Decision does not imply commitment to build WARRENVILLE, Ill., Nov. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Exelon Nuclear will use GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) new generation of reactor technology if it decides to build a new nuclear plant in Texas, the company announced today. Called the Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor, or ESBWR, the reactor operates by relying more on natural forces -- such as gravity and convection -- to operate passive safety systems than the large numbers of active pumps and valves used in existing technology. Exelon Nuclear is studying locations in Matagorda and Victoria counties as potential reactor sites. The technology selection does not imply the company's intention to build a nuclear power plant in Texas. It is, however, a necessary step in preparing a combined construction and operating license application. The ESBWR is one of the two technologies sponsored by NuStart and the Department of Energy Nuclear Power 2010 Program. Exelon is relying on NuStart for the generic portion of the application that addresses the standard design. The technology, conceptualized and produced by GEH, is an evolution of the standard boiling water reactor design and uses simplified design features and fewer components, thereby allowing for faster construction and lower operating costs, as well as enhanced safety features. While using natural forces and a simpler design, the ESBWR also incorporates features used in operationally proven boiling water reactors, including debris-resistant fuel and passive containment cooling. The ESBWR design eliminates 11 systems from previous designs and has 25 percent fewer valves, pumps and motors, making the process more streamlined and reducing the likelihood that an operational event could cause the fuel in the reactor to be damaged. "After months of rigorous investigation, we selected GEH's ESBWR because the design is complementary to Exelon's mission of providing the highest standards of safety and environmental accountability," said Tom O'Neill, Vice President of New Plant Development for Exelon Nuclear. "When we looked at the choices for reactor technology, we had two priorities: safety and minimizing our environmental footprint. The ESBWR meets those criteria, plus GEH has a proven track record of designing reliable plants," O'Neill said. Exelon Nuclear expects to submit the combined construction and operating license application (known as a COL) to the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission in November 2008. A combined construction and operating license is required for construction of a new nuclear energy plant, but the application does not imply that Exelon has made a commitment to build a plant. Among the various conditions that must be resolved to Exelon's satisfaction before any formal decision to build is made is a solution to used fuel disposal and community acceptance of a new nuclear plant, the company has said. Additional field investigation and research will be conducted at both Texas sites over the next several months to confirm the sites meet all site suitability criteria laid out by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). As this process moves forward, Exelon Nuclear is committed to actively communicating with neighbors, state and local officials and other stakeholders as well as the community at large at both potential sites. Nuclear energy produces no harmful greenhouse gases and therefore does not contribute to global warming. In fact, Exelon believes that nuclear power is a key part of the solution to managing climate change. Currently, nuclear plants provide about 20 percent of the nation's electricity. According to the Energy Information Administration, using nuclear energy instead of fossil fuel-based plants, the U.S. nuclear energy industry prevented 681.2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions in 2006. This is the environmental equivalent of taking 96 percent of all passenger cars off America's roadways for a year. Exelon Corporation is one of the nation's largest electric utilities with more than $15 billion in annual revenues. The company has one of the industry's largest portfolios of electricity generation capacity, with a nationwide reach and strong positions in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. In Texas, the company owns or controls about 3,700 megawatts of natural gas fired generation within Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). Exelon distributes electricity to approximately 5.4 million customers in northern Illinois and Pennsylvania and gas to approximately 480,000 customers in the Philadelphia area. Exelon is headquartered in Chicago and trades on the NYSE under the ticker EXC. Contact: Craig Nesbit 630-640-9461 (c) Beth Rapczynski 610-765-5530 (o) DATASOURCE: Exelon Corporation CONTACT: Craig Nesbit, cell, +1-630-640-9461, or Beth Rapczynski, +1-610-765-5530, both for Exelon Corporation

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