PG&E is in the early stages of purchasing land near the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport where the company would build a new facility for expanding Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant operations.

The new building, which would be between 8,000 and 12,000 square feet, would likely house various employee offices and support the plant’s emergency preparedness program, according to PG&E spokesman Blair Jones. But it is still too soon to specify exactly what functions would be served in the project.

“It’s going to address some of our facility constraints at the plant, and give us more flexibility in regards to plant operations,” Jones said. “It would be premature to specify anything else at this time.”

If negotiations go through with the current property owner, Jones said he expects the project to be completed by the end of 2014. The total cost of the project has not yet been determined.