Los Alamos Firm Looks At Lea County For Plant

EUNICE, N.M. (AP) – A new nuclear energy company formed by former scientists from Los Alamos National Laboratory is eyeing Lea County as a possible home for a future manufacturing facility.

The southeastern New Mexico town has seen growing interest from several nuclear energy companies after construction started on the Louisiana Energy Services’ National Enrichment Facility.

Los Alamos-based Hyperion Power Generation Incorporated says the southern New Mexico county could be the place it produces its first commercial, mass-produced nuclear power reactor.

Hyperion Vice President of Licensing and Public Affairs Deborah Blackwell says Lea County is a contender for the plant because of its uranium enrichment facility.

Blackwell says the company also is looking at Idaho Falls, Idaho.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)