The nuclear energy industry had a big year in 2012, according to a roundtable of experts assembled by blogger Rod Adams. The approvals of expansion projects at Southern Co.'s Plant Vogtle facility in Georgia and South Carolina Electric & Gas' V.C. Summer nuclear plant were two of the biggest stories. The panel also agreed that the change of chairmanship at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the lack of radiation-related health problems from the Fukushima Daiichi incident in 2011 were important last year.