DTE Applies For New Nuclear Reactor FRENCHTOWN TOWNSHIP (Michigan Radio) -

A Michigan utility is asking the federal government for permission to build a new nuclear reactor.

Detroit Edison filed paperwork today to begin what will probably be a decade long effort to build a new reactor alongside its Fermi 2 reactor near Monroe.

D-T-E spokesman John Austerberry says the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will take about 4 years to review the utility's application for a new nuclear power plant. He says the new reactor will take about 6 years to build and cost in the neighborhood of 10 billion dollars. Austerberry says the project can only move forward once the utility is guaranteed a specific share of Michigan's electricity market under a state energy plan. "Without that, we would not be able to get financing at a favorable rate. And without make the project too costly," says Austerberry.

Adding a second nuclear power plant could allow D-T-E to shutdown some of its older coal burning plants. © Copyright 2009, Michigan Radio