Participation opportunity – Turkey Point EIS public meeting
One of the most prolific anti-nuclear activist groups, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE), is distributing posts encouraging their followers to oppose FP&L’s plan to build two new reactors at the Turkey Point Power station.
SACE is encouraging people to submit negative comments via the public comment process for the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the licensing application for Turkey Point 6&7. (The initial NRC EIS review was favorable).
In addition, SACE is asking people to attend public meetings, which will be held in South Florida – Miami and Homestead – April 22 and 23.
The best way to respond to people who are freely expressing views that are contrary to yours is to participate in the process. Submit comments of your own that explain the importance of the project as both a source of reliable power and as an environmental benefit.
Here is the most misinformed statement in the below missive from SACE.
In the face of climate change, we need real solutions now. Clean, safe, and affordable renewable energy along with energy efficiency and conservation will not endanger our health, environment, or future.
(Emphasis added)
People who care about clean energy, clean water and avoiding CO2 emissions for both climate change and ocean acidification concerns should recognize that nuclear energy is one of the best available tools for archiving their goals.
If you are somewhere close to the public meetings, make plans to attend as many as you can.
The below release includes useful details.
Attend Hearing – Voice Concerns about Turkey Point’s Risks!
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Public Hearing on FPL’s Proposed Turkey Point Reactors
April 22-23, 2015
Miami and Homestead, FloridaThe U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is taking public comment on the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for FPL’s licensing application to build two costly, water-intensive new nuclear reactors at their existing Turkey Point plant in Miami-Dade County near Homestead, about 25 miles south of Miami.
Please attend one of the public hearings to voice your concerns [and support]. This is likely the last opportunity before a final EIS is issued for this project that, if built, will [favorably] impact surrounding communities, the Everglades, Biscayne Bay, local water and land resources and your utility bills. These reactors are
notthe[one] answer to Florida’s energy needs. In the face of climate change, we need real solutions now. Clean, safe, and affordablerenewable[nuclear] energy along with energy efficiency and conservation will not endanger our health, environment, or future.View our talking points on clean energy solutions and visit our website. For information from the NRC, click here.
Can’t attend any of the hearings? Please send in your comments on the draft EIS by May 22, 2015 by:
Mail: Cindy Bladey, Office of Administration
Mail Stop: OWFN 12 H8 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555–000E-mail: TurkeyPoint.COLEIS@nrc.gov
Details and hearing locations below.
Hearing in Miami, Florida
When: Wednesday, April 22, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Where: Florida International University
Stadium Club Room
FUI Stadium
11200 S.W. 8th Street
Miami, FL 33196More information here.
Hearings in Homestead, Florida
When: Thursday, April 23
First Session: 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Second Session: 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.Where: Hampton Inn and Suites
Miami-South/Homestead
Reef Room
2855 N.E. 9th Street
Homestead, Florida 33033More information here.
Questions? Contact Sara Barczak, sara@cleanenergy.org
Source: http://www.cleanenergy.org/2015/04/10/turkey-point-hearings/
(Edits inserted.)
SACE’s Twitter handle is @cleanenergyorg. It might be a good idea to follow and keep track of their activities.
I just cannot understand why these people just don’t get it. They preach about needing massive amounts of clean, safe and affordable energy……and then totally dis the ONE source that can actually achieve this!!
“In the face of climate change, we need real solutions now”…….yeah, and the “real” solution is Nuclear Power!!
I can only assume these same people believe Pete Rose deserves to be in the HOF.
@Bonds 25
Though we argree about nuclear energy, we apparently disagree about Pete Rose’s accomplishments versus his gambling habit.
He earned his place in the HOF by hustling and hitting; his gambling was a personal failure that did not artificially enhance his performance.
Betting on baseball is a *permanent ban* from the HOF. Game over. His acquired stats (which are overrated, but that’s not the point) during his playing career are null and void at this point. Rose was quite aware of these rules while he was betting on games. Rose never even eclipsed a 1.000 OPS during any season of his career. Barry Bonds did it 15 times…..including a 1.045 OPS during his final 2007 season (which was 3rd highest in MLB) Hell, his career OPS is 1.051.
Bonds not getting elected is the real travesty……his stats are in a whole other galaxy compared to Rose. 8 gold gloves for Bonds, 1 for Rose. 7 MVP’s for Bonds (should be 8) and 1 for Rose. Even hustle……514 stolen bases for Bonds…..198 for Rose. 762 Home runs for Bonds….160 for Rose (lol). And Rose played in almost 600 more games than Bonds.
Many people in general have a difficult time admitting they’re wrong, let alone just taking the time to question their beliefs.
Replace “difficult with “impossible”.
@Bonds 25
We agree about Bonds. Fantastic player.
I’m not much of a “rule follower,” especially when the rule is perhaps artificially imposed.
