Will Expanding Nuclear Capacity at Watts Bar Overcrowd Schools?
August 23, 2007

Congressman Zach Wamp hopes to prove that expanding the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant in Spring City, Tennessee means providing more electricity and more economic development. But not everyone is as excited. Educators with Rhea County schools say expanding Watts Bar will expand their student population. They simply don't have the room.

Congressman Wamp say, "Nuclear must be a critical component of a national plan for new energy sources."

Touring the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Congressman Zach Wamp says when Unit Two is up and running, it'll provide an additional 1200 megawatts of electricity. That's enough power to serve about 650,000 Tennessee Valley homes. Wamp says it'll also generate about 2300 jobs.

Wamp says, "It means a lot for the economy of the region and it means a lot for the cost of power for the people who live here, which is job and economic development.

Congressman Wamp says expanding nuclear capacity will be a great economic boost, but what about the capacity at Rhea County Schools? Administrators say they're already overcrowded.

Rhea County Superintendent Dallas Smith says, "It'll make overcrowding much worse."

Smith says Rhea County High School was designed for 1200 students. 1520 are registered this year. He says that number will only go up once construction starts on Unit 2. Those moving to the area to work on it, will likely have kids, and they'll need to go to school.

Smith says, "There was a point in time when they told us to expect 400 students."

Rhea County Commissioners approved a half cent sales tax just for school construction. But the county's three municipalities must first agree to it. Once they do, it'll be up to voters to approve it. The money would go to build 27 new classrooms at the high school.

Smith says, "We've got to have it whether with the sales tax or a property tax. We've got to have the space because we're almost to the point where we can't take anymore students in these two schools."

TVA hasn't said when construction will begin on Unit 2 at Watts Bar. They expect to have it completed by September 2012.

 
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