Progress Energy Considers New Nuclear Build

Progress Energy is exploring the possibility of building a new nuclear plant as the company looks at economical ways to supply North Carolina's future energy needs.

The Raleigh-based utility's top executive said he expects company officials will decide within two years what type of energy will best meet anticipated electricity demand.

But the cheapest, cleanest and wisest fuel source would be nuclear, and a natural site for a new reactor would be to expand at the company's Shearon Harris Nuclear Plant in southern Wake County, chief executive Robert McGehee said in an interview.

This is an exciting prospect, and one that would have been unthinkable until recently.

McGehee will be delivering the annual state of the industry address at the 2005 Nuclear Energy Assembly next month here in Washington.

Technorati tags: Nuclear Energy, Environment, Energy, Politics, Technology, Economics

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