French Electricite de France S.A. (EDF) has been approved to acquire three nuclear power plants in New York for $4.5 billion, the New York State Public Service announced Tuesday.

EDF, the world's largest nuclear power plant owner, will acquire nearly half of Constellation Nuclear group, the indirect owner of the plants.

Two of the nuclear plants are in Nine Mile Point Nuclear Units in Oswego and the third is Ginna Nuclear Power Plant in Ontario, Wayne County which total to 2,338 megawatts of capacity generation, the NY regulator said in a statement today.

EDF has a worldwide generating capacity of 124,500 MW from which operates 98,000 MW in France.

Maryland-based Constellation Energy Group – which owns a majority interest in Constellation Nuclear - will still remain the indirect owner of the Nine Mile and Ginna nuclear facilities.

New York