Commissioners and Local Business Leaders Gather Facts and Express Support for NuStart Energy Development's Proposed Expansion
PRINCE FREDERICK, Md., Aug. 9 /PRNewswire/—In a move designed to lay the groundwork for the selection of Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant as a site for one of the first expansion projects of a U.S. nuclear power plant in more than 30 years, County business leaders met today with executives from NuStart Energy Development to express their support and gather facts on the expansion process.
"Constellation Energy has been an excellent corporate citizen in this County for 30 years," said David Hale, president of the Calvert County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). "They consistently manage the Calvert Cliffs plant in a safe, responsible and fiscally sound way. Today we reiterated our unanimous support for an expansion of their presence in our community." Lloyd Harrison, Chairman of the Calvert County Chamber of Commerce, echoed Hale's comments by saying, "The Chamber and the Calvert County business community encourage the selection of Calvert Cliffs as the next site of expansion in America's nuclear energy program. We look forward to the continuation of our long and prosperous relationship with this company."
The expansion project is being spearheaded by NuStart Energy Development of Jackson, Miss., the country's largest consortium of nuclear energy companies operating 58 percent of the nation's nuclear energy plants. The consortium, which includes Constellation Energy, is seeking one of the first combined Construction and Operating Licenses from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in 30 years and will narrow the choices to two of six sites by October 2005—one for a General Electric Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor and one for a Westinghouse Advanced Passive 1000 Reactor. Once the two finalist locations are selected, application will be made to the NRC by 2008 and it is expected the new plant will be fully operational by 2014.
NuStart Energy Development estimates the expansion will result in 2,000 to 4,000 jobs during the construction phase and 250 to 400 new, high-paying jobs once the new reactor is fully operational. In addition to job creation, the regional tax benefits from a project of this size are impressive. In FY2005, Constellation Energy contributed $15.3 million in taxes to Calvert County; the expansion will net the County a significant amount of additional tax revenues.
It is because of this project's magnitude that competition among states is stiff. Other sites being considered are located in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, South Carolina and New York. Hale is confident, however, that Calvert County and Maryland State officials did everything possible to ensure that Calvert Cliffs remains on NuStart Energy Development's short list of expansion sites. "The rapport was good and we made an impressive showing of our support for this project," he said. "We remain poised to work with NuStart and Constellation Energy to make this happen."
Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant is owned and operated by Constellation Energy and currently houses two nuclear reactors that came online in 1975 and 1977. The facility, originally designed for four reactors, is the only nuclear facility in the State of Maryland and was the first commercial nuclear plant in the United States to receive re-licensing in 2000.
For more information about Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, visit http://www.calvertcliffs.com. For more information about NuStart Energy Development's proposed expansion and the Calvert County, Maryland Department of Economic Development, call 410.535.4583 or 800.331.9771, e-mail info@ecalvert.com or visit our Web site at http://www.ecalvert.com.