The CWIP bullet we dodged hits Florida instead
So far this rendering is all that Progress Energy's customers are getting for their money.
You may recall our long series of editorials opposed to AmerenUE’s efforts to change Missouri’s “CWIP” law (construction work in progress) before it moves ahead with a second nuclear power plant in Callaway County.
If not you can read the most recent one here, and scroll through The Platform for the last year to find six or eight others.We almost CWIP’d ourselves out.
Fortunately, the Missouri Senate laid aside the CWIP bill 10 days ago. Here’s what happened in the state of Florida, as reported in the Tampa Tribune:
Progress Energy’s $17 billion nuclear project has been delayed by 20 months, but its customers will continue to pay for it in their monthly electric bills.
The utility wants to start charging customers nearly twice as much next year for the Levy County project even though it won’t start producing power until March 2018 at the earliest, the St. Petersburg utility announced Friday morning. The delay may also increase the price of the project, but the utility won’t know the details until later this year.
This is not to say the same thing would have happened with Callaway 2. On the other hand, it’s nice to know it won’t be a problem.
From the link - “…the NRC said that its review of the Westinghouse AP1000 — the reactor design picked by Progress Energy, Florida Power & Light and four other energy companies — is running 15 months behind schedule. The NRC estimates that its review will be complete by August 2011. Without approval of the design, Progress Energy and the other energy companies can not get their licenses to start construction.”
It has become illegal to build, generate, produce… enjoy life in this country. Just wait till cap & trade kicks into your KW cost premium; coal will be too costly and we said we hate nukes - we said we hate modernity.
We’ll give the Dark Ages another try (in both senses of the term).
So for a dollar more on their utility bills, the project continues to employ thousands of workers pouring millions of dollars of economic activity in the area for at least twenty more months. Sounds alright to me right about now.
In light of the company’s dire situation, one would think the PD’s ed board might appreciate major job creation.
Coal prices skyrocket. Power demands increase, creating the need for additional generating capacity. Transmission & distribution systems need upgrading. No matter what a utility needs a rate increase for, there will be fierce opposition.
If the Post is so interested in keeping electric rates low, then the Post should oppose the cap & trade bill. It’s going to substantially drive up electricity prices and have no measurable benefit on global temperature.
–I could be ok with a new nuclear plant; the technology is established, the emissions far less than coal, gas, or oil, and regulation is pretty tight. Yes there are risks, but they can be managed.
What bothered me about the whole debacle is how Ameren’s fee increase kept changing. one day its 10%, then 25, then 40%, and never a satisfactory explanation why. It feels like they simply assumed everyone would buy the ‘nuclear is good’ mantra without looking at the price tag. After what happened with Metrolink they should’ve been paying more attention.
I have tried to determine what is the difference between a liberal and a conservative. Now, I think I have the answer. The ideology of a liberal is the same as a COWARD! They hate war, they are afraid of nuclear power, they fear striking out on their own and making it on their own will and effort. They must have government GIVE them safety, money, and protection for all uncertainty. THEY ARE AFRAID. That is the difference.
The Post Editorial Board is the perfect example of why energy problems never get properly addressed. Nuclear power is “too dangerous”, so we rely almost exclusively on coal for electric power. Then comes the fears of climate change, and all the anti-nukers scream that we’re destroying the planet by burning fossil fuels. Finally, when utilities actually step up to resurrect nuclear power, roadblock after roadblock is thrown in the way. Is it any wonder providers are reluctant to invest billions into new power plants when the next wave of anti-nuclear lunacy jumps up to oppose any new plants?
Too bad we can’t power our homes and businesses with hot air.
Typical! I’m not surprised by this at all. “I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.” Thank God Callaway 2 isn’t going up. For now
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MISSOURI HOUSE AND STATE REPRESENTATIVES, UTILITY COMMISSIONS, AMERENUE PERSONEL AND STOCKHOLDERS, AND ALL OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN CONCERNED WITH THE JUDGEMENT PRINCIPLES OF RIGHT AND WRONG IN RELATION TO HUMAN ACTION AND CHARACTER. BY WITHHOLDING THE CONSTRUCTION OF ANOTHER NUCLEAR POWER PLANT, IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI, PROVES THAT MISSOURIANS CONTINUE TO USE THEIR EDUCATION AND MORAL CONTRIBUTIONS WHEN CHOOSING SIDES. LETS CONTINUE TO DO THE RIGHT THING.