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Progress Energy Awarded Nearly 83 Million Dollars In Spent Fuel Ruling
Raleigh NC (SPX) May 27, 2008 The U.S. Court of Federal Claims issued a ruling on Monday, awarding Progress Energy $82.8 million for costs incurred as a result of the government's failure to accept spent nuclear fuel from the utility. The sum covers the costs incurred by Progress Energy to activate fuel storage facilities at plants in the Carolinas and costs to transfer used nuclear fuel between plants for storage. The lawsuit stemmed from the U.S. Department of Energy's failure to open a federal repository for used nuclear fuel by Jan. 31, 1998, as stipulated under federal law. Since storage facilities were not opened by the appointed date, Progress Energy had to revise plans to include onsite storage at its nuclear power plants. Progress Energy originally filed the complaint against the DOE asserting $91 million in costs incurred between January 31, 1998 and December 31, 2005 - the time period established by the court for the complaint. Costs incurred after 2005 can be recovered in future claims. The trial was conducted in November 2007 and April 2008. Approximately 60 similar cases have been litigated between utility companies and the federal government. Some of the suits have been settled. A number of cases are still pending. Progress Energy operates five reactors at four sites in the Carolinas and Florida. Nuclear energy accounted for about 35 percent of the company's total energy produced for customers in 2007. The company has the capability to continue to store used nuclear fuel rods safely on site at each plant. Meanwhile, the company continues to be a strong advocate for a permanent federal storage solution for the nation's nuclear reactors. "Nuclear energy is going to continue to be a critical part of our ability to meet the needs of our growing service areas," said Bill Johnson, Progress Energy's Chairman, President and CEO. "Nuclear power will be one means of addressing global climate change while ensuring a reliable energy supply for future generations, and as a country we must address the issue of used nuclear fuel with a clear national policy based on scientific and engineering facts." The Department of Justice can appeal Monday's decision within the next 60 days. Given the likelihood of an appeal, no decision has been made regarding the disposition of the potential court award. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Share This Article With Planet Earth
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Slovakia calls on Brussels for delay to nuclear reactor closure
Bratislava (AFP) May 23, 2008Slovakia wants to delay the closure of a nuclear reactor due at the end of this year because it would turn the country into a major energy importer, the economy ministry said on Friday. |
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