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EXCLUSIVE: Gulf Power Purchasing North Escambia Land For Possible Power Plant, Could Be Nuclear
March 14, 2009
NorthEscambia.com has learned that Gulf Power Company is purchasing land in North Escambia for a possible power generation plant — maybe even a nuclear plant.
Gulf Power has already purchased two parcels totaling just over 100 acres in the 200 block of Roach Road near McDavid. Area residents tell NorthEscambia.com that a Gulf Power representative has gone door to door along Cox, Holland and Roach roads telling residents that Gulf Power wants to purchase their property for a possible nuclear power plant.
“We are looking for property to purchase in that area for a generating facility,” Gulf Power Company Manager of Public Affairs Sandy Sims told NorthEscambia.com. “What kind of generating facility it will be has not been determined at this point.”
When asked about the rumors that the plant could be a nuclear power plant, Sims replied, “We can’t rule anything out at this point. We are looking at a diverse portfolio of options for the future.”
Sims said 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.”
Whatever the type of power generation facility, the earliest it would likely produce its first kilowatt of electricity would be the year 2020, and perhaps as late as 2025.
The property purchased on Roach Road and the offers to purchase other land in the area does not necessarily mean that anything will ever be constructed on the land by Gulf Power, Sims said.
The new facility that might be located near McDavid would presumably at least partially replace the coal powered Gulf Power Crist Plant in Pensacola, she said.
Neighbors Not Happy
Whether the power generation plant is nuclear or gas powered, residents along the quiet roads in the Roach and Cox Road areas are not happy.
“You don’t want a nuclear plant in your backyard,” said Cox Road resident Frank Way. “You don’t want any kind of power plant here. We live in a quiet neighborhood where people just don’t want that kind of thing.”
“This is home,” Suzanne Rigby said. She and her husband have lived in the same house on Cox Road for almost 40 years. “We don’t want to leave. We don’t want to even think about moving.”
Their sentiments were echoed by other residents NorthEscambia.com spoke with Friday. And we heard another concern from each area resident that talked to us — they were being pressured to sell.
“The man was real intimidating to my wife,” Way said. “He told her we would have to sell whether we wanted to or not because they were going to build a nuclear plant or maybe natural gas.”
“He was very high pressure,” Rigby said. “He told us we had to sell.”
“Our property is not for sale,” Way added.
NorthEscambia.com will continue to follow this story and bring you the latest updates.
Pictured above: The property in the 200 block of Roach Road that was purchased by Gulf Power Company. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Comments
35 Responses to “EXCLUSIVE: Gulf Power Purchasing North Escambia Land For Possible Power Plant, Could Be Nuclear”
We have been following this as our Church Campgrounds has been approached by Gulf Power. We allowed Gulf Power to use our property as a staging ground during natural disasters and now they’ve threatned to take our beloved camp site away from us whether we sell or not. We’ve basically been given no choice although we’ve not sold out to them. We are hoping and praying for the best situation for everyone. We are out looking for new land to start our campgrounds over again somewhere in the area. What will be lost is the physical location of all the memories of our childhood summers and the plans we had to bring our children and grandchildren to the site. We are looking forward to the idea that now we could have a bigger and more up to date campgrounds but no one likes to change when your not prepared for it or on your own terms. We are waying all the good and the bad. I would just ask that everyone pray and hope for the best for this community. Its always been a pleasure to drive down 29 and go back to when you had no worries as a child you know your back to an area where you can relax and not be near the “city’ noises and such.
Great. Gitmo prisoners going to Saufley not far from a nuclear power plant. What could possibly go wrong?
THERE IS SOMETHING SKWEE GOING ON HERE
Not too many people want to live there now. That’s O. K. with me , I like a lot of privacy!
Wow my dad lives right next to that plant on Mcdaivd road we are looking for a house but god hope this works out ok for Gulf power.
Those of you talking about wind can forget that because that area and all of Alabama and west Florida are dead zones for wind.I thought about putting up small wind turbines in the area few years back and all the data on NOAA and other sites had this area as low to no wind.
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.
this is a good idea no-one has ever been able to place a worksite in this area so I say go for it!!!! many places have them and I am sorry for the people that have built homes in this area but look at the benefits it would add to this area if you don’t want it you are stupid!!!move or do something except complain about furthering our areas workplaces.
I’ve worked at a nuclear power plant for over 30 yrs and can not imagine working at a nicer place. You’d be Lucky lucky lucky to have this plant in your backyard!
