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In Depth: Possible Nuclear Plant In North Escambia
March 16, 2009
On Saturday, NorthEscambia.com broke the exclusive story that Gulf Power was purchasing property in North Escambia for a potential power plant — one that might be nuclear — in the Cox and Roach road areas between McDavid and Bratt.
Gulf Power Manager of Public Affairs Sandy Sims told us that the plant could be nuclear, natural gas powered or even an advanced technology like wind or solar. “We really can’t rule out any possibility right now.”
Today, we are going to take a closer look at some possibilities.
Nuclear Power Plant?
In 2007, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist issued an executive order calling for electric utilities to use renewable energy sources to generate electricity and drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In August of last year, CEO Susan Story told the Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce that nuclear energy and biomass — items such as wood waste, wood, municipal waste and other forms of waste — would become viable options, according to a report in the Panama City News Herald. That article also said Story commented that once Gulf Power picked a site, it could be 2020 before a nuclear plant would begin producing electricity.
Story told the newspaper that Gulf Power was looking at potential nuclear power sites in Northwest Florida “as we speak”.
At Gulf Power’s annual economic symposium in the fall of 2007, Story said “Nuclear may not be a critical option, it may be the only option.” She added that the earliest a nuclear plant could happen would be 2020.
New applications for nuclear power plants increased in 2008, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
During 2007, there were five new applications for eight new reactors. Two of those sites were new; the other six reactors were to be expansions of existing nuclear power plants.
In 2008, the number of applications more than doubled to 12, for a total of 18 new reactors. Four of those reactors were to be located at two brand new nuclear power plants; the rest were to be located at current plants.
The NRC says that at this time, there are three known applications for five reactors expected to be filed in 2009. Additional applications could be filed during year.
The nearest nuclear reactors to North Escambia is outside Dothan, Ala. The Farley Nuclear Plant is about 130 miles from North Escambia.
Is The Land Area Large Enough For A Nuclear Plant?
It would appear from the reports of area residents that Gulf Power is looking to purchase a very large area of land.
The Farley Nuclear Plant near Dothan sits on 1,850 acres. That is about 2.9 square miles.
Residents near the intersection of Cox Road and Bratt Road have reported that they were contacted by a Gulf Power representative seeking to purchase their property. Those homes are about 2.8 miles from the land already purchased by Gulf Power on Roach Road.
Sims would not confirm how many acres the utility was looking to purchase, but she did confirm that the company’s land acquisition department did make contact with one of the residents we spoke with near the intersection of Cox Road and Bratt Road — 2.8 miles away.
Natural Gas?
It becomes interesting to note that there is a natural gas pipeline about one mile north-northwest of the property purchased by Gulf Power on Roach Road. The pipeline is situated almost in the middle of the area between Gulf Power’s property and the residents contacted by the utility 2.8 miles away. The pipeline is indicated by the red line on the map at the top of the page.
Natural gas would not be considered a renewable energy source.
Other Possibilities
Wood and wood product were one of the biomass, renewable energy possibilities mentioned by Story. North Escambia is, obviously, surrounded by wood products industries.
Online date from the U.S. Forest Service indicates that if Gulf Power were to attempt to replace the 945 megawatt generating capacity of their Crist Plant in Pensacola with wood fuel, the plant would need over 10 million tons of wood fuel per year.
Pictured top of page: These graphics show the location of the property that has been purchased by Gulf Power. Resident as far away as Cox Road and Bratt Road have reportedly been contacted by the utility. Pictured middle: A small house sits on the Gulf Power property. Pictured bottom: A pipeline runs through the area. NorthEscambia.com graphics/photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
39 Responses to “In Depth: Possible Nuclear Plant In North Escambia”
They have a great water souce, an undergrond river runs in the area!!! Just ask the guys at Cambell Ready Mix they know about it.
How does one apply for employment weather to build the site or work there?
What my question would be is… What effect will the Plant have on the farm land? Would it contaminate the fertile ground. Also what long term effect would it have on the citizens health? Or on the quality of live stock? Another question i might raise is the affect on property values. While commercial may be popular.. who will want to purchase the properties say in a 10 mile radius of the plant!! Finally, with everything that is already going into our waters.. will there be any fish left for us fisherman? These are some of my concerns… growth is great but to what expense?
