Please Build that Nuclear Power Plant Here

That's the message the folks in Matagorda County, Texas are trying to send to Exelon:

Matagorda County officials are stepping up their efforts to inform Exelon Nuclear of the county’s positive attributes and why it is a better fit for the new nuclear power plant than the company’s alternative site near Victoria.

Recent news that Victoria County has formed “Team Exelon,” a group of representatives from the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority, Victoria County, City of Victoria and the Victoria Economic Development Corporation, to tout Victoria County has prompted local officials to reconsider their actions, said County Judge Nate McDonald.

Victoria County is “treating this project just like we would treat any industrial project, to make sure our community attributes are highlighted,” said Dale Fowler, president of the Victoria Economic Development Corporation in a telephone interview.

“We’re pretty aggressive about getting in front of industry and talking about what this county has to offer,” Fowler said.

And you thought governments only fought over sports teams. Why fight so hard to attract a new nuclear power plant? To get a better idea, take a look at some of the economic benefits studies that NEI has produced over the years.