Charlotte.

• Position: REGIONAL REPORT

South Carolina site suits Duke nukes

Charlotte-based Duke Energy picked three possible sites for nuclear plants to satisfy future demand for electricity. Its first choice is just over the state line in Cherokee County, S.C. Duke, which would build the plant with Atlanta-based Southern, plans to apply for a license for up to two reactors at the site late next year and could have the plant online by 2015. The other sites are in Oconee County, S.C., near a Duke nuclear plant, and Davie County. Duke plans to do preliminary applications that would allow it to accelerate the approval process at those two sites in the next 20 years.

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SALISBURY -- Venice, Fla.-based PGT Industries, which makes hurricane-resistant doors and windows, plans to spend $31 million to open a factory here by August and employ about 1,100. Nearly 400 jobs would come from a Lexington plant PGT will close. Average annual pay for the new jobs will be $32,000; the Rowan County average is 29,500.

CHARLOTTE -- Daytona Beach, Fla.-based NASCAR agreed to put its hall of fame here. The city will spend $154.5 million to build the museum, which it hopes to open in 2010. Charlotte's bid defeated those of Atlanta, Richmond, Va., Daytona Beach and Kansas City, Mo.

MOORESVILLE -- Riley Technologies, which builds open-wheeled cars and other racing vehicles, plans to move here in September from Indianapolis in hopes of strengthening ties with NASCAR teams. It has 35 employees.

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