The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) has approved the additional nuclear plants and specifically agreed that Florida Power & Light (FPL) should proceed with making reservation payments on a key piece of equipment with long advance ordering requirements.
FPL is pursuing the option of constructing two nuclear plants at Turkey Point, that will add between 2,200MW and 3,000MW of capacity. If built, the units are expected to go into service between 2018 and 2020.
The PSC’s decision reportedly represents one step in a process that will take 10 years or more. Before FPL makes a final decision to build these nuclear units, it will be involved in wide-ranging discussions and consultations with local residents and governments and must obtain approvals from several state and federal agencies, including licensing approval and oversight by the federal government’s Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
If constructed, the new units will diversify FPL’s fuel mix, which currently consists of 50% natural gas. The firm said that, fuel diversity helps protect customers from price spikes that can result from being overly dependent on a single fuel source.
