Us
Print
E-mail
Rate
FP&L: Nuclear power will reduce future electric bills
 |
| An architect’s rendering of how the two Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear reactors may look at the Levy County site. Progress Energy Florida is seeking permits and funding to build the plants as part of its method to meet demand for electric power in Florida’s future. COURTESY ART |
Agencies see need for more load units.
By JEFF M. HARDISON
jhardison@lakecityreporter.com
Florida Power & Light (FPL) and Progress Energy Florida (PEF) both recently proved to the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) that there is a need for more base-load generation units, according to PSC news releases.
The PSC gave its go-ahead the utility companies to build four nuclear power plants. PEF hopes to construct two nuclear reactors in Levy County and FPL hopes to erect two nuclear reactors in Dade County.
“Pursuing nuclear generation helps to diversify Florida’s fuel supply and meet the state’s growing needs,” PSC Chairman Matthew M. Carter II said.
The PSC had to consider the need for electric system reliability and integrity, base-load power, adequate electricity at a reasonable cost and whether the proposed units are the most cost-effective alternative available, said PSC spokesman Todd Brown.
Neither deal is absolutely firm yet.
No company in the United States officially has decided to build a new reactor, but 17 companies and consortia are exploring the licensing and financial issues associated with such an endeavor, according to the Nuclear Energy Institute.
PEF anticipates announcing early in 2009 that it intends to build the proposed plants in Levy County, according to Rick Kimble, PEF nuclear communications manager. The estimated cost for the reactors is $14 billion now, Kimble said, and the
200 miles of transmission lines shows a $3 billion estimated cost now.
“That’s an all-in cost,” Kimble said. “It includes everything.”
Concrete and steel expenses can change between now and the start of construction, he said.
If everything goes as hoped, the first new PEF reactor would start operating in 2016 and the second one would start in 2017, Kimble said.
FPL spokesman Mayco Villafana said the current FPL plan is to complete its plants in 2018 and 2020 respectively.
Both PEF and FPL are moving toward having the permits and money to announce the start of new nuclear power plants. Both companies have working reactors already. Permits are required from county commissions, the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation, water management districts and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
PEF operates five reactors at four nuclear plant sites - the two-unit Brunswick Nuclear Plant near Southport, N.C.; the Crystal River Nuclear Plant near Crystal River; the Harris Nuclear Plant near New Hill, N.C.; and the Robinson Nuclear Plant near Hartsville, S.C.
FPL operates four nuclear power plants, with one at Turkey Point, near Florida City; one at St. Lucie, near Fort Pierce; one at Seabrook Station, in Seabrook, N.H.; and one at Duane Arnold Energy Center, near Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Kimble said PEF believes in a balanced portfolio to have a mixture of power sources -- natural gas, coal, fuel and nuclear power.
WIth a nuclear plant’s lifespan estimated at 60 years now, Kimble said, the utility is looking at the future and trying to provide stability to electic power generation.
The FPL spokesman added to the PEF concepts. He said nuclear power will lower electric bills.
Electricity generated by these plants goes into the statewide grid, Villafana said, and this means electric costs will be lower in Lake City in the future than they would be if the companies did not add nuclear power to their mix for generating electricity.
PEF announced on Aug. 1 that it submitted a combined construction and operation license application with the NRC to
construct and operate a new nuclear power plant in Levy County.
The application, submitted to the NRC on July 30 by PEF, included the request to build two Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear reactors at the site in Levy County.
The PSC gave its go-ahead the utility companies to build four nuclear power plants. PEF hopes to construct two nuclear reactors in Levy County and FPL hopes to erect two nuclear reactors in Dade County.
“Pursuing nuclear generation helps to diversify Florida’s fuel supply and meet the state’s growing needs,” PSC Chairman Matthew M. Carter II said.
The PSC had to consider the need for electric system reliability and integrity, base-load power, adequate electricity at a reasonable cost and whether the proposed units are the most cost-effective alternative available, said PSC spokesman Todd Brown.
Neither deal is absolutely firm yet.
No company in the United States officially has decided to build a new reactor, but 17 companies and consortia are exploring the licensing and financial issues associated with such an endeavor, according to the Nuclear Energy Institute.
PEF anticipates announcing early in 2009 that it intends to build the proposed plants in Levy County, according to Rick Kimble, PEF nuclear communications manager. The estimated cost for the reactors is $14 billion now, Kimble said, and the
200 miles of transmission lines shows a $3 billion estimated cost now.
“That’s an all-in cost,” Kimble said. “It includes everything.”
Concrete and steel expenses can change between now and the start of construction, he said.
If everything goes as hoped, the first new PEF reactor would start operating in 2016 and the second one would start in 2017, Kimble said.
FPL spokesman Mayco Villafana said the current FPL plan is to complete its plants in 2018 and 2020 respectively.
Both PEF and FPL are moving toward having the permits and money to announce the start of new nuclear power plants. Both companies have working reactors already. Permits are required from county commissions, the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation, water management districts and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
PEF operates five reactors at four nuclear plant sites - the two-unit Brunswick Nuclear Plant near Southport, N.C.; the Crystal River Nuclear Plant near Crystal River; the Harris Nuclear Plant near New Hill, N.C.; and the Robinson Nuclear Plant near Hartsville, S.C.
FPL operates four nuclear power plants, with one at Turkey Point, near Florida City; one at St. Lucie, near Fort Pierce; one at Seabrook Station, in Seabrook, N.H.; and one at Duane Arnold Energy Center, near Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Kimble said PEF believes in a balanced portfolio to have a mixture of power sources -- natural gas, coal, fuel and nuclear power.
WIth a nuclear plant’s lifespan estimated at 60 years now, Kimble said, the utility is looking at the future and trying to provide stability to electic power generation.
The FPL spokesman added to the PEF concepts. He said nuclear power will lower electric bills.
Electricity generated by these plants goes into the statewide grid, Villafana said, and this means electric costs will be lower in Lake City in the future than they would be if the companies did not add nuclear power to their mix for generating electricity.
PEF announced on Aug. 1 that it submitted a combined construction and operation license application with the NRC to
construct and operate a new nuclear power plant in Levy County.
The application, submitted to the NRC on July 30 by PEF, included the request to build two Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear reactors at the site in Levy County.
 |
 |
|
| Robertson bids adieu to Council | School Board: Moore in line for HR post? |
Holy Meltdown Batman wrote on Aug 25, 2008 9:49 AM: