RICHMOND, Va. - Dominion (NYSE:
D), a leading producer of nuclear power, said Tuesday it welcomes the U.S. Senate
vote to designate Yucca Mountain in Nevada as the proposed repository for the
nation's used commercial nuclear fuel.
Thos. E. Capps, chairman, president and chief executive
officer, said:
"Tonight, the Senate took the nation a big step closer
to long-term energy self-sufficiency. The Senate recognizes the important role
that nuclear power will play and the pressing need to manage our used nuclear
fuel responsibly, safely and in the broad public interest. It also recognizes
that our industry has the technical resources, skills and experience and is
well up to the task."
Over the past 20 years - at a cost of about $7 billion -
teams of scientists and engineers from the national laboratories and the U.S.
Geological Survey have found that Yucca Mountain can meet the applicable environmental
and safety requirements for the used nuclear fuel repository. These reviews
will continue during the repository-licensing phase.
Dominion owns and operates three nuclear stations in Virginia
and Connecticut, representing nearly 25 percent of its electric generating capacity.
North
Anna Power Station in Louisa County, Va., has two pressurized water reactors
capable of generating 1,842 net megawatts of electricity. Surry
Power Station in Surry County, Va., has two pressurized water reactors capable
of producing 1,625 net megawatts of electricity. Millstone
Power Station, located in Waterford, Conn., has two pressurized water reactors
capable of generating 2,020 net megawatts of electricity.
Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers of
energy, with a production capability of more than 3 trillion British thermal
unit of energy per day. Dominion has a diversified and integrated energy portfolio
consisting of nearly 24,000 megawatts of generation, 5.1 trillion cubic feet
equivalent of proved natural gas reserves, 7,600 miles of natural gas transmission
pipeline and the nation's largest underground natural gas storage system with
more than 950 billion cubic feet of storage capacity. Dominion also serves 3.9
million franchise natural gas and electric customers in five states. In addition,
Dominion owns a managing equity interest in Dominion Fiber Ventures LLC, owner
of Dominion Telecom. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's
Web site at www.dom.com.