Well all I have left to say is, that it won’t happen in my life time or alot of us that live around here. So GOOD LUCK GULF POWER. MONEY MAY DO ALOT OF TALKING, BUT THE AREA ISN’T SETUP TO SUPPORT A NUCLEAR PLANT. MAYBE A NATURAL GAS PLANT WHICH WOULD BENEFIT USING THE GAS LINE IN THAT AREA OR SOLAR FARM WHICH IT IS PLENTY OF FLORIDA SUNSHINE WHICH IS FREE……….. CAUSE THE GOOD LORD PROVIDES FOR US.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL…….
Some people don’t sem to understand. Perhaps they think we, in the north end of Escambia county, are against progress. Not so, if a nuclear plant is what is needed to produce the power our county needs for the future, then I suppose it could be okay. However, our problem comes from them trying to take our homes and our land when there is sooo much out there available without destroying our heritage and our way of life. If the water is the reason for the proposed land, why not pipe it in to another area away from our community? It’s simply greed on their part is all I can say!
As a Native American, I can tell you that the land is more than a commodity. When you live on a piece of ground for most or all of your life and it was your ancestors’ ground before you, then you become one with the earth. It is a part of you and you are a part of it. It has it’s sacred places where you go when your spirit needs cleansing or you need to revive your soul…to get alone with your Maker. .And in that peaceful and serene surrounding, with Nature all around speaking to you…there you find Him, and there you refresh your mind and spirit where you can go on and face the everyday battles. The white man had a saying…There is no place closer to God on earth than in a garden…and I believe, in nature, away from all the noise and things that distract us, we can better hear His voice…He is the Creator of all things beautiful!
So, when greed snatches away your home and your holy ground, it’s like pulling the plug for many of us. I pray they will reconsider and shift it south a little where it would bother no one and just pipe their water in! There are ways of doing things to help the mass without destroying others. And when they complete this project, if the Lord allows it, hope the ones who are all for it will enjoy paying their electric bill which will be at least DOUBLED what it is now!
Ladies and Gentlemen of Escambia County, Florida,
This venture by Gulf Power is the evolution and progress of Escambia County, Florida into the 21th century and beyond. After the construction phase and the plant begins power generation, there will be many of our friends and family that will seek and obtain jobs at this facility, thus bringing a quality of life many have dreamed to have and will soon have an oppourtunity to make that dream become reality. These actions by Gulf Power will also bring other commercial businesses to the area and some will be in direct support of this power plant. This power plant will always be in need of constant maintance and that means jobs for the people of Escambia County for years to come. With the coming of this new growth and potential prosperity for our area I want to say thank you Gulf Power.
“THREE MILE ISLAND”,DO I NEED TO SAY MORE??????? THE SOUTH WILL RISE AGAIN.
I own a small farm in the middle of it all. I imagined many possiblities for my place, this one never occured to me. I intended the land to be there for my children and my grandchildren. Who would want to live there now? The prospect of a plant in my neighborhood disgusts me. I could live with wind or solar, the other possibilities are unacceptable.
I don’t know if they will buy me out, put it in my back yard, or what. It leaves me in limbo. Do I build the house I had intended? Do I plant more fruit trees so my grandchildren have peaches? What about my 75 year old pecan trees? What about the fences, barns, animals. It has really had a profound effect on my whole family. Do we stop our lives and wait to see what the big boys are going to
do to us? It sucks!
Respectfully
Mae
I’D LIKE TO SEE A NEW POWER PLANT IN THE NORTH END OF THE COUNTY. HUNDREDS OF NEW JOBS NOT ONLY AT THE NEW PLANT , BUT IN CONSTRUCTION , MAINTANCE,SUPPLY AND MATERIALS. WE NEED A PLANT LIKE THIS NO MATTER WHAT TYPE OF FUEL IT MAY USE.EVEN BETTER WOULD BE IF IT USED SOLID WASTE AND OR WOOD FUEL.A WIN/WIN SITUATION FOR EVERYONE IN OUR PART OF THE STATE.
I, particularly, am not a fan of nuclear power. Yes, it is very clean, but there’s always the risk of a meltdown. It will affect most of Escambia County, FL and parts of Alabama with its placement if such a thing occurs. And we all know will happen if the radiation gets loose. The land will be inhospitable for thousands of years. Even so, a meltdown may never occur, but it is still a possibility that everybody must consider. Personally, I think we would benefit from a solar plant. We have enough sunlight that it would be fairly efficient. True, it is not always sunny, but it does not rain every day. Even if no plants in commission were shut down, a new solar one would at least lessen the load on them, and reduce the amount of energy that is produced from “dirty” resources.
@ $5000 an acre for a large farm land over 100 acres compared to $100,000 an acre for the saw mill should tell you why?
