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1 May 2009 — Progress Energy Florida's $17 billion nuclear project has been delayed by 20 months. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission won't allow Progress to begin foundation and excavation work until the agency approves a combined operating and construction license for the plant.
Progress said the schedule change will delay the commercial operation dates for the two units from the 2016-2018 period. The utility said it expects to receive the license in late 2011 or early 2012. The plant will be located in Levy County, Fla.
Progress is seeking to spread costs associated with the nuclear project over five years. In October, Florida regulators voted to allow Progress to recover the cost of the nuclear plant through charges to customers before the plant actually begins producing electricity.
In January, Progress signed an engineering, procurement and construction contact with Westinghouse Electric Co. and The Shaw Group for two 1,105 net MW AP1000 reactors.
The NRC also said that its review of the AP1000 reactor design, picked by Progress Energy and five other energy companies, is running 15 months behind schedule. The NRC estimates its review will be complete by August 2011. Without design approval, Progress Energy and other energy companies cannot get their licenses to start construction. If the AP1000 review takes longer than anticipated, or if Progress Energy's license runs into further delays, construction could be pushed back further.
Progress Energy has invested $389 million in the project and has recovered about $80.5 million from customers.
Stories of interest:
Progress Energy Florida signs EPC contract for nuclear plant
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