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Progress Energy To Buy And Build Nuclear Reactors

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By RUSSELL RAY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 5, 2009

Progress Energy Florida said this morning it has signed a contract to purchase and build two new nuclear reactors on a 5,100-acre site in Levy County.

Jeff Lyash, president and chief executive of the St. Petersburg-based utility, called it a major step in Florida's effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

"Expanding our nuclear capacity will ensure our customers will continue to have a reliable supply of energy, while reducing reliance on fossil fuels and helping to eliminate greenhouse gas from our environment," Lyash said in a statement.

The deal with Westinghouse Electric Co. and The Shaw Group Inc. includes the purchase of two 1,105-megawatt reactors. Together, the reactors could generate enough power for more than 1.3 million Florida homes.

The first of the two reactors would begin generating power in 2016. The second unit would be up and running in 2018. The cost: $17 billion.

The utility began recovering a portion of the cost from customers this month, adding $11.42 to the cost of 1,000 kilowatt hours.

Two local lawmakers, state Sen. Mike Fasano of New Port Richey and state Rep. Peter Nehr of Tarpon Springs, have asked Progress Energy to suspend its plan to recover the cost of the project early. The added cost, they said, would increase the financial burden of consumers who are struggling to pay bills in these tough economic times.

Both lawmakers have pledged to introduce legislation that would prevent the utility from recovering the cost of the project in advance.

The project won unanimous approval from the Florida Public Service Commission in July. But the plan also requires approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

The DEP is expected to issue a decision this year. The NRC review is expected to take three to four years.

Reporter Russell Ray can be reached at (813) 259-7870.

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