stakeholders including university professors and environmental groups.