I don’t know why they chose the land they did but I’m sure for a reason. If they can’t get a nuclear plant up and going until 2020 they still need to buy the land now. Otherwise it’ll be like the craziness of the stir around the extention I-110 north to I-65. Then we’ll never have power and be back in the stone ages. I would love to have the neclear technology brought to Escambia county. Unfortunately with our big ole pile of garbage local government it’ll be an extremely tough item to push through. Heck, in Pensacola they’re having hell getting the park built. I couldn’t imagine would they would do over this! I’d love to quit my job out here offshore in the oil fields to come home and work at a neclear power plant!
I agree this area can use the help on providing jobs for the future, but a nuclear power plant. I’D MUCH RATHER SEE A SOLAR OR A WIND FARM SITE. WOW!!!!! how things can change so fast even in this small community. WHY BUY UP ALL THESE PEOPLES LAND ASKING THEM TO LEAVE FROM WHERE THEY HAVE LIVED FOR MANY YEARS OR THE ONE WHO HAVE JUST BEGAN A NEW LIVE IN A NEW HOME? WHEN THERE’S A PERFECT SITE FOR THIS POWER PLANT TO USE. “THE CLOSED DOWN MCDAVID MILL OFF HWY 29″ THIS IS AN AREA ALREADY NEXT TO THE ESCAMBIA RIVER, EASY ACCES TO HWY 29, YOU AREN’T MOVING ANYONE OUT OF THEIR HOMES AND JOBS WILL BE PROVIDED AGIN FOR THOSE WHO GOT LAYED OFF. SOMETHING THAT ARE LOCAL OFFICIALS HAVE CERTAINLY THOUGHT OF I’M SURE. Good luck and GOD BLESS US ALL.
If they are looking to buy some land why dont they look into buying the old paper mill off hwy 29 . they closed there doors aparently. and the river is right there bordering the land where the paper mill is.
Not sure just how much water it takes for nucular power plants to operate. But I do know 1. That GP’s land rep. has approached my family to aquire our property on the river. Seemed to be real intersted in the bend of the river. They want to put in a pumping station and pipeline. 2. We have in this area a very large underground river about 200 ft.down. 3. He was a very threatening gentleman. Letting us know that the courts were not out of the question as an option in obtaining our land. Those are the three things that I am very sure about …..and that GP doesn’t care that this property has been in our family since the 1800’s and that our heritage means more to us than the all mighty dollar. Needless to say we informed him that we really were not interest in selling.
I have not verified it yet, but was told that a property owner next to us has agreed to sell. We just don’t understand why GP won’t go just a little further south on 29 where the paper company owns lots of land, that no ones lives on and it adjoins the river as well. We all know they(the paper company) WANT to sell because they have the signs up. People would still get the jobs that a power plant woud generate and those of us who love our homes and communities that we lve in would not be uprooted.
I did some research and found out that this small area has one of the largest underground rivers in the lower states. It is 2 miles wide at its widest. Florida is also one of the leading states in phosphates and uranium which is used for nuclear power. I see both sides of the story. I agree that it would boost our economy, but at the same time I sympothize with the families loosing their land. It’s not about the money, it’s about their heritage and the generations spent here. It’s about their love and their memories.
Shaun. Walt Disney in Orlando, has in it’s covenants, the power to build a Nuclear Power Plant on Disney Property. That doesn’t mean they are likely to do it. All one has to do is research large commercial Nuclear Plants and see everyone is near a LARGE river or body of water. The heat produced would raise the river temperatures up too high to pass environmental muster even if they could pump water from the river and back again. Not enough volume or water capacity in the river to dissipate all the cooling tower heat generated from a Nuclear Power Plant.
does anybody else think it is funny that the big story on channel 3 tonight was this two days after it was on north escambia? Way to go NE!
All I am going to say is why would a Gulf Power Represenative say that they are not ruling out the possibility of it being Nuclear if there is no way the could get the land or water supply?
If the current plant were to be coal it would need access to water or rail lines to move the coal to the plant. I could rule out coal at it’s current site. With the gas line nearby it makes most plausible option but the gas source needs to be reliable and sufficient quantity or a new line would need to be built parallel to the existing line.
Another remote possibility is Plasma Energy Generation using trash as a fuel source. This is becoming very popular and helps solve the landfill problems. Most of these are being installed at existing landfills. Google it if interested.
