Orange County opposes Shearon Harris expansion

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Orange County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted Thursday to formally oppose a proposed expansion to the Shearon Harris nuclear power plant.

In February, Progress Energy filed an application with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to build two more nuclear reactors at its Shearon Harris facility in Wake County.

On Thursday, commissioners also voted to hire an attorney to file a formal intervention with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

In a letter to the commissioners, County Manager Laura Blackmon said opponents of the Harris proposal have until Aug. 4 to file an intervention.

Progress Energy is in the midst of public hearings with the NRC, a requirement to build new reactors. Company officials said a growing customer base and a higher demand for power justify the expansion. The company expects to add 500,000 customers in the next 20 years.

A final decision on whether to build the $2 to $3 billion reactor is still years away and will depend not only on public support, but on regulatory approval, predictions of energy demand and economic conditions, Progress officials said.

A new plant could be online as early as 2018 if the Nuclear Regulatory Commission approves.

North Carolina gets 32 percent of its power from five nuclear sites, 20 percent of which is supplied by Shearon Harris. Progress Energy has two other reactors in Brunswick County and Charlotte-based Duke Power has two reactors in Cornelius, north or Charlotte.

Nationwide, 20 percent of electricity comes from 103 commercial nuclear reactors operating in 31 states.

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Thats ok when people are paying 12 dollors a gallen for gas and 2000 dollors a month to have lights maybe they will let the plant expand. the reacters are the best way to produce clean and cheep power. The next best way is to use the natural gas we have in great supply in America but cannot get to because of the same type of folks who dont want the plant to expand. The next way is with the two hundred year suppy of coal we have in the ground and the tree huggers can go jump. Why should we support our enemys with money just because the climate is suposed to be getting warmer? But I guess I will just inflate my tires a little and save gas like the next dem hopful said to do.

dplowman
August 1, 2008 3:27 p.m.

Would someone please ask the adults to come out and play in Orange County! Has anyone been to Hillsborough lately? It is growing, as is most of this region. Now, unless they plan on going back to their colonial past, they better figure out how they will power all the growth that is increasing their tax base. Build more reactors! Build two while they are paying, it will be cheaper now than in another twenty years.

jchalmersnc
August 1, 2008 1:26 p.m.

As an electrical engineer who has worked for Progress Energy (30 years)and Duke Power (1 1/4 years), I can attest with absolute certainety that all of Orange Countty is served by Duke Power. The maps used by both utilities to designate service areas were drawn by me.