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18-April-2007 -- Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) presented its case to build an advanced clean coal technology power plant today in a need hearing before the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) and requested the regulatory body grant a determination of need taking into account the importance of maintaining fuel diversity and a reliable electric supply. FPL says the FPL Glades Power Park is the best, most cost effective way to meet the growing energy needs of customers at a reasonable cost and in an environmentally responsible way.
"We firmly believe this plant is the best solution FPL can pursue to maintain fuel diversity, ensure system reliability and mitigate price volatility for our customers," said Armando Olivera, FPL president.
The PSC has previously identified the need for Florida utilities to maintain a diverse fuel supply to protect consumers against potential supply interruptions or price volatility in any one fuel source by maintaining a balanced portfolio of the fuels needed to generate electricity.
In addition, FPL says the new power plant is needed to meet increased demand for electricity fueled by population growth and increased usage. FPL states the average residential customer uses about 30 percent more electricity today than just 20 years ago.
During the need hearing being held in Tallahassee this week, the company is presenting evidence to the PSC that the FPL Glades Power Park is not only needed, but that it is expected to be the cleanest coal power plant in the nation. FPL says the plant will set a standard of excellence for emission controls as it will be 23 percent more efficient than the average, existing U.S. coal power plant and produce significantly lower emissions. FPL Glades Power Park's emissions will be well below the strict standards set by state and federal agencies whose missions are to protect health, welfare and the environment.
The company says that growth in demand for electricity is such that even though its aggressive energy conservation program is number one in the nation and has resulted in postponing the need to build 11 power plants over more than two decades, it is not enough to defer the need for additional generation. The company also deploys renewable resources but these are not available in the scale or steady supply needed to meet the growing demand for electricity twenty-four hours a day.
"It is impossible to meet all of our customers' needs through conservation and renewable power development. We must, from time to time, add base load capacity to the electric system serving our 4.4 million customers," Olivera said.
Finally, FPL says it needs to build the FPL Glades Power Park to maintain system reliability for customers and to preserve a balanced, fuel diverse generation portfolio while maintaining an adequate level of generation reserve margin which is set at 20 percent.
The PSC is expected to issue a final order on the need for the FPL Glades Power Park in June 2007.
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