The Nuclear Regulatory Commission last week cited the Farley Nuclear Plant near Dothan for valve failures deemed by the regulatory agency to be of “substantial safety significance.”

NRC Regional Administrator William Travers said Farley, operated by Southern Nuclear Operating Co., a division of Alabama Power Co.’s parent Southern Co., failed to promptly address the valve failures that occurred in April 2006 and January of this year. The findings mean the NRC will subject Farley’s Unit 2 reactor to additional inspections.

Instead of acknowledging and pledging to correct the shortcomings, Southern Nuclear disputed the NRC findings. Alison Fuqua, spokesperson for Southern Nuclear’s Birmingham office, said the company believes the valve failures were isolated incidents and do not warrant additional oversight.

The Southern Nuclear reaction is irresponsible and disappointing.

As our nation transitions from dependence on oil and coal to new technologies, nuclear power will play an increasingly important role. The potential dangers inherent in producing electricity from nuclear generators require operators to err on the side of caution.

Southern Nuclear’s reaction — even if it genuinely disagrees with the NRC findings — should have been to welcome additional inspections and oversight, which can result only in added safety.

Instead of learning from mistakes of the past, like those at Browns Ferry in the mid-’70s and ’80s, we seem doomed to repeat them.

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