I would like to comment to the people who are thinking the nuclear power plant (or any kind of plant in this area) is a good idea. I just purchased land and built a brand new home directly beside this property. It took over six months to purchase the property because of county zoning regulations. I have invested a great deal of time and money into my new home only to find out on moving day that Gulf Power is looking to buy owners out. Before you make comments that it is such a wonderful idea, you should think about all the homeowners that will be affected. For you that think that we are crazy for thinking bad thoughts about a nuclear power plant, please call me and I would be happy to sell you the property and let you deal with it. Better yet please post your address and maybe they could look into developing the plant in your neighborhood.
This would be the best thing to ever happen up this way. Only problem is where to get the educated folks to operate it.
I’m not against progress but listen to this. Why not build this plant on the east side of Palafox downtown directly across from the old courthouse.
Three r’’s
You know what’s so great about this country is you can live just about any where you want to. Hint, Hint, MOVE! The road is wide open for folks who live in a community but won’t support it. Your the rotten apple in the barrel. But one rotten apple or even 3 won’t spoil them all.
What’s so bad is the community more than likely knows you and thinks your a good person.
Bye I hope
If all gasoline cars, trucks, and SUV’s instead had plug-in electric drive trains the amount of electricity needed to replace gasoline is about equal to the estimated wind energy potential of the state of North Dakota.We have so much available to us such as wind and solar. Let’s spend some of those bail out billions and get busy harnessing this energy. Create cheap clean energy, badly needed new jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. What a win-win situation that would be for our nation at large! There is a really good new book out by Jeff Wilson called The Manhattan Project of 2009 Energy Independence Now.
http://www.themanhattanprojectof2009.com
My husband use to work at NPP. We travel with his work. We live at New Hampshire and he work at the Nuclear Power Plant at Sea Brook.We live in South Carolina and he work at Oconee NPP. They were lots of them. Ever where we went for him to work at the Plant’s was so clean and never was I scared. This town needs all the help it can get for jobs, and this would be something that you could can count on. It may not be a Nuclear Power Plant, but I just wanted people to know if it is don’t be scared.
When I read this article first thing this morning there was only one comment. Since then several people have posted from both sides of the issue.I wish it was on my side of Roach Road that Gulf Power was interested in.I have almost 50 acres,Escambia County owns the clay pit north of me,Gulf Atlantic owns a nice size clay pit in back of me and IP owns land to the south of me. I wouldn’t mind selling.I would much rather have this than a landfill any day or a 6000 house subdivision.Or worse yet a super walmart( which is within a realistic future given the growth northward.Until we are willing to drastically cut back on our use of electricity,we will be faced with scenarios like this,coal is not a renewable resource.I would hate to throw out the baby with the bath water here. Jobs for the north end? A cleaner enviroment for our future? Nothing good ever comes from panic reactions.Let’s get the facts before we act and let’s not over react.
Jack, Jack, Jack
Lets see, dredge a shallow river and maintain it 30-40 miles inland. Keep it dredged for barge use until eternity. Who knows what the environmentalist will say.
Or just drive the material 30-40 miles on south on a four lane highway to the Port of Pcola where there already is warehouses and loading and unloading facilities.
Or Better yet, just put it on one of two Railroad tracks that feed into Pcola and the port.
I admire your positive attitude in getting some sort of business into Century. But projects like that will never fly and is a total waste of time in trying to do so.
Now for a Nuclear Site, there are many positives. I have traveled to several countries where Nuclear is the norm. You know how many people realize that there is a Nuclear Power plant outside of Dothan? Not many!! We have to wean ourselves of foreign oil someday.
For the negatives, yea there are some real serious ones. Especially for those that live in the immediate area.
People really seem to forget that we live in a country blessed with a democracy. Each side will get to say their piece. No matter what the outcome, someone is not going to be happy, But thank goodness we live in the good ole USA where our voice will be heard.
Do you think people in Russia and China get a say in where nuclear plants go. I bet Hugo Chavez doesnt call up his constituents and ask them do they want a Nuclear Power plant in their backyard.
Not to bash anyone here, especially you Jack. You said earlier in a statement that “I realize that my life and what “I” want is not really that important. I realize that my life will one day pass away and that will be the end of me and what I think – This, it is not about me – but God’s will. That translates to this; this is about the children and the quality of life their parents and grandparents can provide for them.” Just remember that your life has given you valuable experience that should be shared with everyone else.
Lets all get our own facts, choose a side and try to work to a solution that will make the VAST Majority happy.
GOD BLESS THE USA & NORTH ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Jack
I like the way you think. I can’t believe you brought Maslow into this but you are right.
