The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday, June 25, edition that Cameco is celebrating the U.S. Department of Energy's conditional $17.5-billion (U.S.) loan package aimed at accelerating new reactor construction. A Canadian Press dispatch to The Globe reports that the loans are for five eligible projects -- each with two reactors -- sponsored by utilities and energy companies across the U.S. The only licenced large-scale advanced commercial reactors operating in the United States currently are Westinghouse's AP1000 units. Cameco and Brookfield Asset Management together own Westinghouse. Cameco says that specific technical, legal, environmental and financial conditions must be satisfied before the Department of Energy finalizes financing documents and funds the loans. The Department of Energy says each project will be jointly owned by Westinghouse and a utility or energy company partner. Both parties are required to fully commit their project equity -- $500-million (U.S.) each -- upfront before accessing loan funds. Each of the reactors would generate 1.1 gigawatts of power, with the combined output enough for almost 10 million households, the Department of Energy said.