Mar 19, 2008 9:05 am US/Eastern
FPL Closer To 2 New Nuke Plants At Turkey Point
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
Florida Power & Light has been given the 'green light' from a state regulating agency to move forward with its plans to build two new nuclear generators at its Turkey Point facility.
If the nuclear power plants receive final approval from the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Florida Power Plant Siting Board, they could come online in 2018 and 2020.
FPL currently operates two nuclear plants at Turkey Point along with gas-oil and natural gas plants.
If the new plants receive final approval from the state and federal regulatory agencies, FPL customers will start to see increases in their power bills to pay for them beginning next year.
FPL says at the height of construction, expected in 2017, customers would see no more than $6 per month added to their bill.
Once up and running, company spokesman Mayco Villafana said the fuel savings would be about $1 billion a year, which would be passed on to consumers.
The total cost for the project ranges from $12 billion to $24 billion, depending on the technology used in building the plant.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
