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Turkey Point, Florida

Florida Power & Light (FPL) is discussing the possibilities of expanding its nuclear holdings in Florida. FPL owns and operates 5 nuclear power plants, and has declared its intention to build two more at Turkey Point, a site 25 miles south of Miami, Florida.

There are two nuclear power units already present at Turkey Point: Turkey Point Units 3 & 4. Unit 3 began producing in 1972, unit 4 in 1973. In June 2002, both units received approval by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for an extended operating license until 2032 and 2033, respectively.

FPL has declared intent to apply for a construction and operation license (COL) in 2009 for two reactors. FPL is undecided as to which reactor it will propose to the NRC. The decision is between the AP1000, whose design has already been approved by the NRC, and General Electric’s Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR) which is still under review by the NRC.

The NRC expects seven sites to propose the AP1000 (Advanced Passive 1000) for a total of 14 AP1000s, two at each site, and they are all in the South. That number includes Turkey Point. The AP1000 is a Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC design and was approved in January 2006. Two AP1000s would cost between $12.1 and $17.8 billion, and would produce a combined 2,200-megawatts. It would also require about 80 million gallons of water a day for cooling.

The ESBWR is designed by General Electric-Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) and has yet to be approved by the NRC. Two ESBWRs at Turkey Point would produce 3,040-megawatts, and the estimated cost lies between $16.5 and $24.3 billion.

FPL spokesman Mayco Villafana has admitted that customers will likely have to help pay for the new reactors, paying at a rate adjustable to the company’s spending which might make customers pay up to $6 a month until the plant is completed, which is expected to be in 2021, and beginning as early as next year.

If you would like to get involved in stopping the construction of new nuclear plants in Florida, please e-mail us and let us know how you’d like to help. We can provide you with information and strategic advice.

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