AREVA Inc.’s joint venture with Constellation Energy, UniStar Nuclear, continues to advance a unique concept for building the next generation of nuclear power plants in the U.S. UniStar Nuclear has signed an agreement with AmerenUE, a Missouri-based subsidiary of Ameren Corporation to help prepare a combined construction and operating license application (COLA). A construction and operating license application describes how a proposed nuclear plant is to be designed, constructed and operated.
Preparing a COLA does not mean a decision has been made to build a nuclear plant. It is a commitment to apply for a COL license for an EPR at the Callaway site.
UniStar Nuclear expects to submit the COLA in 2008 to remain eligible for nuclear production tax credits, financial risk insurance and federal loan guarantees – all provisions of the 2005 Energy Policy Act. The U.S. Congress and others are now urging the development of power generation that does not contribute to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Congress is also considering caps and taxes on CO2 emissions.
AmerenUE is a subsidiary of St. Louis-based Ameren Corporation. The Ameren companies serve 2.4 million electric customers and nearly one million natural gas customers across 64,000 square miles of Missouri and Illinois.
Another positive development for UniStar is the recent announcement by an Amarillo developer, operating as Amarillo Power, LLC, that it has selected the U.S. EPR™ design for two nuclear reactors in the vicinity of the Texas town. Amarillo Power will work with UniStar Nuclear to submit a COLA in the fourth quarter of 2008.
A letter to the NRC dated March 15 informed the agency of Amarillo Power’s change in plans. Amarillo Power had announced in March 2006 its plans to prepare and submit to the NRC an application for an Early Site Permit (ESP) for a reactor citing GE’s ESBWR as its technology choice.
So now there are 4 new US power reactors in the works.
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