Nuclear energy and the Carolinas: citizens say plant is a good, safe neighbor.

JENKINSVILLE, S.C. --Following a day of briefings and a tour of the construction site at the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station, Ronnie Givens said he was more than impressed.

"Wow," said Givens. of Summerville, S.C. Then he added: 'The first thing on the agenda was safety, and safety was woven throughout the presentations. It started with safety and ended with safety."

Givens' thoughts about the safety culture at the nuclear power plant were echoed by many of some two dozen people South Carolina Electric & Gas Co. invited to see how construction is progressing on two new reactor units at the Fairfield County power plant.

The group's support for nuclear at least mirrors national public opinion. according to a September survey for the Nuclear Energy Institute. The poll, conducted six months after an earthquake and tsunami seriously damaged a nuclear power station in Japan, found 62% of Americans favor nuclear energy.

The survey also found majorities in all regions of the United States believed building a new reactor would be acceptable at the nearest nuclear power plant site.

"I don't have any reservations about nuclear power," said Lou Edens, of Mount Pleasant, S.C. "It's clean energy. It's dependable. And it's a good backup for tough regulations that could come down the pike for using coal."

Added Jimmy Bagwell, "I don't think the people of South Carolina have anything to worry about. That's because where safety is concerned nobody is more involved and concerned with safety" than SCE&G.

The Summer power plant, which began operations in 1984, is regarded as a worthy neighbor in this rural Fairfield County community about 26 miles northwest of Columbia.

Area residents cite its solid safety record, jobs, and the $20 million a year it generates in local property...