TOKYO, June 23 (UPI) -- U.S.-based General Electric and Japan's Hitachi Ltd. have been selected to build two nuclear power plants in Texas by 2014 a deal worth up to $5.2 billion.
NRG Energy officially informed the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Monday of plans to contract two 1.35 million kilowatt upgraded boiling reactors at the existing South Texas Project.
According to the company, it has picked GE and Hitachi to work on the development of the project, however details have not been specified.
The construction of the two units is expected to create more than $9.2 billion in economic activity and 5,600 new jobs.
"Nuclear power is an important part of the continued development of our baseload fleet in Texas," said Steven Winn, NRG's executive vice president, in a released statement. "We recognize the need for new, low-cost generation and we recognize the importance of reducing the emissions profile of power generators within the growing ERCOT market.
This is the first nuclear power plant to be commissioned in the United States since the 1970s.
There are 104 commercial nuclear generating units operating in the U.S. under license by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
