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Duke Energy moves forward with nuclear plant development

Japan not a scare for NC company

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.

Betsy Conway, a spokeswoman for Duke Energy, said nuclear power will continue to be a viable option for customers in the future.

“We have greatly benefited over the years as having nuclear as part of our energy portfolio,” she said.

Another state power company, Progress Energy, is also moving ahead with plans to expand a nuclear power plant outside of Raleigh, said Jessica Lambert, spokeswoman for the company.

The company is taking the information learned from the nuclear crisis and using it to safely move forward, Lambert said.

But David McNelis, a UNC professor of environmental sciences, said the future of the nuclear industry could depend on how the crisis in Japan plays out.

“If there is a release of radioactivity in the immediate area, it would damage the industry,” he said.

He said he predicts the government will pump more money into safety regulations and tighten restrictions.

Jose Rial, professor of geological sciences, said he does not think the government will do enough and that it has not taken the situation seriously.

“I hope that people wake up and see what is the real nasty potential behind nuclear power plants,” he said.

Contact the State & National Editor state@dailytarheel.com.

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