Progress Energy CEO William Johnson recently said his
company’s proposed nuclear reactors in Florida and North Carolina will be finished
later than planned. At the Platts Energy Conference Friday, Johnson indicated
project completions are now expected for 2020 or later.
Starting in 2005, Progress began informing the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission of its plans to build up to four new reactors at two sites. According
to a company timeline, reactors were scheduled to come online sequentially
between 2016 and 2020.
Progress proposed two new reactors for its existing Shearon
Harris site in North Carolina in 2008, according to the Department of Energy’s
Energy Information Administration. The company also has proposed a new plant be
built in Levy County, Florida, near the company’s existing Crystal River 3
plant.
In an interview with Bloomberg News, Johnson also indicated
the company is in informal talks with Scana Corp. about possibly taking a stake
in another reactor project near Jenkinsville, S.C.
Progress Energy is in the process of merging with Duke
Energy in a $26 billion transaction that Johnson said will help the companies
move forward with new reactor construction. Johnson has estimated the cost of a
new, two-reactor plant at $13 billion.