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Progress Energy Submits Application To Renew Harris Nuclear Plant Operating License for 20 Years

Posted on: Tuesday, 14 November 2006, 09:00 CST

RALEIGH, N.C., Nov. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Progress Energy today submitted a license-renewal application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), requesting 20 additional years of operation for its Harris Nuclear Plant. Electricity generated by the Harris Plant is essential for Progress Energy to meet the needs of its 1.4 million customers in the Carolinas reliably, affordably and in an environmentally sound manner.

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

"To ensure that the safe, reliable power provided today continues to meet electricity needs in the future, Progress Energy is filing for a 20-year extension of the Harris Plant operating license," said Scotty Hinnant, chief nuclear officer for Progress Energy. "Progress Energy operates five reactors in three states, and has an outstanding track record of safe and efficient performance that has kept service reliability high and prices stable and affordable for our customers."

The NRC, the federal agency responsible for overseeing nuclear plant operations and safety, granted the Harris Nuclear Plant a 40-year operating license in 1986. The license term was originally established by the NRC for U.S. commercial nuclear power plants based on typical amortization time periods used by utilities for large capital investments.

The license-renewal process involves a thorough assessment of the plant's operating equipment, maintenance programs, and equipment testing and replacement programs. An environmental review will also be conducted to assess the potential impacts of continued operations. The NRC's review process is expected to take 22 to 30 months.

Public involvement is integral to the license-renewal process. Several open meetings will be held throughout the process. Meeting information is made available to the public on the NRC Web site: http://www.nrc.gov/.

Nuclear power is an important part of Progress Energy's balanced plan for meeting the region's current and future energy needs. Using nuclear power as part of a mix of resources helps protect consumers from price volatility, while decreasing our dependence on imported energy. Nuclear power is a clean energy that produces no greenhouse gas emissions associated with global climate change, and it has the lowest fuel cost of any large-scale electricity option available today. In addition to nuclear plants, Progress Energy operates coal-, natural gas- and oil-fueled plants and hydroelectric generation.

The Harris Nuclear Plant's pressurized water reactor generates approximately 900 megawatts of electricity. The plant is located on 10,800 acres and is owned jointly by Progress Energy (84 percent) and the N.C. Eastern Municipal Agency (16 percent). The Harris Plant is considered baseload, or must-run, generation, meaning it is operated 24 hours a day (other than maintenance or refueling) to help meet the region's basic, constant electricity demand. For more information about nuclear power and the Harris Plant, go to http://www.progress-energy.com/harris.

Progress Energy, headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., is a Fortune 250 diversified energy company with more than 23,000 megawatts of generation capacity and $10 billion in annual revenues. The company's holdings include two electric utilities serving approximately 3 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. Progress Energy's nonregulated operations include energy marketing. Progress Energy is the 2006 recipient of the Edison Electric Institute's Edison Award, the industry's highest honor, in recognition of its operational excellence. In 2005, the company also received the prestigious J.D. Power and Associates Founder's Award for dedication, commitment and sustained improvement in customer service. For more information about Progress Energy, visit the company's Web site at progress-energy.com.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020923/CHM008LOGO-cAP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Progress Energy

CONTACT: Julie Hans, Site Communications for Harris Nuclear Plant,+1-919-362-2160

Web site: http://www.progress-energy.com/harrishttp://www.progress-energy.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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