Nuclear plant looks less likely

After years of talking up the nuclear renaissance, Progress Energy concedes it may never build new nuclear reactors in North Carolina.

The Raleigh electric utility told state regulators this week that it is considering nuclear payment alternatives that include joint financing and co-ownership with other power companies. Progress is reassessing its nuclear options as consumer energy demand remains slack in the wake of the recession while construction costs remain high.

In one possible scenario, Progress could own a stake in a nuclear plant built by another regional utility. Such an option would not require building the reactors that Progress proposed two years ago at its Shearon Harris nuclear complex in Southwestern Wake County.

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