BALTIMORE April 15 PRNewswire-FirstCall - UniStar Nuclear Energy LLC UNE a strategic joint venture between Constellation Energy and EDF Group today applauded an agreement between Bechtel Construction Company Bechtel and the Building and Construction Trades Department of the AFL-CIO BCTDBechtel and the union announced they plan to reach an agreement by the end of 2008 on wages and benefits for workers who would be employed to construct a potential third reactor at a site adjacent to Constellation Energys Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant in Lusby Md A final decision has yet to be made on the construction of a new reactor at Calvert CliffsThe agreement comes just days after the US Department of Energy DOE made public its loan guarantee implementation plan an important prelude to DOE issuing a solicitation for federal loan guarantee applicationsNuclear power with its ability to meet our nations increasing energy demands without the production of harmful greenhouse gases is a critical component of Americas future said George Vanderheyden president and chief executive officer of UNE The Bechtel agreement is a significant step forward in securing the skilled workforce necessary to construct a new plant and positions UNE well for making new nuclear in this country a realityTodays agreement signed by Mark Ayers President of BCTD and Regi Phelps Vice President for Labor Relations of Bechtel Construction Company commits that Bechtel and the union will work together to reach a Project Labor Agreement for a potential new reactor at Calvert Cliffs UNE is poised to break ground on the site by the end of 2008 provided by that time the project receives required approvals and loan guarantee contracts as envisioned by the federal government under the Energy Policy Act of 2005Were poised to commence early site preparation this year for the first new nuclear plant in the US in 30 years but to be clear we cannot move forward without federal loan guarantees said Michael J Wallace vice chairman of Constellation Energy and chairman of UNE Congress and the Administration worked collaboratively to enact legislation three years ago and affirmed it again last fall to pave the way for a loan guarantee program that Wall Street views as an absolute pre-requisite for advancing new nuclear development We are encouraged that DOE moved the process forward last week with a loan guarantee implementation plan and look forward to continued progress on this front to advance new nuclear and meet the nations future energy supply and security needsWallace noted that continued Congressional and DOE support is necessary to ensure timely implementation of a loan guarantee program and the subsequent construction of new nuclear projects along with the thousands of new jobs associated with that constructionIt is essential that contracts be in place by November or we face the very real potential of significant delays something the nation cannot afford and something the Administration and Congress did not intend or envision in advancing this legislation said WallaceConstruction on the proposed Unit 3 at Calvert Cliffs would create roughly 4000 jobs for pipe fitters welders electricians and other skilled union members Other projects proposed across the country could bring similar labor boosts to local economies The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission expects as many as 22 licensing applications for new nuclear power plants could be submitted between 2008 and 2010About UNEUniStar Nuclear Energy a strategic joint venture between Constellation Energy and EDF is powering the nuclear renaissance in North America through industry leadership disciplined business practices and effective risk-management Based in Baltimore Md UniStar Nuclear Energy provides the licensing construction and operating services needed to support the expansion of clean safe and sustainable nuclear energy in the United StatesAbout Constellation EnergyConstellation Energy a FORTUNE 125 company with 2007 revenues of 21 billion is the nations largest competitive supplier of electricity to large commercial and industrial customers and the nations largest wholesale power seller Constellation Energy also manages fuels and energy services on behalf of energy intensive industries and utilities It owns a diversified fleet of 78 generating units located throughout the United States totaling approximately 8700 megawatts of generating capacity The company delivers electricity and natural gas through the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company BGE its regulated utility in Central MarylandAbout EDF GroupThe EDF Group one of the leaders in the energy market in Europe is an integrated energy company active in all businesses production transport distribution energy selling and trading The Group is the leading electricity producer in Europe In France it has mainly nuclear and hydraulic production facilities where 95 of the electricity output involves no CO2 emissions EDFs transport and distribution subsidiaries operate 1246000 km of low and medium voltage overhead and underground electricity lines and around 100000 km of high and very high voltage networks The Group is involved in supplying energy and services to more than 38 million customers around the world including more than 28 million in France The Group generated consolidated sales of ACIORFIPROCENTEc2ACIORFIPROCENTE80596 billion in 2007 of which 44 in Europe excluding France EDF is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange and is a member of the CAC 40 index UniStar Nuclear Energy