A Petition Against Florida Power & Light’s (FPL)
Nuclear Expansion Project
Background
At FPL’s request, Florida’s utility oversight board, the Public Service Commission (PSC), issued a determination of need in 2008 for additional nuclear reactor units at the Turkey Point power plant.
Soon after, FPL and Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection began proceedings to certify the new nuclear reactor units and hundreds of miles of oversized transmission lines in western and eastern Miami Dade County. The transmission line poles will stand up to 105 feet tall, 4 feet in diameter, and will be erected near homes and public transportation in the east and Everglades National Park in the west. These poles will not be built to the standards of the Florida Building Code’s High Velocity Hurricane Zone and a better option (underground) was available but not considered by FPL.
From 2010-2013, FPL was authorized to collect millions of dollars (over $17 million in 2013 alone) from its customers, to cover these licensing costs, through Florida’s Advanced Nuclear Cost Recovery law. In May 2014, the Governor and the Cabinet rubber-stamped FPL’s project, including the new reactor units and ten-story transmission lines despite much public opposition. The City of Miami, South Miami, Village of Pinecrest and Miami-Dade County are appealing portions of this certification.
Before FPL may begin construction of the reactors or the eastern lines, it must receive approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). This approval process has already begun. A public comment period will likely begin in Feb. 2015 with a final decision expected in early 2017, therefore:
We, the voters of Miami-Dade County represented in this petition request
the following from our governmental representatives and elected public
servants:
For the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC): to deny FPL a license to build 2 new reactors at the troubled Turkey Point nuclear plant; with special attention given to:
• Environmental considerations pertaining to climate change, sea level rise, adverse impacts to endangered species, the plant’s considerable water usage and the potential for damage to South Florida’s water supply.
• Radiological safety and socio-economic impacts.
For Florida’s Public Service Commission (PSC): to rescind its need determination because:
• The decision was made in 2008 during a historic economic downturn and is based on outdated projections of Florida’s energy needs.
For the Governor and Cabinet: to rescind their order approving FPL’s plan; with special
attention given to:
• Respecting local land development regulations, building codes and resident’s safety concerns.
Respectfully,
[Name] [Address] [Signature] [Voter Reg #]
%%your signature%%
