Serving the residents of Mississippi for 40 years
A man from humble beginnings, Brad Kapellas, site Vice President of the Grand Gulf Nuclear Station in Port Gibson, started his career in nuclear in 1990 mopping floors. Now, 35 years later he is the site Vice President of the largest single-unit reactor in the country.
“I didn’t come from an extensive utility back-ground,” said Kapellas. “I didn’t go to college before starting my career in nuclear power. I just wanted to work hard and be the best at what I did and learn as much as I could to move up and really make a difference.”
Kapellas worked his way up to a radiation protection technician and then on to various leadership roles in other departments, including work management, operations and maintenance. He completed his senior reactor operator certification at Clinton Power Station and earned a bachelor’s degree in nuclear and technology management from Excelsior College.
“I learned a lot along the way, and I was not afraid to ask questions. I would go into work early and job shadow someone to learn as much as I could about their job. Once I gained that proficiency, I would find something else I needed to work on and do it all again. People are your most important resource,” he said. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without my mentors and friends who helped me along the way.”
This year, Grand Gulf Nuclear Station is celebrating 40 years of producing clean, reliable electricity. The plant generates nearly 1,500 megawatts of power. That is enough to power more than 800-thousand homes. It is the only nuclear power plant in the state of Mississippi and generates about 16% of the state’s power. It went into commercial operation on July 1, 1985.
“Nuclear power is the only carbon emission-free baseload source of power. Nuclear power is resilient. We stay online rain or shine 24-7, 365. I care about the environment, and I take pride in the fact we produce clean energy,” he said.
Kapellas joined the Grand Gulf team three years ago after he was part of a team supporting the plant. He said he fell in love with the people at the plant and wanted to work there.
“It’s been the best job I’ve ever had,” he said. “I cannot begin to describe what a great place Grand Gulf is to work. The people and culture are second to none. We strive to get better every day. We all take pride in powering life for our communities.”
Kapellas leads a team of more than 750 highly trained nuclear professionals who take great care to safely, securely and reliably operate the plant. Nuclear has one of the highest-rated safety records in the world. In addition, the employees undergo constant training to ensure the highest of standards are upheld. The plant has redundant safety systems in place.
“We put safety first in everything we do,” he said. “We start every job by evaluating any potential hazards or risks. If we identify something isn’t safe, we stop work and do not proceed until it is safe.”
Grand Gulf employees have a heart for giving back. Last year, Grand Gulf donated more than $120,000 to the local communities and team members volunteered almost 4,000 hours. A big part of the plant’s volunteer efforts includes inviting local schools to come tour the plant and get an opportunity to see career opportunities in nuclear.
“We love hiring local talent,” said Kapellas. “Last year, we had more than 1,600 students come to Grand Gulf and learn all about our site and the great career opportunities we have for them in their own backyard. Once they get in house, we assist them in their development to achieve their career goals.”
As part of the 40-year anniversary, more than 200 Grand Gulf employees volunteered to clean up Port Gibson. Volunteers spent the day picking up trash in downtown Port Gibson, fixing fences, power washing sidewalks and monuments, and clearing out a cemetery that hadn’t been touched in nearly 10 years. Port Gibson Mayor Willie White declared April 9 as “Grand Gulf Day.”
“That was such a rewarding day for all of us. It was such an honor to go up and accept that declaration on behalf of the team,” said Kapellas. “This is what we are all about. One of my favorite things about this job is how dedicated our employees are to partnering with the local communities to make a difference in their lives.”
Grand Gulf pays approximately $30 million in state and local taxes. Every two years during scheduled refueling and maintenance outages, Entergy brings in an additional 800 contractors who support local trades and economies. Earlier this year, the Mississippi Senate issued a resolution celebrating the contributions Grand Gulf has made to the state.
What does Kapellas credit for 40 years of safe and reliable operation? “We have a continuous improvement mindset. We are always looking for new technologies, efficiencies and other resources to make our people and our plant better. It benefits everyone- our customers, employees, communities and owners,” he said.
Grand Gulf Nuclear Station is licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to operate until 2044, and Entergy has plans to request license extensions beyond that date. The plant is maintained by upgrading systems to make them more reliable. It is an investment to Entergy customers to keep the lights on and bills affordable.
“Every investment we make in our plant to make equipment run more efficiently is for our customers. We have some of the most affordable electric bills in the country. We care about our customers,” said Kapellas.
As for the future of nuclear, Entergy is pursuing renewal of an early site permit at Grand Gulf that was issued by the NRC in 2007. The licensing process can take eight to 10 years for a new nuclear project. Based on the maturity of technology and the licensing timeline, a new nuclear project could take at least eight years. By utilizing the Grand Gulf early site permit, that could shorten the overall licensing process by up to two years.
“The nuclear industry is really taking off. New technologies are being developed all the time, and people are finding nuclear power is safe, reliable and affordable. The future is bright in nuclear,” said Kapellas.