TXU Corp., which made news when it scrapped plans to build 11 coal-fired power plants in Texas, is now turning its attention to nuclear instead.
It’s looking to build the biggest nuclear power plants in the U.S. in Texas.
NRG Energy Inc., Exelon Corp. and Amarillo Power are also eyeing Texas. Texas could end up having more reactors than any other state with 10 years.
This would make Texas a proving ground for what many see as a nuclear renaissance. Because utilities in Texas no longer have monopolies in their territories, customers can switch suppliers at will. Therefore, nuclear plants have to make economic sense.
TXU officials hope the huge reactors they’re planning will achieve economies of scale and thus, cheap electric prices. The reactors would be 1,700 megawatts each, 50% larger than existing plants.
TXU says it wants to build between two and five new plants. That might change however, when its $32 billion acquisition goes through – when the company is taken private by Kolhberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and TPG, formerly Texas Pacific Group.
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