12 more US nuclear plants expected as OKs resume

Energy Secretary Charles W. Duncan Jr. said Thursday he expects 12 more nuclear power plants to be in operation by the end of this year, after the resumption of plant licensing by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Mr. Duncan told the House Science Committee that each plant would save an average of 25,000 barrels of oil per day. He said he expected the commission to resume plant licensing by May after review of the special presidential commission report on the accident at Three Mile Island last March.

The United States now has 71 nuclear plants, with 90 more in various stages of licensing or construction.