Sunday, 11 July 2010 16:03

Southern Alliance for Clean Energy has been fighting against Florida utility plans to build up to four risky new nuclear reactors while advocating for safe, clean and affordable energy choices that can reduce global warming pollution now including energy efficiency and conservation, wind, solar and bioenergy. With an already high reliance on nuclear power in Florida and with both Progress Energy of Florida and Florida Power and Light pursuing high cost new reactors, the time is now to take action.

SACE has intervened at the Florida Public Service Commission over the past years to stop Progress from building new reactors at the proposed site in Levy County. In 2009, SACE intervened in the 2009 Nuclear Cost Recovery Clause process that reviews both Progress' Levy Co. proposal and FPL's effort to build two new reactors at their existing Turkey Point  nuclear plant near Miami. See below to view expert testimony filed by economist Dr. Mark Cooper and nuclear engineer, Mr. Arnie Gundersen and SACE press releases. The FL PSC held hearings September 8-10, 2009 and heard SACE experts urge the PSC to reject FPL & Progress' scheme to charge customers nearly half a billion dollars for early cost recovery. On October 7, the PSC staff issued a recommendation that provided the utilities with nearly all they asked for. The PSC Commissioners voted 3-1 to approve FPL and Progress' scheme on October 16. Commissioner Argenziano was the sole dissenting vote. On October 19, SACE filed information with the FL PSC highlighting the serious safety concerns the Nuclear Regulatory Commission recently announced with the Toshiba-Westinghouse AP-1000 reactor design. On October 26, SACE requested oral argument to discuss the AP1000 concerns. In November, the PSC issued the final order.