Nuclear's future: small reactors could make big impact.

The future of small modular reactor manufacturing could well be in the Midlands of South Carolina. Two companies seeking regulatory review and licenses for SMR designs indicate Columbia would be at the top of their list if they build a factory to manufacture the small-scale nuclear power units.

Such a commitment could deliver a huge economic impact to the Carolinas. It's estimated that $100 billion worth of small modular reactions might be produced annually and shipped through the Port of Charleston.

"I can't commit to it now, but if it happens, we'd be foolish not to consider this region," said Michael Anness, manager for advanced reactors at Westinghouse Electric Co.

Westinghouse already has a nuclear fuels plant in Columbia that has been in operation for decades and employs as many as 1,500 people. Anness and others said that building new nuclear reactors for nationwide electric power generation could boost demand for the uranium fuel assemblies built here, and could lead to expansion of the Columbia nuclear fuels plant.

"We're looking at this as an opportunity to grow in an area where we already have investment and experience," Anness said.

Pierre Oneid. president of SMR LLC. a subsidiary of Holtec International, also said Columbia would be high on its list of locations for a small modular reactor manufacturing plant if its design wins Nuclear Regulatory Commission approval.

"I envision a factory here that would ship these SMR units all over the world," Oneid said. Holtec is a major player in the management of spent nuclear fuel assemblies. But it has decided to expand its business line by proposing its own small modular reactor design, Oneid said.

"For $700 million I can deliver a 140-megawatt unit to you," Oneid said. Experts note that the cost of a traditional, large-scale, 1,000- to 1,200-MW reactor is $6 billion to $8 billion. The smaller, incremental cost of small modular reactor units of less than 300 MW would help utilities avoid those huge investments that, if they fail, can risk the existence of the company.

The Obama administration is proposing a demonstration project funded with $450 million...