The revival of nuclear power in the USA has been given further impetus with an application by Progress Energy to build new units in Florida state.
Progress Energy Florida has submitted a filing with the Florida Public Service Commission to build two nuclear reactors on a greenfield site in Levy County. The utility estimates that the plants, which will use Westinghouse AP1000 technology, will enter service in 2016 and 2017.
If built, the new nuclear units will be among the first in the country to be built on a greenfield site in more than 30 years and will involve development of one of the largest transmission infrastructure projects in Florida’s history. They will form a critical part of Progress’ plans to meet long-term projected energy demand.
The new units will be built close to Progress’ existing Crystal River nuclear plant at a cost of $14 billion. Progress is also planning to build another two nuclear units using AP1000 technology in North Carolina.
Progress is aiming to submit a Combined Operating License (COL) application for the Florida plant with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) later this year. The COL application will be one of 15 applications that the NRC says it will receive in 2008.
The Levy County project will involve development of some 200 miles of transmission lines and associated facilities necessary to interconnect the plants to Progress’ grid. The transmission element of the project will cost around $3 billion.
In 2007 the NRC received four COL applications for a total of seven new nuclear units. These include four units using AP1000 technology and one using GE-Hitachi’s ESBWR reactor technology. It expects to receive 15 applications for 22 units this year.
As well as investing in new nuclear capacity, Progress has pledged to invest in renewable energy as well as energy efficiency measures to help meet future demand. Florida is one of the fastest-growing regions in the USA in terms of energy demand, and ranks third nationally in per-capita energy consumption.
Linkedin
