• Originally published July 15, 2008 at 3:20 p.m., updated July 15, 2008 at 3:20 p.m.

This story was first published June 29, 2007.

In the big picture, the construction of a nuclear power plant in the United States is another cut at the fetters of dependency on foreign oil and the blanket of carbon emissions. In our neighborhood, the construction of a nuclear power plant would be an economic boon and a step toward cleaner air in non-attainment areas.

Craig Nesbit, director of communications at Exelon Nuclear, said his company would apply for a permit to build and operate a $4 billion nuclear power plant with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in November 2008. It is the first step toward realizing such a plant in about 10 years. And it will be the first Exelon nuclear plant in Texas.

Exelon is spending $23 million just on the application and permitting process, which includes buying options on the land where the plant will be located.

The primary place chosen by Exelon is a site in Matagorda County at Collegeport, just across Tres Palacios Bay from Palacios. This site comprises 1,250 acres and would use saltwater for cooling canisters containing spent fuel.

The secondary location, if the first location meets too many hurdles, is a site 20 miles south of Victoria just off U.S. Highway 77 (near McFaddin). If Exelon builds at this site, it would create a man-made freshwater lake for cooling purposes.

Nesbit emphasized that Exelon is in the infancy of this project, that it is only a decision to pursue an application. Even if the Nuclear Regulatory Commission approves the application within about three years, Nesbit said it would then be at that point whether Exelon decides to build the plant – another seven or so years to complete.

“It’s possible it’ll never happen,” Nesbit said. “We haven’t decided if we are going to build this plant.”

If built, such a plant would be similar to one near Clinton, Ill., a single unit plant. That particular plant spends $33 million a year in the county it is in, “and that doesn’t include salaries – probably another $30 million,” Nesbit said.

The plant in our region would have about 700 permanent jobs. During the construction phase, it would peak at 2,000 jobs. This is good economics for the region, not just for Matagorda County or Victoria County.

Of course, nuclear power raises concerns. And most of the concerns come from those who are unfamiliar with the safety standards and design improvements of these types of plants.

People in the area should get all the information possible to learn how these plants operate and to what degree of safety they strive. Today’s special edition contains eight pages of information about the issue. The Advocate will continue to ask and seek the answers to your questions about nuclear power. The information we’ve gathered so far, plus the excellent record of the South Texas Project in Matagorda County, makes the Advocate’s editorial board comfortable about endorsing the plan.

Those with concerns should raise them in the public meetings that will be conducted as the process moves forward and on our Viewpoints pages. We want to be your advocate on this important issue.

We believe this proposed plant would be an infusion of economic benefit. We also note that nuclear power plants produce no greenhouse gases and can be part of the answer to global warming. We congratulate those working to promote the region’s economic development for creating this opportunity for the Crossroads region.

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