USA to build first nuclear reactor in 30 years

The USA will build its first nuclear reactor in 30 years in either 2016 or 2017. The construction of the nuclear reactor was approved by the US Nuclear and Regulatory Commission.

The reactor will be built at Vogtle nuclear power plant in Georgia. The project was evaluated at $14 billion. The US government will most likely cover a bit more than a half of this amount, Itar-Tass reports.

The licensing covers two reactors estimated to cost $14 billion that the Southern Company wants to add to its existing Vogtle nuclear plant in Georgia. The first new reactor is expected to be operational by 2016.

"The project is on track, and our targets related to cost and schedule are achievable," Southern CEO Thomas Fanning said in a statement.

The Nuclear Regolatory Commission issued its last license for the construction of nuclear power plants in 1978. The explosion of the second power-generating unit of Three Mile Island nuclear plant in Pennsylvania on March 28, 1979 led to the discharge of radioactive products in the atmosphere. In addition, over 185 cubic meters of radioactive water polluted the river and the ground waters. Over 200,000 people were evacuated from the disaster-stricken area. It took specialists 12 years to clear the destroyed unit.

The Three Mile Island became the USA's largest nuclear catastrophe. The country was not building any nuclear reactors afterwards.