Local Foundry Will Forge Nuclear Reactors
Lehigh Heavy Forge, once a part of the Bethlehem Steel empire, tapped to make components for next-generation small modular reactors for commercial nuclear power plants.
A Bethlehem company with its roots in the storied history of Bethlehem Steel has been tapped to manufacture components for next-generation commercial nuclear power reactors – items that have not been built in the United States for more than 30 years. Lehigh Heavy Forge Corp. and The Babcock & Wilcox Co. announced Wednesday that they had entered into an agreement that would have the Bethlehem foundry producing components for new small modular reactors currently being developed by B&W, a North Carolina-based energy technology company, according to a news release. The Express-Times reported that the agreement could mean the creation of 100 new jobs in South Bethlehem over the next 10 years. Gov. Tom Corbett was at the Bethlehem company’s …
joan
11:54 am on Monday, December 3, 2012
100 new jobs? That is it over 10 years? I wonder how many people will move up to this area and be given the white collar jobs let alone blue collar employment. What about the risks for the residents living locally? Is this foundry really worth it? Safety being the PRIMARY concern for the surrounding areas. more ›