To be clear a stimulus plan by any government is a plan to literally dump money into the economy no matter what we think of the cause, The US Government is the biggest consumer and spender of money and though i do not like the way a lot of the funds are going, the truth is the money will be put into circulation by this method. So the local communities should be in Washington with their hands out.
I suggest to you if this is going to be a wind Turbine farm or solar panel farm, the money is probably coming from the stimulus bill.
Mayor Freddy McCall should be working with other leaders and groups to pull this money to the area. Centuries demographics make the case for help all by themselves.
The more the local economy falls, the higher the local crime rate is going to go.
While reading a lot of these responses it disturbs me that the current state of mind about this area. If you think about what our Great grand fathers and grandfathers did. They were all far more progressive thinking than what I am hearing on this forum. They cut through private property with trains, and train tracks, boats and the old bridges that used to transverse the Escambia River. They did not hold up progress, they welcomed it and it made their quality of life better. I am not an advocate of anything that comes to town with a payroll but when you know a company is going to pay good wages then that is the time to buy in to such an idea.
JB,
Century is potentially a viable river port, and considering some of the porky projects attached to the stimulus bill, a river port at Century would open a huge number of jobs in many industries and sectors.
The Florida US Senators and Congresspersons are important (Sen. Nelson & Martinez) in this, along with the Governor and especially the US Army Corps of Engineers.
No doubt this will work; we just have to make it happen. The key to make this happen is dredging the river in a few places to allow shallow draft pusher-boat barges up the river.
Once that is done, then the entire north-end can be used for warehousing and distribution up I-65, sand and gravel can be shipped south, east and west, bio-diesel can be shipped to a new bio-fuel pant being built in Mobile. BTW, several years ago I assisted Benny Barnes in getting a Foreign Trade Zone declared for Century.
To my mind, there are a lot worse ways to spend “stimulus money” than building a wood-pellet fuel plant and a river port for Century.
It is sad to see ingnorance amoung so many people. Its just like the people who hate the Paper Companies, they want the paper they make but not the noise or possible pollution. Well you can’t have it all, we all have to sacrifice if we insist on living the way we do. I agree with a couple of these posts that said become educated on the subject thru research before you run them off before they even get here, people in this area do that alot, just look at the school situation. It takes sacrifices if want things to get better or be looked upon in the right light. I really feel bad for Mayor McCall because of extremly high wall he was left with to climb.
As I grow older, I realize that my life and what “I” want is not really that important. I realize that my life will one day pass away and that will be the end of me and what I think – This, it is not about me – but God’s will. That translates to this; this is about the children and the quality of life their parents and grandparents can provide for them.
Life Quality translates into different things for different people. To some it means jobs, to some it means safe neighborhoods with playgrounds and community activities. To some it means a good sturdy house on a well-lit and crime-free street. In truth, it means all of these things and more. We do not have to “reinvent the wheel” on this. Nearly a century ago, a fellow by the name of Maslow did the research and came up with the most basic needs; Food, clothing, and shelter.
To that we can add modern infrastructure needs: water, sewer, electricity, transportation, and access to healthcare. The Twenty-First Century has revealed some other infrastructure needs necessary for young business people; like a good cell phone signal, access to daycare, and for businesses and young people to have access to high-speed-broadband (via WIFI). However, while I move at a much slower pace, everything else is moving at a much faster pace – and it is easy to be left behind.
Now if McDavid has WIFI and a good strong cell phone signal, it is much easier for McDavid to have a good daycare, and schools, and jobs; but without these infrastructure elements then McDavid gets little or nothing, unless someone else decides what McDavid will have. Many people are content to allow others to decide their fate and quality of life.
It is easier to hope that someone or some company will prepare you for the future, or that they will bring with them an acceptable future or outcome, but that is just not so – We Must Have a Vision of the future for our children and their future, (and prepare for it) or else we will be forced to accept what someone else will thrust upon us – whether we like it or not – and then only to be able to complain about it.
BTW, If we are fussing with each other, we are not working with each other.
