Babcock & Wilcox plans Virginia testing facility

BEDFORD, Va.

Power generation company Babcock & Wilcox Co. said Tuesday it plans to open a testing facility for its new class of mini nuclear reactors at the new Center for Advanced Engineering and Research Center in Bedford County.

The company said the facility will include a scaled prototype of its new B&W mPower reactor, which is being developed in central Virginia. The prototype that will undergo extensive testing uses electric rather than nuclear energy. The company plans to collect data on the reactor design and safety performance over three years.

The facility is expected to create a number of construction jobs and employ at least 10 full-time workers during the testing phase. Once testing is complete, the company anticipates using the facility for training of utility professionals who would be operating on the reactors.

The center will play an important role in the testing and licensing of the new reactor as well as "reaffirming the region as a hub for nuclear technology," Chris Mowry, president of B&W Nuclear Energy Inc., said in a news release.

The Virginia Tobacco Commission, which promotes economic growth and development in tobacco-dependent communities, approved a $2.4 million grant for the project.

B&W expects the facility will be operational in 2011.