Japan Crisis Puts Md. Power Plant In Question

In 2007 officials of the Calvert Cliffs nuclear power plant in Lusby, Md., filed an application to add a third reactor to the facility. Since then, plans for the expansion have stalled due to economic concerns, and some expect the crisis in Japan could cast more doubt on those plans and the future of nuclear energy.

Mike Rencheck is the COO of Ariva Inc., the company slated to build the reactor. He says local industry analysts are watching the crisis, and learning.

"We'll take the lessons learned from this, do a systematic review, and there will likely be changes, new rules, and practices in the industry," Rencheck says.

Although scientists say large quakes or tsunamis are highly unlikely in our region, terrorism is a concern. Rencheck says new regulations and standards address the issue.

"Its been very thoroughly done over the past few years, really since 9-11, and have been in practice since then," he says.

Calvert Cliffs' first reactor was commissioned in 1975.