boutons_deux
08-05-2013, 10:38 AM
Duke Kills Florida Nuclear Project, Keeps Customers' MoneyThe decision by Duke Energy (DUK (http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/snapshot/snapshot.asp?ticker=DUK)) to scuttle a proposed nuclear reactor project (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-01/duke-to-halt-new-florida-reactors-in-settlement-deal.html) in central Florida leaves utility customers in the state with a tab of more than $1 billion—most of it already paid to Duke—for unbuilt plants that may never produce a single kilowatt of energy That’s proven a powerful irritant for customers in the Sunshine State, where air conditioning is a necessity for much of the year.
The company said Thursday that it will halt construction (http://www.duke-energy.com/news/releases/2013080101.asp) on two reactors planned for Levy County, north of Tampa, after their estimated date of completion had stretched into 2024 at a projected cost of some $24 billion. Duke inherited the project as part of its purchase of Progress Energy last year, which made it the nation’s largest power utility. Duke’s decision also calls into question whether another large utility in the state, Florida Power and Light (NEE (http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/snapshot/snapshot.asp?ticker=NEE)), will proceed with two new reactors (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey_Point_Nuclear_Generating_Station) it plans near Homestead, south of Miami.
“Consumers should rejoice that the fleecing will end by one of the companies in this long and unfortunate chapter in Florida energy history, where utilities have conspired with legislators and the Public Service Commission to take advantage of Florida consumers,” said Stephen Smith, executive director of Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, an organization that has criticized plans for nuclear power plants in several states. The group held a conference call Friday to discuss the project’s end. “The bad news about all of this is clearly that consumers have paid literally billions of dollars for a facility that they are going to get no value from.”
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-08-05/duke-kills-florida-nuclear-project-keeps-customers-money#r=rss
The company said Thursday that it will halt construction (http://www.duke-energy.com/news/releases/2013080101.asp) on two reactors planned for Levy County, north of Tampa, after their estimated date of completion had stretched into 2024 at a projected cost of some $24 billion. Duke inherited the project as part of its purchase of Progress Energy last year, which made it the nation’s largest power utility. Duke’s decision also calls into question whether another large utility in the state, Florida Power and Light (NEE (http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/snapshot/snapshot.asp?ticker=NEE)), will proceed with two new reactors (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey_Point_Nuclear_Generating_Station) it plans near Homestead, south of Miami.
“Consumers should rejoice that the fleecing will end by one of the companies in this long and unfortunate chapter in Florida energy history, where utilities have conspired with legislators and the Public Service Commission to take advantage of Florida consumers,” said Stephen Smith, executive director of Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, an organization that has criticized plans for nuclear power plants in several states. The group held a conference call Friday to discuss the project’s end. “The bad news about all of this is clearly that consumers have paid literally billions of dollars for a facility that they are going to get no value from.”
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-08-05/duke-kills-florida-nuclear-project-keeps-customers-money#r=rss