About Us

A concise description of NuStart

NuStart Energy Development, LLC, is a limited liability company formed in 2004 with ten member companies. These members, plus two reactor vendors form the NuStart Consortium. The consortium objectives are: 1) to demonstrate the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) never-before-used licensing process for obtaining a combined Construction and Operating License (COL) for an advanced nuclear power plant; and 2) complete the design engineering for the two selected reactor technologies.

With respect to the first objective, NuStart's mission is simply to test the process, to see how efficiently and effectively the NRC and industry can work together towards a positive result - the granting of a COL.

Obtaining a COL is a critical step for the nuclear power industry in the US. By achieving this, NuStart will demonstrate that the COL license can be obtained on schedule and within budget, and that advanced plant designs can be approved. Further, it will provide a realistic time and cost estimate for building and operating a new nuclear plant in today's environment.

With respect to the second objective, NuStart will work with the reactor vendors to complete the one-time engineering work necessary for the standardized plant designs. This will position these technologies for deployment when needed, thereby significantly reducing the time to market for a new nuclear plant.

NuStart has begun a process that is projected at this time to take until 2012. Here is a tentative timeline:

2004	NuStart Energy consortium is organized and formed to respond to a Department of Energy (DOE) issued solicitation to demonstrate the NRC's COL process and complete the engineering for the two selected technologies.
2005	Selection process for COL sites. Candidate sites were evaluated against established screening and evaluation criteria. Process completed mid 2005. Design Certification activities for two selected technologies continue. Engineering work needed to support the preparation of two COL applications begins, as well as work on the two selected nuclear power plants designs. Work begins with the NRC in designing engineering requirements for licensing new nuclear power plants.
2007	Completion and submittal of the AP1000 COLA.
2008	Completion and submittal of the ESBWR COLA. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) begins review of both applications.
2010	Completion of NRC Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) reviews of both technologies.
2011	Completion of NRC ACRS review for lead AP1000 COL. Projected issuance of the Westinghouse AP1000 DCD Amendment and COL for Southern Nuclear Company's Vogtle site. Construction of a new nuclear plant would be permitted following NRC issuance of the COL. Projected issuance of the GEH ESBWR DCD Rule.
2012	Projected issuance of the COL for Detroit Edison Company's Fermi site based on GEH's ESBWR technology.