Progress Energy Florida Names Potential Nuclear Plant Site in Levy County

Progress Energy just issued a news release naming a potential nuclear power plant site in southern Levy County in Florida:

The Levy County site, approximately 3,000 acres (see map), is located about seven miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico and eight miles north of the company's Crystal River Energy Complex in Citrus County, where Progress Energy operates a nuclear plant, as well as four coal-fueled units. The Levy County location was chosen based on an assessment of the major siting criteria: land, access to sufficient quantities of water (from the Gulf) and access to the electric transmission system, as well as an overall evaluation of environmental considerations. The proximity of the site to the company's existing nuclear plant also would provide opportunities for efficiencies in shared support functions. In the coming months, the potential site will undergo further detailed assessment.

"Our commitment is to provide reliable and affordable energy to more than 1.6 million customers every day," said Jeff Lyash, president and CEO of Progress Energy Florida. "We expect demand for electricity in our service territory to grow by more than 25 percent in the next decade, and today's announcement is part of our long-term, balanced approach to meeting our customers' future needs.

"The site selection is not a decision to build a nuclear plant. That decision won't be made for a year or longer. But it is a critical step in ensuring that nuclear power remains open and viable for future years. That flexibility is important to consumers throughout the region, because it translates to having the right resources at the right time, and that promotes continued electric system reliability and stable prices. If and when we build a new nuclear plant, it will be with our continued rock-solid commitment to safety and security and will incorporate state-of-the-art technology."

I'd say the company is living up to its name...Stay tuned!

UPDATE: Here's what NEI Chief Nuclear Officer Marvin Fertel had to say about this development:

Progress Energy Florida is taking an important step forward today to meet Florida’s future electricity needs by selecting a site and making preparations to file a license application for a new nuclear plant. By doing so, the company has laid the groundwork to make a decision at the appropriate time to meet the future power needs of its customers.

With Florida’s population expected to increase by nearly 30 percent and the state’s electricity demand expected to grow 76 percent by 2030, new, large-scale power plants must be built to help meet this demand. An advanced design nuclear plant would provide Florida with a reliable and affordable supply of electricity without producing any greenhouse gases or air pollutants.

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