PSC green lights new nukes

Florida Power & Light today won state approval to build the state’s first new nuclear plants in more than two decades.

The unanimous decision this morning from the Florida Public Service Commission paved the way for the utility to build two new nuclear plants at its Turkey Point power station, 25 miles south of Miami. It also signaled the state’s unwavering support for new nuclear power, despite cost estimates that have tripled in little more than a year.

The project could cost $12-billion to $24-billion, depending on the type of reactor FPL selects. It would be among the largest investments ever undertaken by the nation’s electric industry, and perhaps the most expensive construction project ever built in Florida.

 

“This is a very historic day in the state of Florida,” said Commission Chairman Matthew Carter.

Florida needs to diversify its fuel supply, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and ensure reliable power for its growing population, the commissioners emphasized.

Customers of the Juno Beach utility could start paying for the reactors next year. A Florida law passed in 2006 allows utilities to charge customers for certain costs years before the plants start producing power.

For more on this story, see our sister blog The Fueling Station.

-Asjylyn Loder, Times Staff Writer

Comments

Conservation and small source generation engender no pooling of great capital resources and so enjoy no big money lobbying efforts.

Until we know what to do with nuclear waste with a 50,000 year half-life, we shouldn't be passing it on to our children as a glowing testamentary remembrance.

Same answer as has been given for a quarter century--no nukes until you can tell us what to do with the poison.

We need not even get to the issue of accidental releases or meltdowns.

Sure oil prices are up, but does expensive justify stupid?

This is fantastic news! When you get government out of the darn way great things can happen. Kudos to FP&L for stepping up and taking on the huge task of building new reactors. Money well spent and we will all benefit from it in the long run. We've got to get off the oil. It's a good day for Florida and the rest of the country! Thank you FP&L!

I am so opposed to nuclear energy. If we are going to move toward green, renewable energy then why would we invest in this source that is not truly green? Let's figure out what to do with all of the radioactive waste nuclear plants emit before building more of them. Do we want a Yucca Mountain in our Florida?

When you get government out of the way, look what happen, you say?

Who do you think will bail them out if they fail or if there is a meltdown? Who forks over the public land for transmission lines? Who gets their rates hiked to pay for expensive construction?

Nuclear energy is the best hope for energy in the future that is a "green" resource. It's actually one of the few options that is zero-carbon...

[terminator]

see what a cool million to CC's A1 campaign will get you?

12:31 - Yet, I bet you complain about soaring gas prices, etc.
Thank God they approved this. Doesn't the whole country of France run on about 80% nuclear?

It should be pretty obvious to all that their plans count on the continued growth of our state, whether we like it or not. In a few years, we'll be hearing the need to provide new customers to pay for these plants as an excuse to allow developers another run at our natural areas and beachfront. (You know the ones that the tourists come here to spend money on right now, but won't when they cease to exist.)

1:26 If the state does not continue to grow - then all of us will suffer. Is our economy failing so important to you?

[Tino]

I find it comical that the complainers never come up with an alternative.

Please post your economic proof of something better for us to critique. To get things started, 3,000 MW of solar baseload (not peak, baseload) would cost at least $40 billion, due to the additional power/storage capacity you would need to firm it up. It would also require tens of thousands of acres of undeveloped land to build on. Yes, we would be leveling miles and miles of green space to add solar panels.

Here's some more food for thought: the longer you delay new power plants and transmission, the more it escalates in price. Every year that the complainers can delay new generation, the more it costs the rest of us.

1:33 I disagree with every word you said.

It takes quite a bit of carbon to build a nuke plant and get the materials. Net zero is stretching it.

"The project could cost $12-billion to $24-billion, depending on the type of reactor FPL selects."

SURE THING!!

if this goes as have all the other plants, please MAKE THAT $25 t0 40 BILLION, when completed, FIVE to TEN YEARS after schedule and by then totally inadequate!!

of course, that wont prevent FPL's boards from voting themeselves MASSIVE ANNUAL BONUSES even while the project tanks!

the same folks who plan and build these things work at the pentagon and GUARANTEED us the war in vietraq would cost, at most $1.3 BILLION and could be financed out of vietrq's piles of oil revenue!!

HAH!!

we SCREWED YOU again, florida!!!!