I’m an ex-Nuc. I can tell you it will not be a Nuc plant at it’s present location. Nuclear plants have to be built large to be commercially viable and need large amounts of cooling water. It will be some other plant. Maybe Gas Turbine or cogeneration plant.
Paper making requires a tremendoue amount of water and I know in some cases they pump it from 30+ miles away. It could be discharged into Canoe Creek, Welcome to the nuclear age!
A nuclear power plant would be impossible at this location. Because, it takes a tremendos amount of water for the cooling towers. The plant would have to be on a river or other sources of large amounts of water.
The terrorism thing is just another anti ploy! For terrorism to work there has to be a high chance that the plot will succeed. Therefore, terrorism on a nuclear plant is highly doubtful. It would be easier for a terroist to plague a cities water system or such. To hit a nuclear plant runs a very high risk of not being sucessful, if you have ever been to one, there are razor wire fences, intrusion alerts, armed guards, locked doors to name a few, with the extra “homeland security” measures now in place, it also added jersey barriers, and armed guard towers, that also linked with local security from police, national guard and additional response makes it not so great of a target.
I think a nuclear power plant would fit here because the river isn’t far away,besides it would be better warm water dumping in the river than the Bretown Paper Mill.
also to Dietrich Bondurant they have a river source they are trying to purchase to run a pipe to… So do not count out the nuclear!
Gulf power is seemingly coming in and demanding the people in the mcdavid area to sell land, and I know this first hand. I am completely against any type of plant to be put there, simply bacuse the way they have demanded people to sell. At this point it does not matter if it is nuclear , gas, or whatever i think the people of Mcdavid need to step up and fight this as long as they can.
Nuclear is a lot better than coal or biomass.I f it’s nuclear I’m for it, if it’s a conventional burner I am not.Those city folks may want to relocate their pollution in the northend like the new sewage plant .
They also want to have the county take over the city’s pension obligations. Those city folks sure are amart!
Safe…….except for terrorists, and others who are not in their right mind. We hear more about these folks, almost every day.
I would rather have a nuke in my back yard than a coal burner, and I have. I find you dont even know they are there. The air would be cleaner for all. It would bring many jobs to the area, we need that for sure. It seems that for the last 40 years we have found that nuclear is safe.
Doesn’t sound like a nuclear site, but one interesting point on nuclear plants in general. I know someone who works at two of Duke Power’s plants in NC and the government has over the last few years developed a set of plans for a nuclear plant that would be used at all sites deemed to be nuclear. No more one off designs for each site, which means streamlined review, permitting and construction.
Not knew to me!! I knew about this last year!! I was talking with Gulf Power worker and he knew the whole story. He did tell me he thought it would be “Nuclear” plant. We made a joke that no one wants it in their backyard, but I guess we shall see.
Cooling can be used by other processes than the river. The technology is there. Fast flowing rivers are not required either way. Some companies do build their own reservoirs to achieve cooling which also open to the public and offer great water activities and fishing. Wood or trash burners stink or use too many natural resources, they also cannot maintain the efficiency or output of nuclear. Plant Crist is 50 years old, it may be time to look upon replacing them with alternatives.
COULD BE A WOOD BURNER WITH NATURAL GAS SUPPLAMENT I ALSO DON’T THINK IT’S POSABLE TO PUT NUC. COOLING TOWERS THAT FAR FROM A COOL WATER SUPPLY . IN DOTHON THEY BIULT A BIG RESAVORE ON THE RIVER DIDN’T THEY ?
The fast form of alternative energy would be by building a biomass plant that would not only use wood but also dispose of municipal solid waste and reduce the need for landfills or dumps. Additionally, such alternative source would produce safe by-products for such activities as highway repair and alternative construction materials. Look at the operation in St. Lucie, FL
Can’t be Nuclear….no water source. Has to be on a river.
What would they use to cool the cooling towers in that area??? Virtually all large power plants that I can think of are built near large bodies of water or fast flowing rivers; it takes a lot of water to cool the spent steam back down to condensate. The Escambia River is a possibility, but I believe that the flow would be marginal for there are federal standards abou twhat percentage of a degree you can raise the temperature of the water. Air cooling towers in this climate are pretty well out of the question financially and area wise. I personally don’t see anything happening there.
I am glad, I would rather have a nuclear plant than coal burners. We need nuclear for our future, to provide reasonable energy needs,without nuclear, we will either have to rely on coal or gas, to stop further carbon release, I vote nuclear. It would help boost our economy, while providing reliable, safe energy.
WE DO NOT NEED NO NUCLEAR POWER PLANT HERE.