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LEA COUNTY, N.M., Sept. 8, 2003 -- Louisiana Energy Services (LES) formally announced its decision to build a $1.2 billion uranium enrichment facility in Lea County, New Mexico.
The National Enrichment Facility (NEF), which has the strong support of national energy leaders, the nuclear power industry, and local and state officials, will be the first and only project of its kind in North America.
"This is an extremely exciting day," said Jim Ferland, LES President. "Although we have experienced many challenges along the way, the community and political support for our decision to choose Lea County New Mexico gives us a great deal of confidence in the future of this project."
The State of New Mexico had been actively courting LES and has recently offered the company a series of tax incentives. Strong support from the citizens and leaders of Lea County as well as US Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM), Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, US Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), past Chairman of the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, Congressman Steve Pearce (R-NM) helped bring this project to New Mexico.
"I am excited about getting this project, an have pledged to work at all levels to help get through the long permit and regulatory process. Urenco has decades of experience in this industry and in meeting strict health and environmental standards for its operations in Europe," said Senator Domenici. "We can expect as much here."
"I want this project to be a success," said New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. "Between the construction jobs and full-time employment, this project will generate hundreds of millions of dollars in positive economic impact for the state," he added.
The nuclear power industry has long supported increased competition to the Unites States uranium enrichment marketplace. Where today, there is only one source of enriched uranium in the United States fulfilling only 12-15 percent of demand, the NEF will, for the first time, provide an alternative competitive fuel supply -- a key ingredient in national energy security.
"The National Enrichment Facility represents the first large investment in a new nuclear facility in the U.S. in more than a decade," said Steve Tritch, President of Westinghouse. "It is our hope that this facility opens the door to the first of many new nuclear facilities in the U.S. in the coming years."
"This facility will enable Exelon, and in fact all U.S. nuclear utilities, to maintain the assurance of a competitively priced, secure domestic supply of nuclear fuel," noted Oliver Kingsley, Chairman and CEO of Exelon, the largest nuclear power producer in the Untied States.
The announcement took place at the future site of the facility approximately 30 minutes from Hobbs New Mexico and was attended by over 300 guests.
LES currently is a partnership of major companies in the nuclear energy business in the United States and in Europe. Partners include Urenco (a British, Dutch and German company) and US utilities Duke Power, Entergy and Exelon.
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