nuclear-news

Nuclear power ambitions fade, as Duke Energy’s plans delayed

“The latest delay in Duke Energy’s bid to build a nuclear plant in South Carolina puts its embattled nuclear ambitions even further behind cost and over budget,” 

Duke nuclear plans delayed Greenville Online 31 July 13 Hearing on 2 reactors on hold until 2016 Duke Energy’s plans to build a new nuclear power station in the Upstate have been delayed by federal regulators who say limited resources and changes to the construction plans require more time.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission told Duke in a letter that a final hearing on plans to build two reactors at the W.S. Lee site outside Gaffney would have to wait until 2016.

The original target for a final hearing had been this past March…………..

Nuclear watchdogs say the delay shows that Duke isn’t sure about the future of nuclear power and construction of a plant the company has never said for sure it will complete.

“If there was a deeper commitment to the project, the license review would be proceeding at a much faster pace,” said Tom Clements, Southeastern nuclear campaign coordinator for Friends of the Earth.

Through 2012, Duke has spent nearly $320 million in “pre-construction costs” to develop the nuclear project.

Jim Riccio, nuclear policy analyst for Greenpeace, said the largest energy company in the U.S. should “step away from the abyss of new nuclear construction” that he said ultimately costs electricity consumers as alternate forms of energy become available……

“The latest delay in Duke Energy’s bid to build a nuclear plant in South Carolina puts its embattled nuclear ambitions even further behind cost and over budget,” Riccio said….. http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20130801/BUSINESS/308010079/Duke-nuclear-plans-delayed

August 2, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, USA