U.S. OKs early site permit for nuclear power plant

By Tom Doggett

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved on Thursday the first site in over 30 years that could eventually house a new nuclear power plant, but the United States is still far away from breaking ground on any new reactors.

The NRC's action clears the location for a new nuclear reactor but does not yet approve building a specific reactor.

Exelon Corp., which sought the agency's first-ever early site permit in September 2003, would have up to 20 years to seek a license from the NRC to build and operate a reactor at the company's Clinton, Illinois, site, where it already has one nuclear reactor generating electricity.

The decision is a step toward the Bush administration's goal to expand nuclear power to meet growing U.S. electricity demand. Many energy experts also say the U.S. will need more nuclear reactors to replace coal-fired generating plants that emit greenhouse gas emissions linked to global warming.

Exelon has no plans in the short term to build another reactor at the site, a company spokeswoman said.

It would take the NRC about 24 months to review and approve any Exelon request to construct a new reactor at the Clinton location, an agency spokesman said.

Agency staff will officially issue the early site permit for the Clinton location in about 10 days.

The permit is transferable if Exelon decided to sell the existing Clinton nuclear reactor, the NRC said. Exelon said it has no such plans.