31 Oct (NucNet): Utility Tennessee Valley Authority submitted an
application to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) yesterday for
a combined operating licence (COL) for two new reactor units at its
Bellefonte site in Alabama.
TVA said the application was developed by the NuStart Energy consortium, of which it is a member. NuStart comprises 10 electric companies and two reactor vendors.
Under a new application process in the US, utilities will seek a combined construction and operating licence at the same time, reducing their financial risks and simplifying the licensing of nuclear power plants, TVA said.
The NRC's review of the licence application for two Westinghouse AP1000 reactor units is expected to take about four years. TVA said its board of directors would decide later whether to actually build new reactors at the site.
TVA said obtaining the licence would give it more certainty about the cost and schedule of new nuclear generation for future decisions.
TVA halted construction of the Bellefonte nuclear plant in 1988. In 2005 TVA wrote off its 3.9 billion US dollar (about 2.7 billion euro) investment in the project, but said the site could still be used in the future.
Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
NuStart Consortium Names Sites For Potential New Units (News No. 153, 23 September 2005)
TVA Approves Plan For Bellefonte COL (World Nuclear Review No. 39, 28 September 2007)
