Who: Calvert Cliffs 3 Nuclear Project, LLC and UniStar Nuclear Operating Services, LLC
What: Application for a combined license (COL) for an AREVA U.S. Evolutionary Power Reactor (EPR), the proposed Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant Unit 3
When: July 13, 2007 (date of initial submission of Part 1 of the application, which included the Environmental Report)
Where: Lusby, MD (adjacent to Calvert Cliffs Units 1 and 2)
UniStar Nuclear Energy (UNE), a strategic joint venture between Constellation Energy and the EDF Group, has proposed building an advanced-design, nuclear power plant adjacent to Constellation Energy's existing Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Plant located in Lusby, Md.
The new plant would generate approximately 1,600 megawatts of electricity without producing the greenhouse gases now associated with global warming and would help to address a projected shortage of electricity in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Technology of Choice
UNE’s technology of choice is AREVA's U.S. Evolutionary Power Reactor (U.S. EPR). The U.S. EPR features robust, independent and redundant safety systems and is an advanced version of proven technology that began in the United States and has evolved and been operating safely in the U.S. and Europe for many years.
Environmental Commitment
UniStar Nuclear Energy is committed to a clean environment. This is a paramount priority and UNE has taken several important and extraordinary steps to minimize environmental impact. These include:
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Use of a hybrid cooling tower design that is much lower to the ground (approximately 165 feet tall vs. approximately 600 feet tall) than traditional cooling tower designs. This will be equipped with plume-abatement system to minimize the possibility of visible water plume from the tower;
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Construction of a desalination plant to eliminate the need to use area groundwater sources once the plant is operational.
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Design would take in approximately 98 percent less water from the Chesapeake Bay than previous nuclear reactors.
Economic Benefits
The Calvert County Board of County Commissioners estimates that a new plant would provide approximately $20 million in additional annual revenue for the county – used to fund education, school construction, roads, law enforcement, fire and rescue. The proposed plant would bring approximately 360 permanent, new jobs into Calvert County, Md, following construction and would provide approximately 4,000 jobs during peak of construction
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Application Process
In July 2007 UNE submitted to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) a partial combined license (COL) application. This largely addressed environmental issues associated with constructing and operating a new nuclear plant. The NRC accepted this partial application for review on January 25.
U.S. NRC Combined License Application Process
U.S. NRC Applicant Documents
U.S. NRC Application Review Schedule
U.S. NRC Public Meetings
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
For any person to build a power plant or transmission line greater than 69 kV in Maryland, a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) must be obtained from the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC). As part of this licensing process, applicants must address a full range of environmental, engineering, socioeconomic, planning, and cost issues.
