 |
| Levy County Nuclear Power Plant | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country | United States |
| Location | Levy County, Florida |
| Coordinates | 29°4.4′N 82°37.3′W / 29.0733°N 82.6217°W[1] |
| Status | Cancelled |
| Construction cost | estimated $19–24 billion (includes $3 billion for transmission lines) |
| Owner(s) | Progress Energy Inc |
| Nuclear power station | |
| Reactor type | PWR |
| Reactor supplier | Westinghouse |
| Power generation | |
| Units cancelled | 2 × 1117 MW AP1000 |
The Levy County Nuclear Power Plant was a proposed nuclear power plant in Levy County, Florida. Progress Energy Florida originally estimated that the reactors would cost $5 billion and would commence operation in 2016. It later became clear[how?] that the Levy County reactors would not have started operation until at least 2026.[2][3] Since Progress filed its application for the new plant in 2008 demand for electricity had been growing very slowly, and natural gas prices were extremely low at the time. The utility estimated that the reactors would cost between $17 billion and $22 billion, not counting financing charges and cost overruns. According to economist Mark Cooper, opposition to the project has mounted, threatening a rerun of the 1970s and 1980s, when the majority of nuclear construction plans were canceled or abandoned.[2]
On August 1, 2013, Duke Energy terminated the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) agreement for the Levy nuclear project, as part of a settlement with Florida's consumer advocates.[3][4] On August 29, 2017, Duke Energy officially decided not to move forward with construction.[5]
- ^ "Crystal River Nuclear Plant Safety Information 2006-2007" (PDF). Progress Energy. p. 10. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 30, 2006. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
- ^ a b Mark Cooper (July–August 2012). "Nuclear safety and affordable reactors: Can we have both?" (PDF). Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. p. 61. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 8, 2016. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
- ^ a b "Duke Energy cancels EPC contract for Levy County". Nuclear Engineering International. August 2, 2013. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
- ^ "Duke Energy reaches revised multi-year settlement with Florida consumer advocates". Duke Energy. August 3, 2013. Archived from the original on August 6, 2013. Retrieved August 3, 2013.
The company will make a final decision on new nuclear generation in Florida in the future based on, among other factors, energy needs, project costs, carbon regulation, natural gas prices, existing or future legislative provisions for cost recovery, and the requirements of the NRC's COL.
- ^ Energy, Duke. "Duke Energy Florida files settlement agreement for building a smarter energy future". Duke Energy | News Center. Retrieved September 1, 2017.