NuStart

Entergy took a leading role in persuading other nuclear utilities to join together and form NuStart Energy Development LLC to obtain the first Construction and Operating License (COL) for a new nuclear reactor in 30 years. The consortium, NuStart Energy Development LLC, seeks to obtain a COL through the new streamlined licensing process and to complete design engineering for selected reactor technologies.

But even with 50-50 cost-sharing by the Department of Energy through its Nuclear Power 2010 Program to encourage new reactors, it will be near 2011 before the first licenses will be awarded. NuStart’s two new licenses could be taken over by a member company and used to build the nation’s first new reactors.

Since NuStart was formed in 2004, multiple utilities have announced they also plan to apply for as many as 23 licenses to build up to 34 new units. As the country seeks to meet growing energy demands while mandating carbon reduction initiatives, more companies are expected to turn to clean-air nuclear as a source for large-scale baseload energy generation.