Second nuclear plant in the works (Central FL)

[DoYouEverWonder]

October 4, 2005

If plans fly, Progress Energy expects to select a design and site, possibly in rural Central Florida, by the end of this year. The plant could be up and running by 2015.

Spurred by customer growth, rising conventional fuel costs and a pronuclear stance by the Bush administration, Progress Energy Florida may build a second nuclear power plant in Florida, with rural counties in Central Florida providing some of the most attractive options for a site.

If the St. Petersburg utility proceeds with such plans, the new plant would become Florida's first new nuclear generation project since 1983, when Florida Power & Light opened a second reactor at its St. Lucie nuclear complex near Fort Pierce. In 1977, Progress Energy, then known as Florida Power Corp., began operating its first and only nuclear power plant at its Crystal River complex in Citrus County.

By the end of this year, Progress' corporate parent, Progress Energy Inc. of Raleigh, N.C., expects to select a potential site and design for a nuclear plant to meet the growing electricity demands of its expanding customer base. Altogether, Progress operates four nuclear facilities in the Carolinas and Florida.

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/10/04/State/Second_nuclear_plant_.shtml

I wonder if this was part of Cheney's energy plan? Of course, FL gets to be the guinea pig to see how the country will swallow new nuke plants. I suppose they had to wait until Jeb couldn't run for governor again to try to see if their devious plans will fly?

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. Shit, and we're hearing this from the St. Pete Times?

Quick, someone wake up the Orlando Sleepinal.

[babylonsister]

2. Also, Florida seems like a suspect area at best to

build a nuclear plant. Can you spell 'hurricane'?

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. If they do it, I hope they tie Jeb Bush to the plant each time a big

one blows in.

[stevekatz]

8. As long as

As long as they don't build the plant in a flood area it won't be an issue. A hurricane wouldn't even dent the actual tower, its encased in concrete.

They'd shut the actual reactors down in advance of any storm.

We need nuclear power, I'd like to see us embrace it in the same way France has.

[DoYouEverWonder]

9. Not with BushCo building these things

I don't trust them for a minute to be even interested in doing it right.

[fed-up]

11. Are you willing to store the waste in your backyard?????

[stevekatz]

17. .

I think the better question is, are you willing to breath the waste into thier lungs. Do you want your kids to breath in the waste from Coal/Oil power plants?

I'd way rather have barrels of physcial waste to deal with then thousands of tons of carbon and other pollutants pumped into the atmosphere.

Nuclear technoligy isn't a great thing, but I see it as the best of what is available right now.

[Orrin_73]

12. I was thinking about it too

[Oerdin]

4. This is great news.

We need more nuclear power plants if we want to decrease green house gas output. We should be replacing every coal and oil fired power plant with nuclear because it is better for the enviroment and it decreases out reliance on foreign energy.

[bpilgrim]

5. it is NOT "better for the environment"

ever hear of nuclear waste?

peace

[RC]

6. The problem is we store the waste instead of processing it into new fuel.

Do hear of this problem in other countries that use nuclear energy for power?

[DoYouEverWonder]

7. Just because countries like France

have figured out how to make safer nuke plants, what would ever lead you to believe the Bush and their cronies give two shits about safety?

[bpilgrim]

23. i hear they ship their waste abroad

still not safe.

peace

[bananas]

10. I guess you didn't learn anything from Kenny Boy

"Operation Death Star" was aimed at Americans.
I'm surprised that people on DU are falling for this bs.
WC Fields was right - there's a sucker born every minute.

[depakid]

13. Welp, where else is Florida going to get energy?

It's not exactly a fun place to be without air conditioning.

[DoYouEverWonder]

14. There are tons of ways to reduce and conserve

that people don't even think about down here before we have to go nuclear. Beside we already have 3 nuke plants and my electric bill is still sky high.

[bunny planet]

16. try the sun.

[depakid]

19. On the scale that Florida "needs" energy

Solar power ain't gonna do it.

There's a reason why the state was sparsely populated up and until about 60-70 years ago.

http://www.sun-herald.com/2000/fron17.htm

[bunny planet]

20. not entirely of course, but it could be put to some use as a .

good supplementary source of energy. Seems like a state with that much sunshine is a good place to establish a solar energy model program.

[Psephos]

22. Very good point n/t

[bunny planet]

15. Just great, I live in St. Petersburg. Now I not only have to worry about

being in hurricane alley, and * now allowing oil drilling 5 miles off the beautiful coastline in the Gulf of Mexico, now I've got to worry about said hurricanes (or terrorism) striking a nuclear plant. Hey Progress Energy, I've got a clue, it's the SUNSHINE state, why not start a solar energy program there that will harness some of that free stuff we've got an abundance of. Geesh.

[jpak]

18. Yes, it's the result of Cheney's Nuclear 2010 initiiative

and ChimpCo's so-called "Energy Bill"

http://www.ne.doe.gov/NucPwr2010/NucPwr2010.html

It's Corporate Welfare on a breathtaking scale...

www.citizen.org/documents/nuke2010analysis.pdf

http://www.cleveland.com/energy/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/isene/1124019036219000.xml&coll=2

<snip>

Uncle Sam is on board - with a 10-year, $550 million grant program called Nuclear Power 2010 that began four years ago to help with the costs of new designs and licensing.

And last week the government stepped up with a new multibillion-dollar portfolio of financial guarantees and incentives.

Major provisions of the landmark energy bill that President Bush signed include:

Federal loan construction guarantees for up to 80 percent of costs.

Compensation for utilities building the first new reactors if completion is delayed because of litigation or foot-dragging by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Production tax credits worth millions to a utility once its new reactor begins operating.

Renewal of the Price-Anderson Act for 20 years to limit utility liability and help insure new reactors by providing a larger secondary insurance pool.

<snip>

50% of the licensing process for these reactors will be paid by US taxpayers - we're talking tens of millions of dollars.

...and when they are built - the US will have to compete for a dwindling global supply of uranium...

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,9069-1735134,00.html

...and will the operators of these marvelous reactors pay their fair share of the cost of spent fuel disposal????

Nope.

When we elect a Democratic President and a Democratic Congress, this nonsense will come to a screeching halt.

[Psephos]

21. It's about time n/t