HOUSTON (Reuters) - Progress Energy’s Florida utility filed for a construction license with federal regulators to build two nuclear reactors in Levy County, Florida, to help meet the state’s long-term need for electricity, the company said on Friday.

The filing was the second filed this week at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission as U.S. utilities seek to take advantage of nuclear-specific federal loan guarantees and production tax credits made possible by the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

Progress seeks permission to build two Toshiba Corp’s Westinghouse 1,100 MW AP1000 reactors near its Crystal River nuclear power plant at a total cost of $17 billion for the generating units and needed transmission upgrades.

The estimate includes land, plant components, financing costs, construction, labor, regulatory fees and reactor fuel for two units and about 200 miles of transmission lines and equipment, Progress said in a statement.

Progress, the state’s second largest utility, said additional nuclear power is key to help meet Florida’s long-term energy needs and Gov. Charlie Crist’s strategy to address climate change.

Last month, Florida regulators approved Progress’ need request to build the new reactors. The utility commission has now agreed that there is a need for four new reactors to add more around-the-clock power in the state.

In March, the panel granted a need request from FPL Group, the state’s largest utility, for two new South Florida reactors, costing more than $12 billion.

Progress filed a site certification application with the Florida environmental regulators in June. A decision is expected next year.

Progress, which serves 1.7 million customers in the state, said Florida ranks third nationally in per capita energy consumption. Average homes have grown in size by 50 percent in the past 30 years and consume 30 percent more electricity.

Progress has purchased about 5,000 acres in Levy County, but has not committed to build the reactors.

The NRC has said the combined construction and operating license application review takes about 42 months.

The NRC has now received 11 applications to build 18 reactors as utilities work to meet a deadline to qualify for nuclear financial incentives. The NRC has said that between 2007 and 2010 it expects to receive 23 applications to build 34 new reactors.

On Monday, Ameren Corp filed for an application to build a new nuclear power plant in Missouri.