[sunrico90]

Originally Posted by tallrick

If Turkey point had a meltdown, would Miami real estate go up or down? After all it would have a new glow for the nightlife..LOL! Seriously though, Florida has no real sources of energy so you've got to nuke it, or rely on unstable oil or dirty coal. Solar is unfeasable as land is too valuable, and although there's a lot of hot air in Florida, wind power would offend the wealthy.

Tallrick,

Let's find out about the type of insurance that is required for this type of facility. Meltdowns has to be listed in the terms and conditions...

[sunrico90]

The Price-Anderson Nuclear Industries Indemnity Act (commonly called the Price-Anderson Act) is an act of the Congress of the United States which covers all non-military nuclear facilities constructed in the United States before 2026. The main purpose of the Act is to indemnify the nuclear industry against liability claims arising from nuclear incidents while still ensuring compensation coverage for the general public. The Act establishes a no fault insurance-type system in which the first $10 billion is industry-funded according to a scheme described in the Act (any claims above the $10 billion would be covered by the federal government). At the time of the Act's passing, it was considered necessary as an incentive for the private production of nuclear power. This was because investors were unwilling to accept the then-unknown risks of nuclear energy without limitations on their liability.

The Act has been criticized by a number of groups, including many consumer protection groups. In 1978, the Act survived a constitutional challenge in the Supreme Court case Duke Power Co. v. Carolina Environmental Study Group (see below). The Act was last renewed in 2005 for a 20-year period.

[MyHomeIsInOcala]

Originally Posted by katzenfreund

also would not worry about attacks on the plants either, they are gaurded like top secret military instalations.


Not to burst your bubble, but this is what they would like you to believe. However if you do some research, you will find out that nuclear power plants are still the perfect terrorist target. I personally would not move anywhere within 50 to 100 miles from one.

It would seem very clear that you, nor anyone you personally know, have worked in a Nuke plant!! ESPECIALLY in the past 6 years. LOL

[MyHomeIsInOcala]

From Sunrico: All of the Florida reactors received license extensions from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

This is true; in fact each and every Nuclear Facility in the US is inspected and issued (or denied) license extensions for plant operation, by the NRC.

[sunrico90]

Our state is growing

- Florida added more than 400,000 residents in 2005 (more than 1,000 new
residents every day, the largest net increase in the country), and the
state's population - more than 17 million - currently ranks fourth in
the U.S.
- Between 30,000 and 40,000 new customers (homes and businesses, not
individuals) are added to Progress Energy Florida's service area every
year. That's the equivalent of a small to medium-sized city.
- The company's customer base has grown by 157 percent since 1975
(622,000 in 1975 to 1.6 million today).

We're using more electricity

- Florida's per-capita electricity use ranks third in the country. The
average Progress Energy Florida residential customer (household) uses
more than 14,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity in a year. As the role
of electronics continues to increase in our daily lives, per-capita
electricity usage among our customers in Florida has grown more than 53
percent since 1975.
- The average new home in Florida is 54 percent larger today than in 1970
and 12 percent larger than in 1990.
- Use of air conditioning in Florida and throughout the South is nearly
universal. In 1980, only about two-thirds of homes in the South had air
conditioning. Today electric air conditioning is found in 95 percent of
homes.
- Even with more energy-efficient appliances, there is more electricity
being used in the average home today than 20 years ago. For instance,
large plasma-screen TVs, which have grown in popularity, can use more
electricity than a refrigerator (which traditionally has been the
third-largest user of electricity in the home).

