Supporters and opponents of proposed nuclear reactors speak out in Augusta

For the first time in nearly 30 years, nuclear power plants are seeking to build more reactors, including the Vogtle electricity plant near Augusta.

Southern Nuclear Operating Company, a division of Southern Company, wants to build two new reactors at the plant, which is located near Waynesboro.

The federal Atomic Safety and Licensing Board hosted the latest in a series of public hearings on Monday in Augusta.

Judith Stocker lives near Vogtle, where two reactors have operated since the 1980s. She worries about water pollution and health issues such as cancer, and wonders if Vogtle caused the problems. She has no evidence that Vogtle has, but would like to see more studies conducted.

"It's a little bit of a stretch for it to be a coincidence," she says. "And even if it can't be definitively linked to the reactors at this time, we should make sure, take some time, find out where the problem is."

But Clint Wolfe, director of Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness, says nuclear energy is safe, and instead worries about health problems caused by other energy sources, such as fossil fuels. He says emphysema and lung cancer have resulted from exposure to these energy sources, particularly among coal miners.

"For folks to be so really preoccupied with -- quote -- safety around nuclear is ironic since there's never been anyone in this country killed by a nuclear power plant," he says.

Southern Nuclear hopes to have the reactors online by 2017.

Approval by regulatory authorities is at least a year away.

Appeals from opponents could delay approval even further.