Tom Farrell appeared on CNBC's Squawk Box yesterday and said Dominion is "trying very hard" to build North Anna Unit 3.
That alone was enough for me to gleefully revise my personal talking points on the subject but there was more.
"I think our plant will be the first to come on line in more than 30 years." Asked when that would be, Farrell said 2016.
Woohoo!
A related article is in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
That alone was enough for me to gleefully revise my personal talking points on the subject but there was more.
"I think our plant will be the first to come on line in more than 30 years." Asked when that would be, Farrell said 2016.
Woohoo!
A related article is in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Comments
But nonetheless, it's sure nice to see a utility head this bullish on nuclear.
Nothing like a bit of a horse race to stir the competitive juices!
Plus, take a look at the NRC's application review schedules for
NAPS 3 and STP 3 and 4. NAPS 3 is clearly ahead in obtaining a COL and I think that will trump any small advantage in design certification.
Regardless, I'd pay money to watch CEOs jockey for position on who is going to be first!
Lisa
With respect to the ESBWR, it has an earlier scheduled DCD completion date than the revised AP1000, the EPR, and the APWR. Dominion has a COL approval date (pre-hearing) of August 2010 also. They have an early site permit approval in hand already. They are ahead of all comers. Dominion is agressively moving forward. I like the Dominion horse at this stage.
So it's not a long leap for Toshiba to do a deal with GE-Hitachi on ABWR.
It's interesting: Toshiba owns Westinghouse and its PWR, but is already partnered with GE for BWR fuel.
When push comes to shove, I'll wager a deal will be made and that deal will enrich the CEOs all around. Hopefully it'll also mean new nukes.
Wow, obviously I didn't know that. What's the story behind this choice?
With no other takers so far, it looks like NRG may have orphan units.
Bellefonte looks to be around +/- 1 month compared to North Anna for most milestones, and Shearon Harris is a few months behind.
AP1000 design is at least 18-24 months ahead of ESBWR. Hundreds of millions in contracts have been signed by SCANA and Southern Company for long-lead procurement and engineering. And COL applications were filed at around the same time.
I know where I would put my money in this horse race.
The regulatory process is so close that it is irrelevant who gets their COL first.
The bottom line for AP1000 is: who has ponied up the money, and therefore, who will be ready to build like crazy once they get the go ahead?
SCANA and Southern Company have, TVA hasn't. Bellefonte 3 & 4 will come online after Vogtle and Sumner 3 & 4.
GE-Hitachi aren't ready with their design yet; you can't order long-lead components that don't have finalized designs.
Thank You,
LuLu
My bet remains that Amarillo Power will surprise most observers in the nuclear world by earning at least a "show" in the race.
Though George Chapman still has to go through an NRC process, he does not have any issues with a board of directors or a Public Utility Commission.
I also think he has a very well connected friend named T. Boone Pickens.
Just reading tea leaves and injecting some free enterprise thinking.
Regarding DCD approval dates, the current NRC data states early 2010 for the ESBWR and early 2011 for the AP1000. North Anna also has an ESP in hand, and no AP1000 buyers have this stamp of approval.
Bellefonte is not pushing to be first in construction. TVA is much more concerned in the near term about getting Watts Bar 2 rolling.