Energy efficiency and new energy sources are critical

- Progress Energy provides numerous options for customers to decrease
their energy usage and save money on their power bills. Through
participation in energy-efficiency programs, Progress Energy Florida
customers have saved more than $750 million in energy costs over the
last 25 years. That equates to more than 10 billion kilowatt-hours of
electricity that did not have to be generated (roughly equivalent to
the city of Orlando's power use over two years, or to removing 95,000
cars from Florida's roadways). In late 2006, the state Public Service
Commission approved a number of additional efficiency programs for
residential, commercial and industrial customers.
- Progress Energy continues to seek newer, cleaner ways to produce energy
for our customers. We have partnered with the state and federal
government and other companies and agencies in investing in hydrogen
fuel-cell projects, including Florida's first hydrogen vehicle fueling
station, as well as solar projects at schools, around the state and in
other areas.
- We've also signed a contract to purchase electricity generated by a
planned power plant in central Florida that will use a bamboo-like
grass as its fuel source. That project was approved by the Fla. Public
Service Commission in August. Renewable biomass projects can help
reduce the need to burn other fuels.
- Progress Energy Florida is investing in new natural gas-fueled
electricity generation at its Hines Energy Complex in Polk County, and
the company is repowering its Bartow Plant on Tampa Bay in Pinellas
County to burn natural gas instead of oil. Combined, the fourth unit at
Hines and the new Bartow Plant will produce about 1,200 additional
megawatts of natural gas-fueled electric generation. At full capacity,
that's enough to produce electricity to meet the needs of more than
700,000 households.
- Breakdown of electric bill for typical Florida family of four: Cooling
- 34%; water heating - 17%; refrigeration - 12%; miscellaneous - 10%;
heat pump - 8.5%; laundry - 7%; lighting - 6.5%; cooking - 5%.

SOURCE Progress Energy
-0- 12/12/2006

[sunrico90]

Homeowners insurance policies do NOT cover losses caused directly or indirectly by NUCLEAR HAZARDS.

Your home, apartment, property and possessions are not insured against Nuclear Hazards. This means that if your are able to flee a contaminated area with your health during an evacuation and cannot return to your home because of radioactive fallout, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FILE A CLAIM for your uninhabitable property.

Your real estate investment and savings is in the hands of your local Nuclear Power Supply company.

The Insurance Services Office, Inc. prepares forms like the one below which are used by all insurance companies to write policies. They are literally boilerplate documents applied to the creation of insurance policies.

The following is taken directly from form HO-3 provided by the Insurance Services Office, Inc. (Form HO-3 is used by ALL insurance companies to write policy agreements)



SECTION 1 - EXCLUSIONS

Nuclear Hazard, to the extent set forth in the Nuclear Hazard Clause of Section 1 - Conditions. (see below)

SECTION 1 - CONDITIONS, continued...

14. Nuclear Hazard Clause.

1. "Nuclear Hazard" means any nuclear reaction, radiation, or radioactive contamination, all whether controlled or uncontrolled or however caused, or any consequence of any of these.

2. Loss caused by the nuclear hazard will not be considered loss caused by fire, explosion, or smoke, whether these perils are specifically named or otherwise included in the Perils Insured Against in Section 1.

3. The policy does not apply under Section 1 to loss caused directly or indirectly by nuclear hazard, except that direct loss by fire resulting from the nuclear hazard is covered.



Don't believe what you're reading? Call your insurance broker.

Your broker may also tell you that the ENTIRE Nuclear Power industry is only insured for $9.3 billion.

Concerned..?

[firemed]

Nuclear energy is extremely important. Fosil fuels and other methods are not as clean as a nuclear power plant. If you look at the accidents reported you will find US nuclear plants are the safest. we are killing the everyglades as it is. As far as insurance you wont need it anyway cause if contamination affects your home and belongings your not going to live there anyway. Florida keeps growing and the need for electric is crucial. We can't keep buying power from other areas, we do get hurricanes and those grids can get destroyed very easily. If you live in Florida your surounded by nukes anyway. Remember theres only one way out and thats north. Everyone loves to see the growth of the area, but the infrastructure has to come along with it. I don't see a problem with another nuclear plant. I'm sure we'll run out of water before we end up with a nuclear accident. Unless you were born and raised here and can live off the land without electric your not going to make it anyway. OK. that was my two cents.

