Dominion Virginia Power is "trying very hard" to build a third nuclear reactor at its North Anna Power Station, the top executive at the utility's parent company said yesterday.

Thomas F. Farrell II, chairman, president and chief executive of Dominion Resources Inc. in Richmond, was a guest yesterday on CNBC's "Squawk Box," on which he talked about the future of nuclear power.

Farrell spoke about Dominion Virginia Power's intention to build another reactor at the Louisa County plant with more certainty than the company has shown in the past.

In November, when it filed an application with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a combined construction and operating license for a reactor, the utility said it had not committed to build one but filed the permit application to keep its options open.

"Americans want to see more nuclear plants built," Farrell told the national television audience yesterday.

"We're trying very hard to build one, and I think we will," he said. "I think our plant will be the first to come on line in more than 30 years." Asked when that would be, Farrell said 2016.

Farrell said global-warming concerns and rising prices for fossil-fuel-based energy of all kinds are helping to change the public's attitude favorably toward nuclear energy. But all energy sources, along with conservation and energy-efficiency programs, must be used to meet the country's needs, he said.

"Right now, more than 50 percent of the nation's electricity comes from coal. That's problematic as we all know," Farrell said, alluding to the effect burning coal has on greenhouse-gas emissions. "The country is going to have to move in the direction of nuclear power."

The U.S., which has 104 commercial power reactors, probably needs 200 to 250, Farrell said.

Dominion Virginia Power has obtained a federal site permit for a third reactor. The company is at the head of the line of 15 applications for reactor construction and operating licenses received by federal regulators since last summer.

In May, two environmental groups, the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League and People's Alliance for Clean Energy, petitioned federal regulators for permission to intervene in the utility's reactor application. The groups cited eight problems with the application related to water use, radioactive waste and emissions, and a geologic fault at the site.

The proposed third North Anna reactor would generate 1,520 megawatts of electricity, or enough to supply about 375,000 homes. The existing reactors generate a combined 1,800 megawatts of electricity. The company also operates nuclear plants in Surry County and in Connecticut and Wisconsin.
Contact Greg Edwards at (804) 649-6390 or gedwards@timesdispatch.com.