Green groups appeal Ga. nuclear plant expansion

Environmental groups ask federal courts to block Georgia nuclear plant expansion

• On 11:58 am EDT, Friday October 30, 2009

ATLANTA (AP) -- Environmental groups are asking the federal courts to block to plans to build two nuclear reactors at an east Georgia power plant.

The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy said Thursday it is asking a federal judge to review an early-site permit granted by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to allow some construction at Georgia Power Co.'s Plant Vogtle facility.

The groups hinge a part of the appeal on contentious legislation that passed this year allowing the utility to charge ratepayers ahead of time for the costs of building the two new reactors.

The east Georgia project is scheduled to be completed in 2017. It could be the first new nuclear project to break ground in the country in three decades.

Georgia Power is a subsidiary of Southern Co.