Permit sought for new reactor at Georgia nuclear plant

<p>The Southern Co.'s nuclear subsidiary applied Tuesday for a site permit that would allow the utility to add two reactors to the Alvin W. Vogtle nuclear plant in eastern Georgia.</p><p>The proposed $3 billion project, which would nearly double Plant Vogtle's output of 2,430 megawatts, requires approval by the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission.</p><p>Southern Co. spokeswoman Carrie Phillips said the plant's owners haven't made a final decision yet to develop the new reactors at Plant Vogtle in Waynesboro, 30 miles south of Augusta. She said a permit would give the owners 20 years to make a final decision whether to build new reactors.</p><p>The U.S. has 103 nuclear power plants scattered across 31 states, but no orders for new reactors have been placed since 1973. Recently, high energy prices have raised the profile of nuclear power as a way to generate electricity without churning out greenhouse gases.</p><p>Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said earlier this month he expects 12 utilities to file papers over the next three years to build 18 nuclear reactors.</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2006/8/118978