Actually, we have not been confronted about selling, and we have been here since 1970. This is home, where we have lived most of our lives, where we raised our children, and now our grandson enjoys the peace and quiet and all the wildlife and nature with which we are blessed. We have remained here through the good times and the bad times…many good memories as well as sad times! We have made lots of friends over the years with neighbors, have seen many of the older ones pass away over the years, have welcomed new ones, and the ones of us who still remain would like to live out our days in our homes. As for our property, we are blessed to have lots of “gophers” on our property…last I knew, they are still endangered species…and if a dumb beach mouse can stop a condo from going up, I pray the gophers will help us! As for the voters in the south end of the county being more in number, we should have been split into two sections years ago because most people don’t know there is a whole nother group of people north of the nine mile road. Unlike some city folk, we don’t build to stay a year or two and resell and move on…we built here for a lifetime. If something like this HAS to be, looks like they would get as far away from people as possible…like the middle of IP land between 29 and 97…that’s my husband’s idea and a good one. I pray that people will take a stand and that whatever happens will be for the good of “all” people~ even those of us in North Escambia County. Suzanne
Jack Moran
Your perspective is interesting and maybe not without merit. That is thinking outside the box which is exactly what needs to start happening in a big way. If this isn’t going to happen on its own then what is the possibility of a committee pursuing this for the good of all. I was born and raised in Century and have watched it slowly ease into the current state it is in and this is sad. Folks, work together and bring these industries here.
At present Escambia, and Santa Rosa County are in severe downturns as far as the Real Estate market is concerned and this equates to no money. Why do we and our children continue to leave the area to get a secondary education and then a job worthy of the education? Leaving our home town to its own despair. I was born and raised in Century. I believe very strongly that the Tri county area with all of its desperation and poverty creates some very smart and unique individuals and it is terrible that we all have to make the decision to leave the area.
I like John Wheeler have worked in the Nuclear Industry in Maintenance and Engineering on the old Generation of Nuke Plants and can easily live near a plant. All Nuclear Power plants have exclusion areas around them for security reasons. If Nuclear power were on the table then the local population should plant to go to Nuclear Power plant and ask for a tour and tutorial on how things work. Nuclear power is one of the oldest power forms there is. Atomic energy was under development in the 40’s. It is not a new convention.
If you were to investigate the new Nuclear Power Generation plants from Westinghouse and GE. Modular in design assured license to operate and safe to operate. Shorter construction time, but that is not going to happen here.
Take Jack Morans idea approach Gulf Power communications people and if that doesn’t work go to Birmingham Ala and meet with Gulf Power. Offer a place a solution to get a plant here. The location being looked is considering a number of Logistical issues. I am sure no Geo-Technical reports have been performed since they do not own the property but you can be sure location is important for a number of reasons. Create some momentum for industry here. Be proactive in accepting new industry. Someone should go to Alabama Electric Coop in Andalusia and invite them to put a simple cycle or combined cycle power plant in. This after all is who EREC buys their power from.
Hydro simply is not going to happen anywhere in the USA at present.
Get the comittee formed and pursue this with some vigor, make something positive happen.
I don’t know if this has any bearing on these rumors and speculations or not . . .
The Thyssen-Krupp steel mill north of Mobile will (primarily) be using wood-pellets for fuel. Those pellets will be produced in the region south and west of Selma and shipped down the Coosa River to the mill. The wood-pellets are a clean and renewable fuel resource.
Several “self-styled” community leaders from North Escambia have spoken to elected officials in Washington regarding industry in the north-end of Escambia County regarding the building of a plant to manufacture wood-pellets at the Alger-Sullivan property in Century. At least one meeting has been held in Century regarding this topic.
It has been suggested that if the river were dredged in places, that barges or railroad cars (both, actually) could move wood-pellets from Century to a power plant on the river, and to the steel mill at Mobile.
Interesting thoughts . . . I wonder what the readers of NorthEscambia.com think?
I would gladly take a half-million for my house and 7 acres if they want to move it to Bratt. I hate this community!
I agree that we would benefit from the plant and that it would bring high paying jobs, but I think the initial concern is to inform these property owners of their rights. I would find it very difficult to live somewhere for 40 years only to be “told” I had to vacate. Gulf Power IS going to buy certain properties. Think about your neighbor’s situation before we debate what Gulf Power does with it.
Escambia county would be fortunate to have a new nuclear plant!
Nuclear energy is safe and clean. Just speak to residents near existing nuclear plants and they will all tell you the same thing: nuclear plants are great neighbors. The project would provide high paying careers for hundreds of residents for three or more generations, tax revenues to improve the infrastructure and schools, and billions of dollars flowing through the local economy. Plus, the county would be contributing to our nation’s energy independence and clean air.
A Nuclear Power plant would be the best thing to ever come to Escambia and Santa Rosa county. The tax base would be the largest ever seen by the count from a single entity. It would create more high paying jobs than ever seen in that area. It would be the safet undustry ever in this area bar none. The reactors in the US or nothing like the ones at Chernobyl. The Three mile island incident years ago was not as bad as portrayed by the media. There was small release of gas with no consequence. Imediately after that all plants had the monitoring controls increased.
