• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Progress Energy Nuclear Plants Set Generation Record in 2008

Posted on: Tuesday, 27 January 2009, 09:00 CST

RALEIGH, N.C., Jan. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Progress Energy's four nuclear plants in the Carolinas and Florida set a record for safe, efficient, carbon-free electricity generation in 2008.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020923/CHM008LOGO-c )

The company's five reactors at four sites generated more than 35.1 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2008, surpassing the previous record of 35 billion kilowatt-hours set in 2003. The total generation from the company's nuclear plants in 2008 is equal to the annual usage of nearly 2.5 million households. Last year, Progress Energy's nuclear plants generated 46 percent of the energy provided to customers in the Carolinas service territory and 18 percent of the energy provided to customers in Florida.

"Along with efficiency programs and renewable energy, nuclear power continues to be an important part of our balanced approach to meet the growing electricity demand of homes and businesses that depend on us," said Bill Johnson. "As our country sets energy policies to address global climate change, advanced, carbon-free nuclear energy continues to be the best technology available to provide reliable electricity day in and day out."

"We are committed to operating safe and secure nuclear facilities," said Jim Scarola, senior vice president and chief nuclear officer. "We take extensive measures to ensure all of our sites are well maintained and well protected. In fact, our safety records are among the best in the nation thanks to the dedication and the hard work of the professionals who work at each of our facilities."

Progress Energy operates the two-unit Brunswick Nuclear Plant located near Southport, N.C., and single reactors at the Crystal River Nuclear Plant near Crystal River, Fla., the Harris Nuclear Plant in New Hill, N.C. and the H.B. Robinson Nuclear Plant near Hartsville, S.C.

Progress Energy maintains a mix of generating resources in the Carolinas and Florida, including plants that use coal, natural gas and oil, as well as hydroelectric power, in addition to nuclear plants. The company also purchases energy from a variety of resources, including solar and other renewable energy plants. Increased nuclear production means less reliance on other fuel sources, which reduces the impact of volatile fossil fuel prices on customer bills.

Progress Energy recently submitted a license-renewal application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), seeking a 20-year operating extension for the Crystal River Nuclear Plant. The federal agency has already approved license renewals for the company's other three plants.

Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN), headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., is a Fortune 500 energy company with more than 21,000 megawatts of generation capacity and $9 billion in annual revenues. Progress Energy includes two major electric utilities that serve approximately 3.1 million customers in the Carolinas and Florida. The company has earned the Edison Electric Institute's Edison Award, the industry's highest honor, in recognition of its operational excellence, and was the first utility to receive the prestigious J.D. Power and Associates Founder's Award for customer service. The company is pursuing a balanced strategy for a secure energy future, which includes aggressive energy-efficiency programs, investments in renewable energy technologies and a state-of-the-art electricity system. Progress Energy celebrated a century of service in 2008. Visit the company's Web site at www.progress-energy.com.

SOURCE Progress Energy

Source: PR Newswire

More News in this Category