DOE takes first step to get new nuclear plant

Tuesday, 11/09/04 | Middle Tennessee News & Information

DOE takes first step to get new nuclear plant

The U.S. Department of Energy made the first step last week in a new licensing process designed to help a nuclear power plant get built. No new nuclear reactors have been built in the country in decades.

The DOE will fund the demonstration project for the new licensing process, which will help nuclear energy companies figure the cost of building a new plant.

TVA is involved in one of two consortiums that got approval to start the licensing process, led by NuStart Energy Development. TVA has hopes a new plant could be built on the unfinished Bellefonte nuclear plant site in northern Alabama. The other consortium is led by Dominion.