How much did Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Plant cost to build?
Browns Ferry is a three-reactor nuclear power station on Wheeler Reservoir near Athens, Alabama, operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority. Its units entered commercial service in 1974, 1975 and 1977. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports $3.259 billion as the construction cost of the original three-unit station in 2007-dollar terms; that is an inflation-adjusted historical figure, not cash spent in 2007. Later investment had different scope: TVA reports $1.84 billion, excluding construction financing allowance, to restart Unit 1 in 2007, and $475 million for the three-unit extended power uprate completed in 2019. Following that upgrade, TVA says the station can produce up to 3,954 MW. These figures describe original construction, a unit restart and a later capacity upgrade respectively, and should not be added as if they were a single construction contract.
Reported project cost
$3.259 billion
Cost basis: 2007
Cost evidence
Basis of the published figure
Project metrics
Key dimensions
- PowerTennessee Valley Authority, Browns Ferry plant facts
- 3,954 MW
Project record