Main Menu
Home
News
Newsletters
Why Nuclear
Members' Letters
Links
About Us
Contact Us
Search
Join SONE
Podcasts
Syndicate
Supporters Of Nuclear Energy (SONE)
For more information about SONE... Click to download pdf
Advertisement
Latest News

Economic ‘Uncertainties’ Delay Decision On New Texas Units PDF Print E-mail
Written by NucNet   
Wednesday, 01 July 2009
A US utility is deferring planned major pre-construction work on a proposed new nuclear power plant in Texas because of “uncertainties” in the national economy.


Exelon said yesterday that it would seek an early site permit (ESP) for the proposed twin-unit Victoria County plant rather than a combined construction and operating licence (COL).

The change in licensing strategy allows the utility to continue with some aspects of site evaluation and approvals while deferring a decision on construction and technology choices.

Exelon said the decision was the result of “uncertainties in the domestic economy, the limited availability of federal loan guarantees and related economic considerations”.

“Some visible site activity may continue, but planned major pre-construction work such as road upgrades and site preparations will be deferred,” the utility said.

Exelon’s senior vice-president for new business development Thomas O’Neill added: “We are not leaving Victoria, but we are ramping back our schedule for decision-making… Today’s economic realities compel us to defer any decision on construction for a while.”

Exelon expects to submit the ESP application late this year or early 2010. An ESP does not commit Exelon to building, but it is part of the licensing process should the utility eventually decide to build. ESPs are valid for 10 to 20 years and can be renewed for an additional 10 to 20 years.

Exelon said in November 2007 that the General Electric-Hitachi Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR) was its preferred technology for the Victoria County site, should it eventually decide to build. However, in 2008, the utility said it expected to change its selected reactor design.

The International Energy Agency warned last May that the global economic downturn could lead to delays or cancellations of new nuclear power plant projects and could reduce the nuclear generating capacity likely to be commissioned worldwide between 2015 and 2020.
< Previous   Next >
[ Back ]
Nuclear Bulletin
Stay up to date with the quarterly roundup of nuclear news
Join SONE

We need your support

To become a member of SONE download the application form by clicking the button below

Download the SONE application form
Downloads

Please be aware that SONE has moved and the address shown in our Briefing Notes is now incorrect. Our new contact details are:

45 Church Way,
Sanderstead,
South Croydon,
Surrey
CR2 0JU

Tel:  020 8657 3479

Key SONE downloads:

 

Nuclear questions dispelled

Questions & Answers
PDF (88k) 14/11/2009 

 

Letters to political parties

Conservative Party
doc (28k) 06/11/2009

Labour Party
doc (28k) 06/11/2009 

Liberal Democrat Party
doc (28k) 06/11/2009

Unions
doc (28k) 06/11/2009 

 

SONE Briefing Notes

The Case For Nuclear Power

PDF (40k) 22/01/2010

Energy Facts 2010

PDF (92k) 22/01/2010

Decommissioning in Perspective
PDF (152k) 06/01/2009

Briefing Notes Energy Conservation
PDF (136k) 21/11/2008

Briefing Notes Carbon Cull
PDF (156k) 10/11/2008

Looming Energy Crisis Leaflet
PDF (76k) 22/10/2008

Briefing Notes Energy
PDF (296k) 20/10/2008

Briefing Notes Nuclear
PDF (148k) 20/06/2008

Plutonium in Perspective 
PDF (296k) 01/03/2008

Briefing Notes Hydrogen
PDF (72k) 29/05/2007

Briefing Notes Renewables
PDF (285k) 29/05/2007

Briefing Notes Waste
PDF (352k) 25/04/2007

Briefing Notes
Micro-generation
PDF (56k) 29/06/2006

Briefing Notes Uranium Availability
PDF (44k) 20/01/2006



Click for more downloads

© SONE 2009 | Website by Sticky New Media