FPL Discusses Plan to Generate More Energy at Nuclear Plant

By Rebecca Dellagloria, The Miami Herald

Apr. 2–A plan by Florida Power & Light to generate more energy at its Turkey Point nuclear power plants was discussed Friday at a public meeting held by Miami-Dade County and staff members of the South Florida Regional Planning Council.

During the 1 1/2 -hour session, held at the John D. Campbell Agricultural Center in the Redland, FPL administrators discussed its application to “uprate” — or increase the generating capacity of its existing power plants.

The application is separate from another proposal by FPL to add two new reactors at Turkey Point.

A handful of people, including a representative from the Tropical Audubon Society and a National Park Service employee, also asked questions about the proposal. They included whether there would be any negative effects of “uprating,” such as harm to Biscayne Bay or Everglades restoration efforts, as well as the reproduction of crocodiles who make their home in the Turkey Point canal.

The answer to those questions was a resounding no. According to FPL spokesman Mayco Villafana, there will essentially be no change to the current power plant or cooling canal system, and as a result, the uprate project will not adversely impact the water quality of the surrounding surface or ground waters.

As for the crocodiles, FPL does not anticipate that a slight increase in water temperature as a result of the uprating will “alter the historically preferred nesting areas” of crocodiles, who nest on berms throughout the cooling canal system, Villafana said.

Bob Daniels, a staffer at the South Florida Regional Planning Council, passed around comment cards and asked that everyone fill one out.

Paula Church, a supervisor from the county’s department of planning and zoning, also urged concerned citizens to contact her department as soon as possible.

Each agency has until April 7 to provide comments to the Department of Environmental Protection, Church said. That agency will, in turn, make an overall recommendation to Gov. Charlie Crist and his Cabinet, likely later this year.

For more information on the FPL proposal, visit www.www.sfrpc.com.

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