Design for new reactor not final

It could be another six months before Dominion power company makes a final
decision on the design it will use for a proposed third reactor at North
Anna Power Station.
A spokesman for the utility had said that decision was likely before the new
year, but it may be delayed until mid-2010.

In its application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a combined
license to build and operate Unit 3, Dominion said it would use GE Hitachi's
Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor, or ESBWR. One of a new generation
of advanced reactors, it has not yet been certified by the NRC. It's one of
several advanced reactors in the design and certification stage.

GE Hitachi first submitted plans for the ESBWR in 2005.

Dominion has said that the GE Hitachi reactor is the preferred design for
the North Anna project. But in January, Dominion announced that it has been
unable to reach an agreement with GE Hitachi on an engineering, procurement
and construction agreement allowing it to move ahead with Unit 3.

So it began soliciting designs from other reactor vendors -- including
designs already certified by the NRC.

Richard Zuercher, spokesman for Dominion's nuclear operations, last week
would not say which direction the company is headed.

"We have been happy with the response from the reactor vendors that have
participated in the process. It has been thorough and robust."

He added, "We believe it is important to take the time necessary to complete
this process successfully."

Zuercher said Dominion decided to explore other options "because we had not
been able to sign a contract with GE Hitachi that provided the appropriate
level of financial risk-sharing that would be necessary to move forward with
a new unit and have it operating when we need the electricity in the next
decade."

The North Anna plant is located on Lake Anna, near Mineral in Louisa County.

According to the NRC, ESBWR certification is not likely until sometime in
2011.

GE Hitachi has said it remains strongly interested in working with Dominion
on Unit 3.

The Wilmington, N.C.-based firm says that either the ESBWR or its Advanced
Boiling Water Reactor -- already certified by the NRC -- would be an
attractive option for Dominion.

If Dominion chooses another design, it could affect the NRC's timetable for
review of its combined license application. For now, a decision on that is
expected by the end of next year.

Dominion is not alone in reconsidering plans to use the ESBWR. Entergy Corp.
decided not to use it for planned units in Mississippi and Louisiana.

Rusty Dennen: 540/374-5431

Email: [email protected]