TALLAHASSEE (CBS4)-Plans to build four nuclear reactors in Florida, including two in Miami-Dade, received a boost Thursday when the Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved a new reactor design.

Progress Energy Florida and Florida Power & Light, along with utilities in other southeastern states, have proposed using a Westinghouse reactor design known as the AP1000.

The NRC certified the use of the design for 15 years, after a lengthy review that included looking at safety issues, according to a commission news release. Progress has proposed building two reactors in Levy County, while FPL has proposed building two in Miami-Dade.

It likely would be another decade, however, before the multibillion-dollar projects could start producing electricity.

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