Will FPL ratepayers build $20 billion in new nuclear reactors at Turkey Point? by gimleteye

The answer is "no!" to new nuclear power at Turkey Point in Miami-Dade, if you agree with Citizens Allied for Safe Energy that made its CASE to the public at a Town Hall meeting in South Miami last night. Although Miamians are not inclined to travel during Christmas season to meet on a civic issue; on the matter of nuclear power and the costs to be paid by ratepayers-- some $1.3 billion in rate increases if the Public Service Commission agrees in January 2010-- Town Hall was full. Here is the CBS/Channel 4 video link.

The two hour meeting was due to end at 9 PM when one energized citizen offered to pay whatever staff overtime South Miami would require to keep Town Hall open until more questions had been answered.

FPL had declined to participate in earlier government-sponsored forum and was not invited to be part of the citizen-organized panel, but last night it sent its top Miami representatives --without the cadre of lobbyists who usually accompany them on their own carefully orchestrated forays into regulatory spheres-- to observe.

The points covered in last night's meeting included: health risks from power lines and Turkey Point's troubled history, the conflicting interests of nuclear power at Turkey Point and Everglades restoration, economics of nuclear power and energy efficiency, and personal reflections on the contractions and mis-statements about the costs of nuclear in the context of energy policy reform and the environment. Dr. Jerry Brown-- one of America's enduring foes of the nuclear power industry-- said FPL was "a brilliant corporation" that could only build new nuclear by forcing ratepayers to shoulder the costs. Nuclear power, according to Dr. Brown, has been an economic failure since the first plant was built and that nothing changed since Forbes cover story in 1985 portraying the nuclear power industry as "the largest management disaster in business history."

There was extensive discussion about the capacity of conservation and energy efficiency in Florida to accommodate energy needs in the foreseeable future. FPL has been an opponent, at the state legislature, of new efficiency standards that would quickly move utilities away from massive investments like the new plants at Turkey Point. CASE's point: ratepayers will fund the $20 plus billion and corporate shareholders will reap the rewards.

The CASE volunteers are planning to offer the same presentation to communities throughout Miami-Dade County while there is still time to halt the plans for new nuclear reactors at Turkey Point in their tracks. In addition to the Public Service Commission rate increase decision-- which FPL says is critical or else it may not move forward on new nuclear. If FPL moves its application forward, the final choice would be made by the governor and cabinet after the November 2010 election cycle.

CASE, according to its organizers, is a Florida non-profit corporation. Donations for ongoing work-- described as Inform, Research and Sue -- can be made to CASE at 10001 SW 129 Terrace, Miami, FL 33176.



http://cbs4.com/getfitcalorie/South.Miami.FPL.2.1363518.html

FPL's Plans For More Power Lines Doesn't Sit Well

David Sutta
E-mail

Florida Power and Light's new power plan to build new nuclear reactors and
lining US1 with high powered lines is raising red flags. Thursday night,
inside a packed South Miami City Hall, community leaders and concerned
citizens discussed the threat the lines would post.

The 105 foot power poles would stretch more than 17 miles. Three of the
lines will border the Everglades National Park. Another line would run from
the Turkey Point nuclear power plant to the heart of Brickell in Downtown
Miami. The lines are just a segment of a plan to build two new nuclear
reactors in South Dade.

Dr. Philip Stoddard, a professor at Florida International University, told
CBS4, "You could hire a designer to make pretty power lines. That's the
least of my concerns. These things are dangerous and they are there to
supply a nuclear plant that is likely to put us at risk and it's expensive."

Stoddard believes if FPL gets its way, people living next to these lines are
four times more likely to die of cancer than a car accident on US1.

Doctor Stoddard has spent months pouring over FPL's plans.

"The bio-medical research shows that 240 thousand watt power lines, like the
ones they want to put up US1, double the incidents of leukemia." said
Stoddard.

According to Stoddard's research anyone living/working within 150 feet of
the lines would be at risk in a so-called cancer belt. In South Miami that
would include Sunset Place, City Hall, and even South Miami hospital. FPL,
which came to the meeting, said they rely on the scientific community to
tell them what is safe.

Steve Scroggs, the project director, said, "I think the overwhelming body of
literature supports that these can be done safely, with proper standards."

Cities are not buying it. Pinecrest, Coral Gables and even Miami-Dade are
joining South Miami Vice-Mayor Bryan Beasley in an effort to steer the
project away. "This is not about Bryan Beasley. This is about the City of
South Miami. This is about Miami-Dade County. This is about a bigger picture
than each of us individually." said Beasley.

Meanwhile FPL continues to go through an approval process. They hope to
break ground in 2014. But it won't be easy. Representative Julio Robaina
told CBS4 this evening the folks in Tallahassee are extremely concerned
about this plan, including the $20 billion price tag.

"Yes, we are very concerned. I have always been a critic of FPL and the need
for this, especially when we have a state where the population is
diminishing, and we are trying to expand the need for power." said Robaina.

Stoddard added the price tag doesn't make sense. "It comes to about $4,500
per family to build nuclear plants!" He believes they could build renewable
energy plants for half or even a third of the cost.