Nuclear Power Bill Passes Senate

May 4, 2009

Just over a month after NorthEscambia.com broke the story that Gulf Power Company is purchasing land in North Escambia for a possible nuclear power plant, the Florida Senate has passed a bill promoting so-called “clean power” — including nuclear — in the state.

The bill was approved by the Senate 37-1 late last week.  The energy bill requires electric utilities to meet or exceed specified standards for the production or purchase of clean energy. Clean energy production methods include wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, hydrogen, hydroelectric and nuclear, according to the bill.

The bill will now head to the Florida House for approval.

In March, NorthEscambia.com was the first to report 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. 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.

Comments

7 Responses to “Nuclear Power Bill Passes Senate”

  1. steve berg on April 11th, 2010 5:56 pm

    Wheres the solar in this bill?

  2. john doe on May 18th, 2009 12:32 pm

    I don’t think that anybody would want their land or yard near a power plant (including a nuclear power plant). And, when the power company does look to acquire the land the landowners/homeowners are not going to like their offer.

    Even if you decide not to sell the government can still issue an “eminent domain” and seize your land, without the owner’s consent. It’s happened before in other states.

    Great if you were looking to sell…sucks if you were not!

  3. For Nuclear on May 8th, 2009 7:36 pm

    I am all for nuclear power. GO NUCLEAR!

  4. dbg on May 6th, 2009 2:03 pm

    I am just wondering if this and the “all for one consolidation” have anything to do with each other?

  5. S.L.B on May 5th, 2009 8:37 pm

    I am totally against a nuclear power plant in any area, much less ours and I would think that going nuclear should be considered a last resort.

    Advanced technology like wind or solar is the cleanest and best way to go. The land that they are looking to purchase to locate such a plant is very high and hilly land, which should do well with wind power.

    Why can’t they do both in one location?

  6. no thank u on May 5th, 2009 5:49 am

    if u want nuclear power so much then let them put it in your back yard

  7. S. E. Vandenbosch on May 4th, 2009 1:51 pm

    Although nuclear reactors do not dirty the air with greenhouse gas emissions, they produce nuclear waste that is so radioactive that it cannot be moved for at least five years. As things stand now the waste will have no place to go even after five years and will continue to be stored at the reactor site . The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has ruled that it is safe to store nuclear reactor waste onsite for about 100 years which is long enough for the current generation. Those concerned about intergenerational equity do not feel that one should ignore what happens after 100 years. Nuclear reactor waste remains radioactive for hundreds of thousands of years and is composed of many elements and even more radioactive isotopes including Neptunmium 237 with a half life of 2 million years. Many disagree with the effort to pass off nuclear energy as clean.