Duke originally planned three reactors on the property. One reactor was partially completed when work was halted in 1982 and they scrapped plans for the other two. Duke halted construction at the site in 1983 after spending $633 million. An uncertain economy, stringent federal regulations on nuclear plants and a decrease in electrical use caused Duke Power to abandon the site in the early 1980s. The Nuclear Steam Supply System for each unit was planned to be a pressurized water reactor manufactured by Combustion Engineering, Inc. The reactor fuel was planned to be zircaloy clad uranium dioxide with a maximum enrichment of 3.6 wt. percent. The NSSS would have had a guaranteed main steam flow of /hr., a warranted output of 3817 MWt, and a design point of 4018 MWt. The turbine generators were planned to be manufactured by General Electric. Each was planned to have a gross rated electrical output of 1,345 MW and a gross valves-wide-open electrical output of 1,387 MW. By 1988, Earl Owensby, a Shelby, N.C. businessman, had converted the former energy complex into a movie studio.
''The Abyss''
In 1987, director James Cameron debated whether to actually film in the ocean or on a film set during the process of writing his screenplay for The Abyss. He ultimately chose to film in a man-made environment due to the need to control dangers, cost and filming environment. Cameron decided to use Cherokee Nuclear Power plant facility to film the underwater sequences involving the submerged drilling rig.
Filming
The turbine pit, which was a large irregularly-shaped structure, was modified to hold of water. But when cinematographer Al Giddings visited the site he found the potential tank was still not quite large enough for the production's needs. Cameron then investigated the original containment vessel for the reactor chamber, a cylindrical structure across, deep. Following modifications, this vessel was converted into a vat able to hold of water. This containment vessel became "A" tank while the smaller turbine pit was the "B" tank. "B" tank was used for all the interiors of the submarine, the Sub Bay set and for the "wet-for-wet" miniature work. The "A" tank was used for the main exterior of Deepcore and for the full-sized exterior Montana missile deck section. The water depth and length of time spent submerged meant that the cast and crew had to endure decompression treatments. Interior sets for Deepcore as well as other production sets were built inside the nearby warehouses on the site.
Location
In December 1988, production moved to Los Angeles. After the completion of filming the tanks were drained but the sets were not removed. Before abandoning the set, warning labels were affixed on the structures stating that the sets remained the property of 20th Century Fox and that any photographic or video recording was not allowed. The Abyss sets were demolished in September 2007.
New Nuclear Power Plant
On December 13, 2007, Duke Power announced that this site had been selected for a new nuclear power plant to be called the William States Lee III Nuclear Generating Station. The site is owned by Duke Energy. Duke planned to develop the site for two Westinghouse Electric CompanyAP1000pressurized water reactors. Each reactor would have been capable of producing approximately 1,117 megawatts. Plant construction on the site could take five years. The property still has cooling ponds and infrastructure in place, making it more attractive than other sites in the region. The property is close to the Broad River, and electricity transmission lines are accessible. This new plant will be built adjacent to the old site. The prior construction at the old site was largely demolished to make way for the new construction.
