Dominion Seeks Renewal Of Operating Licenses
For Millstone Power Station Units
WATERFORD, Conn. - Dominion (NYSE: D), one of the nation's
largest energy producers, filed an application Thursday with the U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission to renew the operating licenses of its two units at Millstone
Power Station.
If the licenses are approved, 870-megawatt Unit 2 would continue
operating until 2035 and 1,150-megawatt Unit 3 until 2045. Combined, both units
provide enough safe and reliable electricity to power more than 1 million homes
and businesses in Connecticut.
"Dominion has a lasting commitment to maintain Millstone
as New England's leading energy provider," said Thomas F. Farrell II, president
and chief operating officer. "We look forward to continuing to meet that
commitment for many years to come."
The NRC originally issued 40-year initial operating licenses
for commercial nuclear power units. In applying for 20-year renewals, owners
must demonstrate that there would be no adverse impact to public health and
safety or the environment by continued operation of the units. The NRC will
schedule public meetings as part of the renewal process.
The NRC is expected to take approximately two years to review
the applications. The NRC renewed the operating licenses for Dominion's two
Virginia nuclear power stations, North Anna and Surry, in 2003.
"Maintaining a diverse fuel mix is critical for our nation's
electric supply," Farrell said. "We must include nuclear in our nation's
fuel mix if we care about having stable, reliable, clean and affordable electric
supply in the future."
Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers of energy,
with an energy portfolio of more than 24,000 megawatts of generation, 6.2 trillion
cubic feet equivalent of proved natural gas reserves and 7,900 miles of natural
gas transmission pipeline. Dominion also operates the nation's largest underground
natural gas storage system with more than 960 billion cubic feet of storage
capacity and serves 5.3 million retail energy customers in nine states. For
more information about Dominion, visit the company's Web site at www.dom.com.
