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Choice delayed on site for nuclear plant

It's still possible Progress Energy will build its new Florida plant at the existing Crystal River nuclear site.

By CATHERINE E. SHOICHET
Published December 24, 2005

Progress Energy initially planned to pick a site for a new nuclear plant in Florida by the end of this year. But now, company officials say that decision may not come until March.

Spokesman Rick Kimble said the utility has yet to start compiling a list of potential sites and is still reviewing general areas of the state to consider.

In an October briefing for local government officials, Progress Energy vice president and chief nuclear officer C.S. "Scotty" Hinnant said the Crystal River complex, where the company already operates a nuclear reactor, was one of the sites being considered.

Earlier this month, representatives from the Economic Development Council and the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce met in St. Petersburg with Progress Energy Florida president and chief executive officer Bill Habermeyer to emphasize the county's support.

"We clearly hope that we make the cut," said EDC president Jack Reynolds, who attended the meeting.

And even though Progress Energy officials provided few details at the meeting about the status of the planning process, EDC executive director Brett Wattles said it seemed the Crystal River complex was still under consideration.

"I think we all felt like we were still in the hunt," he said. "We certainly let it be known that we would enjoy having the project here, and at whatever time was appropriate we would like to get with them and work with them in that direction."

As Progress Energy officials continue researching their options, Reynolds said the council is approaching local government officials to discuss the project's advantages.

County Commission Chairman Gary Bartell said Reynolds contacted him after meeting with Progress Energy officials and said the EDC might ask commissioners to write a letter of support.

"I told them if they did I'd be glad to put it on the agenda for discussion," Bartell said.

Wattles said Progress Energy represents about 28 percent of Citrus County's tax roll. Last year, the company's total tax payment was about $32-million, he said. And it provides more than 1,000 jobs in the area.

At a meeting last month, Progress Energy officials told the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission that they planned to select two locations for possible new nuclear plants, one in Florida and one in the Carolinas, by the end of the year.

They also said they would select a reactor design by the end of the year and submit applications to the commission in late 2007.

Progress Energy Carolinas already operates three nuclear plants and has chosen a location for a new nuclear plant, but officials say they won't publicly announce the new site until the second or third week of 2006.

In November they told the NRC they were considering four sites where the company already operates nuclear plants, including the Crystal River complex in Citrus County along with Shearon Harris and Brunswick in North Carolina and Robinson in South Carolina. But they said they were also considering entirely new sites.

The NRC and Progress Energy plan to hold a public meeting to announce the sites and technology the company has selected.

The Crystal River nuclear power plant, which began operations in 1977, is one of five nuclear reactors at three sites in Florida. Its license from the NRC expires in 2016, but Progress Energy officials have said that they plan to renew the license at least until 2036.

The 838-megawatt nuclear reactor currently in operation at the Crystal River complex was a topic of discussion at a recent County Commission meeting.

Commissioners approved a settlement in a land use lawsuit that would allow the development of a 50-home waterfront subdivision in northwest Citrus. Some of that property falls within a 5-mile radius of the nuclear plant.

The county's comprehensive plan prohibits new development in that area, but director of Development Services Gary Maidhof told commissioners the guideline had not been enforced. Commissioners asked staffers to research the history of the comprehensive plan's nuclear plant provisions, and they said they plan to address the issue while revising the plan next year.

Times staff writer Louis Hau contributed to this report. Catherine E. Shoichet can be reached at cshoichet@sptimes.com or 860-7309.

[Last modified December 24, 2005, 01:09:13]