Artist's rendering of an AP1000 nuclear plant

The new reactor design, called the Westinghouse Advanced Pressurized Water Reactor (AP1000), builds on the industry's excellent safety record by using fewer moving parts and using cooling systems that rely on gravity instead of power supplies and motor-driven components. The AP1000 has 85 percent less cable, 80 percent less pipe, 50 percent fewer valves and 35 percent fewer pumps than today's generation of reactors.

The existing Summer Station unit is also a Westinghouse Pressurized Water Reactor. The new AP1000 builds on and improves that established technology. Its simplified design will make the new plants easier and less expensive to build, operate and maintain.

For more information on the AP1000, visit www.ap1000.westinghousenuclear.com.