Dominion Resources has notified the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that it will seek an early site permit for a possible new reactor. It has identified its North Anna site as the possible site.
Dominion Resources already operates two 900MWe reactors at North Anna, which was originally designed for four reactors. The company cancelled the third and fourth reactors in the early 1980s.
Dominion Resources said that it wants the early site permit process to be successful, but that it has no plans to build a nuclear unit. The company said a permit would start a 20-year period during which time it could apply for a construction and operating license for a new reactor.
Eugene Grecheck, Dominion’s vice president, said that work would start on the application this summer, and a submittal filed in September 2003.
Two other companies, Exelon Generation and Entergy Nuclear, also said that they plan to pursue early site permit applications. Both companies are aiming to submit their applications in June 2003.