Southern Company's Plant Vogtle
ATLANTA -- Federal regulators are leaning toward approving a nuclear reactor that could power the first nuclear plant built from scratch in a generation.
Three of the five members of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission have said they will approve the design of Westinghouse Electric Co.'s AP1000 reactor.
Those written votes do not become final until the commissioners vote in a public session.
RELATED: Feds to make decision on AP1000 nuclear reactor
The commissioners must still decide when that reactor design will be considered formally approved. Normally, after a vote, the rules governing the reactor design must be published for 30 days before the design is considered approved.
The Atlanta-based Southern Co. wants permission to start work on two AP1000 reactors in Georgia soon. It has asked the NRC to speed up the normal process.
(Associated Press)