Progress Energy Selects Harris Site for Combined License

Progress Energy just announced it will prepare a combined construction and operating license (COL) for its Harris Nuclear Plant, southwest of Raleigh, N.C.

The company also announced it has selected Westinghouse Electric Company to supply the reactors for the potential future expansion of Progress Energy's nuclear generation in the Carolinas. These announcements are important next steps in the process as the company continues to evaluate options to meet the demands of its rapidly growing customer base.

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"A renewed emphasis on conservation and energy efficiency is an important factor in planning for the future," said [Bob McGehee, chairman and CEO of Progress Energy]. "However, even with more conservation and energy-efficiency programs, energy use will continue to grow as more people move to this region. To meet that growing demand for electricity, we'll need to add significant new power generation.

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The company informed the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in August 2005 of its plans to submit a combined operating license (COL) application for a nuclear power plant. It updated those plans Nov. 1, 2005, to include a second COL, one for Florida and one for the Carolinas. Each COL covers up to two reactors at each site.

This step is necessary to obtain a license should the company decide that a new nuclear unit is the best option for meeting the need for additional generation. The application for the COL could be filed in late 2007 or early 2008. If approved by the NRC -- and if the decision to build is made -- construction could begin as early as 2010, and a new plant could be online around 2016.

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