Another retreat as partner pulls out of VA nuclear expansion

Old Dominion Electric Cooperative has pulled out of plans to share in the construction of a third reactor at the current North Anna site in Louisa, Virginia. According to news reports, leadership at Old Dominion felt that "participating in this proposed nuclear project does not fit with our long-term plans." Old Dominion owns an 11.6 percent interest in, and shares the power generated by, North Anna's existing Units 1 and 2. This is not the first bump in the road for Dominion Power. It has already balked at the capital costs, predicting these would slow progress on the project. And the company has already rejected one design from GE Hitachi  - a boiling water reactor - switching to a pressurized water reactor design by Mitsubishi last May.