Why Has It Taken 40 Years To Build A Tennessee Nuclear Power Plant?

Published May 12, 2015 at 1:52 PM EDT

In this April 29, 2015 photo, cooling towers for Unit 1, right, and Unit 2, left, are shown at the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant near Spring City, Tenn. (Mark Zaleski/AP)

A new nuclear power plant is nearing completion in Spring City, Tennessee, and it’s expected to be up and running by late summer.

It has taken about 40 years to complete the project.

Associated Press reporter Ray Henry tells Here & Now’s Meghna Chakrabarti that the Watts Bar plant serves as a cautionary tale for America’s nuclear power industry.

Guest

Ray Henry, Associated Press reporter. He tweets @rhenryAP.

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