- Following a rigorous application process, Florida Power & Light Company's Turkey Point
Units 3 and 4 have been granted approval to operate for an
additional 20 years.
- A major economic asset for South
Florida, the facility will continue to provide safe, clean
and reliable energy for FPL customers into the 2050s.
JUNO
BEACH, Fla., Sept. 18,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) has approved the subsequent license renewal for
Florida Power & Light Company's
(FPL) Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4, enabling the
continued safe operation of these units through 2052 and 2053,
respectively. This significant approval ensures that the nuclear
facility will continue to provide reliable, low-cost and clean
energy to FPL customers for the next three decades.
"This approval demonstrates our commitment to working with
stakeholders to ensure that we can continue to deliver safe,
reliable and clean energy to our customers for decades to come,"
said Armando Pimentel, FPL president
and chief executive officer. "Turkey Point is an integral part of
the local economy and an essential part of FPL's fuel mix."
Clean and reliable electricity
Turkey Point Unit 3
began commercial operation in 1972, followed by Unit 4 in 1973.
Located 25 miles south of Miami,
the site sits on 11,000 acres of land dominated by protected
mangrove swamps and 168 linear miles of cooling canals. Generating
enough energy to power the equivalent of nearly 1 million homes and
businesses, the facility plays a pivotal role in maintaining grid
stability, supporting Florida's growing population and providing a
habitat for the threatened American crocodile and other native
species.
Turkey Point initially made history in December 2019 as the first nuclear plant in
the United States to receive
subsequent license renewal approval for an additional 20 years;
however, in 2022, the NRC concluded that its general environmental
review under the National Environmental Policy Act required
additional information and, consequently, resetting the previous
operating license expiration dates of 2032 and 2033. Since then,
FPL completed the rigorous reapplication process, providing
additional documents for a site-specific environmental impact
statement that led to restoring the initial subsequent license
approval.
Nuclear power plants have one of the lowest impacts on the
environment of any energy source as they produce zero carbon
emissions. Nuclear power comprises 20% of the company's fuel mix
and is the second largest energy source in Florida.
"This approval is the culmination of rigorous efforts to meet
and exceed regulatory expectations," said Turkey Point Site Vice
President Mike Strope. "Our team
demonstrated exceptional dedication and expertise throughout the
reapplication process, ensuring that the safe and reliable
operation of Turkey Point continues to play a critical role in
supplying zero-emissions electricity to FPL customers."
Economic engine for the local community
Turkey Point
is a substantial economic contributor, providing approximately 700
permanent jobs and an additional 2,800 jobs during outage
operations. The plant pays more than $37
million in property taxes each year, supporting the local
economy, community and public services.
Environmental commitment
Turkey Point's operational
excellence extends beyond power generation, highlighted by its
Crocodile Monitoring Program, which played a crucial role in
reclassifying the American crocodile from endangered to threatened
by preserving and creating suitable habitat for the species.
Another major environmental initiative currently under
construction at the site is the FPL Clean Water Recovery Center.
The facility, built in partnership with Miami-Dade County, will further treat and
reuse up to 15 million gallons of reclaimed water per day from the
county to cool the natural gas plant at FPL's Turkey Point Clean
Energy Center. One of the largest reuse projects in the state, the
center is scheduled to be operational in the coming months. The
center will provide a cost-effective way to reuse and recycle
treated wastewater that would otherwise be discarded and conserve
the need for groundwater from the Floridan Aquifer.
Ongoing subsequent license renewal applications
In
addition to Turkey Point, the company's St. Lucie Nuclear Power
Plant and the Point Beach Nuclear Power Plant, owned by FPL's
sister affiliate NextEra Energy Resources, are currently undergoing
their subsequent license renewal application processes, reinforcing
the company's commitment to reliable, low-cost and clean energy
solutions.
Florida Power & Light
Company
As America's largest electric utility, Florida Power & Light Company serves more
customers and sells more power than any other utility, providing
clean, affordable, reliable electricity to approximately 5.9
million accounts, or more than 12 million people. FPL operates one
of the most fuel efficient and cleanest power generation fleets in
the U.S. and in 2022 won the
ReliabilityOne® National Reliability Award for the seventh time in
the last eight years. The company was also recognized by Escalent
in 2022 as one of the most trusted U.S. electric utilities for the
ninth consecutive year. FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Florida-based NextEra Energy, Inc.
(NYSE: NEE), a clean energy company widely recognized for its
efforts in sustainability, corporate responsibility, ethics and
compliance, and diversity. NextEra Energy is also the parent
company of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which, together with its
affiliated entities, is the world's largest generator of renewable
energy from the wind and sun and a world leader in battery storage.
For more information about NextEra Energy companies, visit these
websites: www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.FPL.com,
www.NextEraEnergyResources.com.
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nrc-authorizes-fpls-turkey-point-nuclear-power-plant-to-operate-for-another-20-years-302251835.html
SOURCE Florida Power & Light
Company
