Tate Zeigler (202) 224-5972 or Kevin Bishop (864) 250-1417

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), who has compiled a long record as one of the strongest supporters of nuclear energy in the Congress, said he was very pleased the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) had approved the construction permits for two new nuclear reactors in South Carolina.

The permits, requested by S.C. Electric & Gas, a subsidiary of SCANA and Santee Cooper are for the construction of two new reactors in Jenkinsville, South Carolina.

Graham said:

"I have long pushed for a renaissance in nuclear energy. Before February of this year we hadn't built a new nuclear reactor in the United States in more than thirty years. Now, in the last seven weeks we have had major breakthrough with the licensing of four new reactors. This is a long-overdue and much welcomed change in policy.

"We worked for years to see these reactors approved and I'm very pleased this long-sought goal has finally been achieved. The construction of two new reactors will be an over $10 billion dollar project and represents one of the largest investments in South Carolina history.

"The renaissance in American nuclear energy has begun. And as long-time advocate for nuclear energy, I could not be more pleased to see South Carolina at the forefront to this revival."

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