[sunrico90]

Interesting article.....

From its sunny beaches and warm climate to its growing business and cultural centers, Florida has much to offer its 15.5 million residents. Currently the fourth most populous state, Florida is set to take over the third spot sometime between 2015 and 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The challenge Florida now faces is to plan for its forecasted energy needs, driven by a burgeoning population, while protecting its environmental and economic interests.

Natural gas, a clean, safe and efficient fuel source, will be an important component of any environmentally responsible energy program. Calypso Pipeline proposes to be a part of Florida's energy and environmental solution in the years ahead by increasing and diversifying the state’s supply of clean-burning natural gas available for existing and future power generators.

Energy Consumption on the Rise
Already the third largest consumer of petroleum and electricity in the United States, Florida's electricity demand is expected to increase 25 percent by 2007, according to the Florida Public Service Commission. This demand, in large part, is being generated by growth among residential consumers. Evidence of this growth can be seen in Florida's housing industry, where the number of private housing starts is expected to increase by nearly 150,000 per year, reaching 6.89 million by 2007.

According to Florida's Public Service Commission, at least 1.0 billion cubic feet per day of additional natural gas will be needed to meet the state's forecasted electricity generation needs. The Calypso Pipeline, at maximum capacity, is designed to supply 832 million cubic feet of natural gas per day. That's enough fuel to satisfy 40 percent of the state's planned increase in electric generation capacity over the next 10 years, according to the Commission.

Growing Demand for Cleaner Energy
Florida needs to increase its electric generation and transmission capacity along with its fuel supply in order to keep pace with growing energy demands. While coal and fuel oil currently make up 52 percent of Florida's fuel mix, natural gas only accounts for 21 percent. However, Florida's use of clean-burning natural gas is steadily increasing, and that's good news. According to a report prepared for the Florida Energy Office by the Tellus Institute, a non-profit research and consulting organization dedicated to supporting environmental stewardship and equitable development, "increased use of natural gas in Florida's commercial, residential, transportation and industrial energy markets would result in net economic and environmental benefits to the state."

The "greenest" of the fossil fuels, natural gas produces far fewer pollutants when burned than coal or oil. It is more energy efficient and is one of the most cost-effective forms of energy available, costing less to burn than competing energy sources such as fuel oil, propane, and kerosene. Because of its many benefits, natural gas has become the fuel of choice for new power generation. Many older electricity generators are also being converted to burn natural gas in place of oil and coal. Nationally, natural gas consumption is expected to increase 1.8 percent annually through 2020, faster than any other major fuel source.

The Calypso Pipeline is designed to provide Florida with a cost-effective, cleaner fuel alternative so that energy and environmental needs can be met simultaneously. Florida can become a more responsible energy consumer by supporting energy conservation efforts and increasing its use of clean-burning natural gas. Significant gas infrastructure and supply expansion, like the proposed Calypso Pipeline, is needed to achieve these goals.

[greenindunnellon]

I live in Dunnellon, currently about 15 miles from the Crystal River plant. If Progress goes forward with this new plant in Levy County, I will be within 10 miles of the new one which will be less than 10 miles from the Crystal River plant. Two nuclear plants within 10 miles of each other seems like overkill, especially for serving this area. I have visited some areas within the 10 mile evacuation zone of the Crystal River plant, and these areas are extremely depressed and appear to be declining, I don't believe that a few jobs can counter the effects of people generally avoiding proximity to a nuclear plant.

I am currently about to build a sustainable home and plan to use less energy in the future. There is a trend towards using more renewable sources of energy and many people are choosing to use the ever more affordable and available solar panels, for example. Therefore, demand could level off as more people choose these options.

Progress would be well served to consider other modes of energy production, especially in Florida where the sun is so intense virtually year-round.

[Edvard]

Getting off of our perverse addiction to a dwindling supply of fossil fuels would seem to be the ONLY way of ensuring our future.