Progress Energy Considers New Nuclear Build in Florida

Some good news out of Florida:

Progress Energy Florida may build another nuclear power plant in Florida, with rural counties in the central part of the state providing some of the most attractive options for a site, the company's president said.

Progress Energy president and chief executive Bill Habermeyer told the St. Petersburg Times on Monday that customer growth, rising conventional fuel costs and a pronuclear stance by the Bush administration are leading the company to seriously consider building a second nuclear power plant in Florida.

Progress Energy expects to select a design and site, possibly in rural Polk, Seminole, Osceola or Highlands counties, by the end of the year. The plant could be up and running by 2015.

It should be noted that Progress Energy joined the NuStart consortium back in June 2004. Back in September, NuStart announced its intentions to seek combined construction and operating licenses for both Entergy's Grand Gulf site, as well as the TVA's site at Bellefonte.

UPDATE: Readers at the Orlando Sentinel are debating the issue.

Technorati tags: Nuclear Energy, Environment, Energy, Politics, Technology, Economics, Electricity, NuStart Energy, Progress Energy