Hitachi, GE to build two U.S. nuclear plants.

Hitachi Ltd. and General Electric have been tapped to build two nuclear reactors in the U.S. in a $5.2 billion project that underlines how soaring oil prices are boosting global interest in nuclear power. The deal, confirmed by Hitachi on Friday for reactors outside Houston, for American power supplier NRG Energy Inc., is also likely to help the Japanese electronics and power plant manufacturer compete better against rivals.