N.C. commission urges joint nuclear action from Duke, Progress (Charlotte)
North Carolina’s power companies outlined their long-term planning and resource proposals for the N.C. Utilities Commission this week. But commission Chairman Ed Finley had his own proposal for them — get serious about joint construction of nuclear plants.
Duke Energy Carolinas and Progress Energy Carolinas both plan to build nuclear plants in the next 10 years or so. And each identifies those plants as key to meeting customer demand while also reining in carbon emissions.
But the costs of building those facilities could total $11 billion or more. And that would be more than the market value of either investor-owned utility.
That’s true for just about every utility in the country, which has prompted some industry observers to call nuclear plants a “bet-the-farm” investment for power companies.
Finley appears uncomfortable with that kind of risk.
Read the full story in the Charlotte Business Journal.
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