Board of County Commissioners Submits Resolution in Support of NuStart Energy's Calvert Cliffs Expansion Proposal

PRINCE FREDERICK, Md., -- July 26, 2005 -- In public session today, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) for Calvert County voted unanimously to submit a resolution and letter of support to endorse NuStart Energy Development’s consideration to add a third reactor at the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant in Lusby, Md. Recognizing the economic impact such an expansion would have on the County through job creation and tax payments, as well as the importance of nuclear energy in meeting the country’s energy demands and the safety record and emissions-free technology inherent in nuclear energy, the BOCC views this proposed project as a boon for the community.

BOCC president David Hale said, “Supporting the expansion of Calvert Cliffs was not a difficult decision. Constellation Energy is the County’s single largest commercial taxpayer, at $15.3M in FY 2005, and employs nearly 1,000 employees. Their financial impact in this community allows our citizens to enjoy one of the lowest property tax rates in the State of Maryland.”

NuStart Energy Development is the country’s largest consortium of nuclear energy companies and operates 58 percent of the nation’s nuclear energy plants. The consortium, which includes Constellation Energy, is seeking one of the first combined Construction and Operating Licenses from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in 30 years and will narrow the choices to two of six sites by October 2005 – one for a General Electric Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor and one for a Westinghouse Advanced Passive 1000 Reactor. Once the two finalist locations are selected, application will be made to the NRC by 2008 and it is expected the new plant will be fully operational by 2014.

Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant is owned and operated by Constellation Energy and currently houses two nuclear reactors that came online in 1975 and 1977. The facility, originally designed to house a total of four reactors, is the only nuclear facility in the State of Maryland and was the first commercial nuclear plant in the United States to receive re-licensing in 2000. Calvert Cliffs currently generates 1,700 megawatts of electricity each day – enough to power one-third of Maryland’s homes and businesses.

To view the resolution, click here (.pdf file).. For more information about the proposed expansion of Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant and the Calvert County, Maryland Department of Economic Development, call 410.535.4583 or 800.331.9771, send an e-mail to info@ecalvert.com.

For more information on the Calvert County, Maryland Department of Economic Development, our visitor sites and attractions and the services available to assist County businesses, call 410.535.4583, 800.331.9771 or 301.855.1880; or send an e-mail to info@ecalvert.com