As Japan deals with an ongoing nuclear crisis, power companies across the United States are re-examining the safety of their nuclear plants and questioning the future of nuclear energy in general.
Despite the concerns, power companies in North Carolina are moving forward with plans to acquire more nuclear power plants.
Duke Energy presented its proposal for building a new nuclear power plant in Cherokee County, S.C. — about 60 miles southwest of Charlotte — to the N.C. Utilities Commission on Tuesday.
It asked for permission to spend an additional $287 million in project development costs, bringing its total to $459 million.
“There will be a lot of lessons learned from what is going on in Japan,” said Valerie Patterson, a spokeswoman for Duke Energy.
Ben Clary, county administrator for Cherokee County, said the public is trusting Duke Energy to safely execute the plans.
“Economically, it would probably be one of the better things that have happened to our county,” he said.
Patterson said the company is keeping an eye on Japan as the nuclear crisis unravels.
“It’s really too premature to make decisions about the future of nuclear,” she said.