Duke Suspends Nuclear Power Reactor Plans

Duke Energy said on May 2 that it told the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) it plans to suspend its application for two proposed new nuclear units on its Harris site near New Hill in Wake County, North Carolina.

Progress Energy Carolinas submitted the combined construction and operating license application to the NRC in February 2008. The utility said load growth forecasts indicate that two additional units at Harris will not be needed in the next 15 years.

Duke said it brought three power plants (Dan River and H.F. Lee natural gas combined cycle plants and its coal-fired Cliffside Unit 6) into service in late 2012. The Sutton combined cycle plant is expected to come online later this year.

Duke said it continues to pursue its application with the NRC for new nuclear generation for the W.S. Lee site in Gaffney, S.C., and the Levy site in Levy County, Fla.

Sources: Duke Energy, POWER

—David Wagman, Executive Editor (@EPContentDirect)

NOTE: This story was originally published on May 6