Nuclear power is the cleanest safest energy and Industry in the country. That would be the best thing to ever come to the area. I very much doubt that is the case though since the water supply from the river would not provide adequate cooling water reserve unless there is a new technology involved.
The best current option would be gas fired combustion Turbine units. Very possible but not quite sure why the location would be North Escambia as the plants can be placed almost anyewhere to augment the grid.
There are new coal gasification plants in design and prototype. This would require coal supply to go through the degaification process.
The ugliest options with no pay back to you would be solar panel plant or Wind Turbine are invasive, noiser that Nuclear and very ugly and they would tower over surrounding forrest.
Are residents would more than benifit and your property value would go up if a Nuclear power plant were built but I don’t think you are that lucky.
I suspect they are talking about solar or wind Turbine.
Folks edcuate yourself and research this. Don’t just complain about a potental good thing and some very bad options.
There may not be anything approved in the Southern Company system as of now but they are making plans for the future but make your decisions on educated information and do not shrink to the paranoia that I am reading here.
Southern company in Birmingham Alabama owns Gulf Power and they are experts in profitable power generation.
It would be nice to have some industry in our County, or the Country for that matter. I would like to have a good job at a Nuclear plant, and I have some college. I just can’t keep feeding my family and parents on the income from the small jobs I’ve had to work around here.
Let’s support this!!!
I’m sure Gulf Power doesn’t want the property owners to know this, but this is basically an eminent domain taking in the making. Unfortunately it looks like they may have every “right” to take your property.
” No private property shall be taken except for a public purpose and with full compensation therefore paid to each owner.”
Private power companies apparently have the public purpose needed to act as the government would. Here’s a link with information about just that. http://blog.eminentdomain.com/
The full compensation is the questionable part. If it comes to that, I would get a very good lawyer. One who specializes in eminent domain and inverse condemnation law. The closest will be Tallahassee or Jacksonville. But I’m sure they’d be more than happy to help you because it’s just a matter of “how much” money they’ll get for you. Stay informed and do some research.
Look at the Crystal River plant. There is a huge exclusion area that encompasses many square miles of land surrounding the nuclear plant there. Another problem is there has to be a dedicated cooling source (water). Where do they expect to get the water from, Canoe Creek? I doubt the creek has the quantity of flow that a power plant would require. So, nuclear is probably a no starter, but a new clean coal or natural gas plant could be a possibility. For folks along the area the power company is trying to purchase, you better get yourself an attorney who deals in property rights because it won’t be long before Gulf Power attempts take your land though eminent domain. Why doesn’t the power company get property from IP? There’s lots of it down by Camp ‘O the Pines and there’s running water through it.
iam confused ,i thought this was E.R.E.C. teritory. how can gulf power come in there.i know something has to be done, my eclectric bill last month was the highest it has ever been but i dont think putting a nuclear plant in peoples back yard is the answer.i would think they would be better off if they would buy some of the timber companys land thats for sale in the middle of no where. get as far away from peoples homes as posible.i know if someone started up a petition against this i would sign it. i dont want my hair falling out or getting cancer when something goes wrong.i dont want my cows having calfs with 2 heads or my chickens with 3 legs ,wait a minute ,i like chicken leggs , never mind.
What’s so scary about a nuclear powerplant? They are everywhere. In Florida, NP contributes 15% of all power generated in the State. A good option would be Hydro-electric, but Florida doesn’t have any real means to support that type of power generation. The people and government have complaints and restrictions for the Crist Power Plant because of its emissions. They’ve cleaned up alot and still continue to make the plant’s output more environmental friendly. Viable solution, build a powerplant that has cleaner emissions, such as NP. Where do you build a plant? Where the population is dense or sparse?? That’s a no brainer. Gulf Power isn’t building for the now, it’s working for the future. You can sell and make alittle something now and move on or don’t sell and watch your property value drop because you’re right, nobody wants to live near a NP plant. But it’s a lose/lose situation as there’s more votes in the southern part of the county.
On one hand, I understand the residents concerns and their issues with this idea. I certainly would not want a nuclear plant in my back yard either, or even within a few miles. On the other hand, the risks that were associated with nuclear plants many years ago have been resolved. And safety feature after safety feature has been implemented, with more safety features to back those safety features. When was the last time we heard of a major incident occurring at a nuclear plant. Hasn’t it been over 25 years ago? Also, would this not bring hundreds of jobs to our area? It’s kind of a “danged-if-you-do, danged-if-you-don’t” deal, I guess.
Oh my God! A nuclear power plant in McDavid? That’s the scariest thing I have ever heard. I live just a few miles south of there. This will ruin our part of the county forver. Who will want to live here?