Orange County may oppose Shearon Harris expansion
Progress Energy might build two more nuclear reactors at its Shearon Harris facility in Wake County. However, the company first has to get approval to do it.
Posted — UpdatedThe company is in the midst of public hearings with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, a requirement to build new reactors.
Wake County leaders are on record in support of the plan. The school district approves.
"Electricity is an infrastructure that we need," said Joe Bryan, chairman of the county Board of Commissioners.
If Orange County commissioners vote in favor of the resolution, they will file a formal intervention with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
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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