NRC advisors back Westinghouse reactor

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - A federal advisory panel announced that a nuclear reactor slated for use across the Southeast is reasonably safe, a step forward for utility firms hoping to build a new wave of nuclear power plants.

The nonbinding findings from the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards came after its assessment of the Westinghouse Electric Co.'s AP1000 reactor, which utility companies have selected to power as many as seven proposed nuclear plants in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Officials at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will consider the advisory panel's report before deciding whether to approve the latest design of the AP1000, a decision expected sometime next year.

"We conclude that there is reasonable assurance that the revised design can be built and operated without undue risk to the health and safety of the public," Said Abdel-Khalik, chairman of the advisory group, said in a letter.

Abdel-Khalik said the findings were contingent on other reviews evaluating whether the reactor can safely withstand the crash of a large jetliner and separate long-term cooling issues.

If approved, Westinghouse Electric's reactor could produce electricity at a new fleet of nuclear plants. Utility firms argue nuclear plants provide power without burning fossil fuels, although detractors question whether the plants can be built economically and safely.

The industry ground to a near-halt in the 1970s because of a dismal economy, reduced electricity needs and opposition following an infamous accident at the Three Mile Island nuclear plant in Pennsylvania. Federal officials have not issued a permit to break ground on a new plant since 1978.

Major utilities want to reverse the trend.

The Atlanta-based Southern Co. and its partners are seeking to build two AP1000 reactors at Plant Vogtle near Waynesboro. President Barack Obama's administration has offered the company roughly $8 billion in federal loan guarantees to help finance the $14 billion project.

Southern Co. officials expect the NRC will rule on the AP1000 design next year, setting the stage for a final decision on the Plant Vogtle expansion in the fall or winter. Power plant permits cannot be issued until the reactors powering them are certified as safe.

"To us, it's a positive sign," said Carrie Phillips, a Southern Co. spokeswoman. "It clears the path so the process going forward isn't going to be impacted by the design certification."

Federal regulators approved an earlier version of the AP1000, but it was never constructed in the United States. Rival designs such as GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy's ABWR and the ESBWR, Areva's EPR and the US-APWR from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries are also being considered for use.

Besides Georgia, Westinghouse has contracts to build its reactors in Levy County, Fla., and Fairfield County, S.C. Utility firms in Alabama and North Carolina earlier submitted applications to the NRC seeking to use the same technology. Four AP1000 reactors are under construction in China.