Calvert County solicits reactor: Seeking expansion at power plant, it offers tax break to Constellation.

Byline: Jamie Smith Hopkins and Paul Adams

Aug. 9--Trying to jump ahead of perceived competition, Calvert County approved yesterday a tax break worth an estimated $300 million to Constellation Energy Group as an inducement to expand its nuclear power complex in Southern Maryland. Baltimore-based Constellation, the largest wholesale provider of electricity in the country, wants to build at least five reactors nationwide with a partner and hopes to put the first at its Calvert Cliffs plant. The company formally requested the tax break in a recent letter, county officials said. Constellation's intentions are no guarantee that the reactors will be built, because nuclear power is a highly charged issue and because new reactors are subject to the approval of the federal government. But spiraling energy prices have helped bring nuclear generation back into vogue. Energy regulations passed last year encourage companies to expand the number of reactors.

Calvert, a fast-growing and increasing affluent county, wants to ride the turning tide to a big job expansion. State officials, meanwhile, see the proposal as a needed investment in local power supply. Though no…