TXU plans 6-reactor nuke application

DALLAS, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- Dallas-based TXU Corp. said Thursday it plans to file applications for at least six new nuclear power plants as nuclear energy gains traction.

The company said applications will be filed with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission by 2008 with the hopes of the first plant coming on line by 2015, the Star-Telegram reports.

The plants would produce up to 6,000 megawatts a day and what company spokesman called "the long-term solution" to growing demand for energy in the United States.

The NRC has ramped up hiring -- 300 people last year and a couple hundred for the next couple of years -- as it expects a bigger workload from not only new plant applications, but permit renewals from current plants and getting ready for an application from the U.S. Energy Department for the nuclear waste repository under Yucca Mountain in Nevada.

NRC officials said they expect up to 16 applicants applying for up to 27 new nuclear reactors in the coming months.

Each TXU nuclear plant would serve 1,000 megawatts of power and cost $1 billion a piece to build.

Colin Rowan of Austin, Texas-based Environmental Defense didn't outright oppose the plan but said concerns remain over the safety of the plants and its nuclear waste.