[sunrico90]

What is the opinion of the local residents?

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Progress Energy Florida says it may build a nuclear power plant in Levy County a few miles north of its existing Crystal River plant.

The state's second-largest electric company said last year it's considering building another nuclear plant to meet Florida's growing power needs.

Company officials say the decision to move forward with the plant still hasn't been finalized, but that if the company decides to build it would use the Levy County site.

Progress serves almost two (m) million Florida customers, mostly in the St. Petersburg area and the Orlando suburbs.

The state's largest electric company, Florida Power and Light, also has notified government regulators of its intent to build a new nuclear plant in Florida.

A new nuclear plant would be the first one in Florida since 1983, when F-P-L opened a second reactor at its St. Lucie nuclear complex near Fort Pierce.

[MyHomeIsInOcala]

Hmmm... I thought it was being discussed to possibly build it on the East Coast of the state.

We came here from a Nuke plant up north and they are under heavy HEAVY Regulation and Scrutiny, unlike other power generation units in the US (Coal being one of the dirtiest). I honestly do not hear people bad mouthing this Crystal River Plant like the one in NE Ohio or SE Pennsylvania.

[sunrico90]

Originally Posted by MyHomeIsInOcala

Hmmm... I thought it was being discussed to possibly build it on the East Coast of the state.

We came here from a Nuke plant up north and they are under heavy HEAVY Regulation and Scrutiny, unlike other power generation units in the US (Coal being one of the dirtiest). I honestly do not hear people bad mouthing this Crystal River Plant like the one in NE Ohio or SE Pennsylvania.

What could be the critical issue wih this plant?

[MyHomeIsInOcala]

Sunrico, Did you not know that the Nuke plant will melt down and you need to get your IODINE pills! We do not want your Thyroid to Explode!!! LOL

Honestly, they are safe... Just the Nuclear Regulatory Commission keeps a tight watch on the plants and their Maintenance.

Toledo Ohio (Davis Bessie Plant) is a First Energy owned and operated plant and that company is so cheap, I am surprised they do not make their employees cut the Toilet paper rolls in half before using them! That is why they had the hole in their unit a couple years ago... too cheap to make the repair recommended by the manufacturer of the reactor unit. But, no contamination or injuries were caused. They had been shut down for a while though. No Bonus Checks for employees! (only the Big Bosses!! hahaha)

I think it is a good thing (this new plant), it would bring some better than average employment opportunities to the area that are long lasting.

[mandyh]

Does anybody know what they do with the spent fuel or rods? Not sure what you call it(waste). We were thinking about relocating to the Beverly Hills area and noticed it is 10 miles east of the plant. Have some concerns about moving there now. Have they ever had any problems.

[MyHomeIsInOcala]

Spent Fuel Rods are normally stored at or near the power plants themselves in "Cooling Pools" or "Vats"; it takes several months to "cool" the rods in the pool. Fuel rod disposal plans are in motion and the US anticipates opening a facility at Yucca Mountain in NV on or before 2012 as a permanent burial site for spent fuel rods.

The US does not recycle spent fuel. BUT, years ago, the US had planned to use a plutonium-uraniumextraction process to for recycling… Yet, not a single spent fuel cell from any US nuclear power plants has been reprocessed. This is in part of President Carter’s established 1977 national policy that prohibited reprocessing or recycling based on the premise that limiting plutonium would hinder the spread of nuclear weapons around the world. It was reversed by President Regan, but still has not been initiated here in the US. It would be Safer to recycle, more costly dollar wise, but safer.

I would not worry too much over contamination; you are more likely to be mugged, in a car accident or struck by a speeding golf cart here in Fl.

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

Hope this helps!!!

[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.

[sunrico90]

As of January 1, 2005, Florida ranked 12th among the 31 States with nuclear capacity.

Although the energy market of each State is unique, Florida is especially complex. Coal, natural gas, nuclear, and hydropower accounted for nearly 95 percent of the Nation's electricity in 2004, but Florida doesn't always follow national trends. One fifth of Florida's electricity came from other sources (see table). Two thirds of the 21 percent output represented by this miscellaneous category was supplied by petroleum liquids. Of the remaining 7 percent, the largest single supplier was petroleum coke. Although petroleum coke accounted for only three percent of Florida's electricity, this represented one third of all the U.S. electricity generated by petroleum coke. Bordered on three sides by water, the Sunshine State does not have significant hydro electric output. Natural gas accounted for 36 percent of Florida's electricity generation in 2004, a significant increase over 2003. It remains to be seen whether this increase reflects a trend towards gas or difficulties currently being experienced with coal distribution. All of the Florida reactors received license extensions from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), so nuclear output is not likely to drop significantly for at least a decade. But, in the absence of plans or proposals for construction of new reactors, it seems unlikely that nuclear output will increase substantially either.

[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.

[DeLaSalle]

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.