As a long time resident of the Upper Keys, I like the American crocodile
am a beneficiary of Turkey point 3 and 4. We have among the lowest
power costs onthe east coast. I am also a strong supporter of nuclear
power in general.
But I am at best ambivalent about Turkey Point 6 and 7. FPL
is estimating the cost of two AP1000’s at between 12.8 and 18.7 billion,
and has already started rolling in these future costs into current bills.
The cost of FPL power to the local cooperative has gone from 6 cents to 7.5 cents.
And thats only the start. If recent history is any guide, we will end up
at the high end of the range or above.
At these prices as a ratepayer, I dont want to see 6 and 7 built.
@Jack Devanney
What is the cost of electricity sold to local cooperatives from gas fired generating plants? How quickly would that change if US gas prices approached those of the world market?
Do you believe that efforts from activists add substantial costs? Do you believe that efforts from supporters might help lower total costs?
Any suggestions how Southern Florida can acquire this needed clean, safe, reliable energy without rates going up?
You’ll open foundries. We in Central New York will close ’em. Industry here will be gambling and the occasional Dunkin’ Donuts.
The local casinos are expanding. I couldn’t believe the hoopla when a new Dunkin’ Donuts opened in a nearby town.
It’s bizarre.
Inevitably rates will go up. If dirty coal is to be phased out (as it should), cleaner generation capacity will need to take its place. Gas is a good option, but we should not expect cheap gas to last forever, especially at the rate we’re using it now. Investing in clear nuclear energy now will build a facility that can produce vast quantities of reliable and clean energy for 60 years or more. Nuclear energy is a great option for building a generation capacity that will have a steady cost long into the future.
I grew up in Central New York. It has been in economic free fall since the 1960’s. NOTHING gets built there without a tax incentive, loan or grant. I had never seen a “Help Wanted” sign until I moved to Florida in the 1980’s.
NY has not had a successful economic development program since the Erie Canal.
I am surprised at the range of costs. Hopefully, the kinks in the supply chain will have been worked out by then as well as design/operation issues (too late for Vogtle and Summer).
If they really think the costs are that uncertain, that is a good argument for pausing and reconsidering.
I lived in Western NY for the first 31 years off my life……I now live in Eastern Washington. Every year that goes by (7.5) my distain for NY grows. Only thing I miss (besides friends, family and going to Bills games) are the beautiful colors of the trees in autumn.
Costs are going to have a wide range for a variety of reasons.
Uncertain future financing costs (i.e. interest rates and carrying charges) for the debt or bonds depending on how the bulk of the facilities will be financed.
Then there is the hard to quantify NRC and state regulatory costs. What will the NRC impose on the new facilities due to the local site condItions or construction issues that develop.
Also a high degree of uncertainty in estimating the legal costs associated with challenges from SACE and other anti-nuclear gropus who will come after FPL directly and through the NRC by any legal means they can.
Then add in the uncertain costs for upgrades to the local grid where the regulatory and technical requirements are shifting on a yearly basis.
So it doesn’t surprise me to see that wide of a range for a cost estimate for two large power plants.
Rod,
Dont know what the delivered cost of gas is in South Fl,
but at the lower end of FPL’s range, we are looking at an Overnight
cost of 15 cents/kWh and at the top end 24 cents. Quite
confident that gas will be much cheaper altho it may take
an extension of the pipeline network. I know people will say
cheap gas is about to run out. I’ve spent most of my life
underestimating the power of techology when it comes
to fossile fuel extraction. It will be a long, long time before electricity
from gas gets up in the 20 cent range.
Bonds 25.
Move from high pressure, low temperature nuclear
to low pressure, high temperature nuclear. but
this wont happen in the US without strong top-down direction.
Yes!
This is what we need. Two more of the same plants that are already under construction, at the time when Westinghouse will have all of the lessons learned from the first of these plants coming online (in China). Not something different.
As far as the NRC costs are concerned, most of them are with respect to the licensing delays. Opposition will have little power once the COL is approved.
@Jack Devanney
There were times in both of the past two winters when electricity from natural gas fired power plants in New England exceeded 20 cents per kilowatt hour by a rather large margin.
There are times in the heat of the summer in Texas, much closer to adequate reservoirs of gas, when the price of electricity from gas has exceeded 40 cents per kilowatt hour for several days running – if the producer could get any deliveries at all.
I’m in favor of ThorCon’s ideas. I wish development had started in earnest decades ago. At this time, however, I believe that there is a place for additional AP1000 reactors until such time as there are more available options. They have their issues, but they have a design certification.
I recently wrote a piece about Turkey Point:
http://www.energytrendsinsider.com/2015/03/03/turkey-point-power-station-and-its-ecosystem/
How different are anti-nuclear people from anti-vaccination people? Both groups are operating out of fear on faulty information.