|
|
|
|
A small but potentially significant hurdle has been overcome in Exelon Nuclear’s plans to build a $4 billion nuclear power plant in Victoria County.
The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority board of directors passed a reservation agreement Wednesday that gives their general manager Bill West permission to negotiate with Exelon for possible use of their water. Nuclear plants require millions of gallons of water a day to operate and the action by the board was an attempt to convince Exelon to choose Victoria over Matagorda County for the plant site, West said.
West said he will be negotiating with Exelon an agreement that GBRA will reserve water for the company until June 30, 2009, while Exelon continues to pursue their diligence on the plant site. Later on, they will negotiate and pursue a long-term agreement, he added.
The GBRA board also passed a resolution in support of the nuclear project in Victoria. “The GBRA recognizes the tremendous benefit that Exelon’s project would have on the region in terms of jobs and revenue for the entire lower basin,” West said.
Mayor Will Armstrong is also in favor of Exelon choosing Victoria over its first choice of Matagorda County. “I think it would be a wonderful opportunity for Victoria, and we hope they do come here,” he said.