The first new nuclear reactor to be built in the U.S. in three
decades is one step away from breaking ground. Federal
regulators approved the design for the AP1000 reactor, which
Westinghouse Electric Co. developed over 20 years. The Nuclear
Regulatory Commission unanimously approved the design, a key
certification that will be valid for 15 years. On the day of the
approval, CEO of Westinghouse Aris Candris was interviewed by
ABC News Now. “Everyone has heard of what happened at the
Fukushima Daiichi plant,” said Candris. “Had an AP1000 been on
that site we would have got no nuclear news post-tsunami.” The
Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant suffered major damage in
the 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami, which hit Japan on
March 11, 2011. The tsunami disabled emergency power generators
that are critical to cooling the reactor, setting up a dire
situation that led to multiple partial meltdown, radiation
leaks, and a massive evacuation of surrounding areas. The plant
still hasn’t reopened. Continue readin