Locals Hear Plan for Nuke Plant ( Levy County,FL )

The Gainesville Sun ^ | August 8, 2008 | Karen Voyles

[kellynla]

Levy County residents and commissioners got to hear first-hand Thursday night from the power company that wants to build a nuclear power plant in the rural county involving two reactors. The 100 or so people at the meeting also got an overview from state officials on federal and state permitting procedures for nuclear plants.

Progress Energy is planning to build a $17 billion dollar nuclear generation facility and transmission lines on 5,200 acres that Progress Energy already owns near Inglis. If built, the plant is projected to generate $100 million in tax revenue annually that will go to county government and the school board. The earliest that power could be sold from the first reactor at the proposed plant would be mid-2016 and the second would likely follow in mid-2017, officials have said.

Thursday's informational meeting was part of a lengthy permitting process for nuclear power plants, according to Mike Halpin, administrator of the siting coordination office for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

During the meeting, Halpin described his agency's role as a funnel for other state agencies with an interest in the proposed plant, such as water management districts, the Department of Transportation and the county commission.

According to Halpin, his agency works with the others to determine what certificates and licenses are needed by Progress Energy to build the plant.

Any unresolved issues will go before an administrative law judge, probably in early 2009, Halpin said. A hearing before the judge would be at a time and a location yet to be determined but one that is near the area where the plant would be built.

[kellynla]

"a God-send for Levy County. We need this power plant and the jobs it will bring our citizens."

[NonValueAdded]

the plant is projected to generate $100 million in tax revenue annually that will go to county government and the school board.

Every city vehicle a Lexus and a student teacher ratio of 1:1.

county map

[BloodOrFreedom]

We need this power plant and the jobs it will bring our citizens.

...and $ in our pockets.

"If built, the plant is projected to generate $100 million in tax revenue annually that will go to county government and the school board"

Now imagine that money put back into our economy, or put back into the programs that we have that are currently faltering (social security, etc?). Invested annually, that money can be a significant aid to the economy.

...but we cannot do that. It would endanger the yellow-tongued, blue-winged swamp gnats /sarc

[kellynla]

“but we cannot do that. It would endanger the yellow-tongued, blue-winged swamp gnats /sarc”

LOL

[sasportas]

Where in Levy County do they plan to build this nuke plant?

[sefarkas]

Levy County site: look at the fifth page of this PDF file.

[libbylu]

I am in Newberry, not far.

[bicyclerepair]

Turkey point (in Miami) is supposed to get another nookeeler plant too.

[barb-tex]

Don't count on the democrats to permit Nukes. Like offshore drilling, it will take “10 years to produce enough power to light one of the silly light bulbs”. Not ten but close. “We can't nuke our way out of this crises” Of course there is no large “farm vote” supporting nukes.
barbra ann

[Roccus]

If built, the plant is projected to generate $100 million in tax revenue annually that will go to county government and the school board.

.......or it could end up like Shoreham, all dressed up and nowhere to go.

[barb-tex]

Just wondering, what is the population density of site? The Taft LA nuke is built in a flood plain, Hurricane zone, just across the river from Chocolate Town. I always thought that was a poor choice for a nuke site, but I guess they were trying to prove the inherent safety of nuke plants, or maybe they just didn't care about chocolate town.
barbra ann

[sefarkas]

Part of the siting permission application will provide NRC with demographics of Levy County site. Application is not on the dockett yet that I can find.

Waterford 3 is the nuclear plant near New Orleans that I worked at on and off over 20 years. It is roughly 20 miles as the crow flies up-stream from New Orleans in St. Charles Parish. The EPZ for the plant comes no where near New Orleans. The site is on relatively high ground on the West Bank of the Mississippi River. The plant is flood proofed up to approximately 30-feet mean sea level based on a worst case calculation required by NRC. Waterford has been one of the most reliably operating plants in the world. The plant faired well in Katrina; having to come off-line because of damage to the surrounding grid and lack of electric power demand on the nearby grid.

Although I don't live in New Orleans any longer, I have a great fondness for it. I resent the nickname.

As nuclear plants do not pose a danger to the general public as demonstrated by numerous analyses and restrictions on operating practice by NRC, I can't understand what you mean by "they just didn't care".

[TexasRedeye]

While several people spoke in favor of the proposed plant, there were detractors and those with concerns about plant safety and security.

I bet if all nuke electric plants promised totally free electricity for life for all users within a 20 mile radius, all resistance would disappear and save the builders money over the long run. Years would be saved in the planning and construction phase and the relatively small amount of electricity dispensed free would make for great advertising and PR.

[barb-tex]

My point was that nukes are so safe that they are not usually built in Hi population density areas, or so I have always heard. Am I wrong about this?
barbra ann