Progress Energy turns out lights on Crystal River nuclear plant

Duke Energy announced today it will shutter its nuclear power plant at Crystal River. — Progress Energy announced today it will shutter its nuclear power plant at Crystal River.

BY JIM SAUNDERS, THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

Ending months of debate and uncertainty, Progress Energy Florida said Tuesday it will permanently shut down a damaged Crystal River nuclear plant that has not generated electricity since 2009.

Progress and its parent company, Duke Energy, rejected the possibility of making costly repairs and decided to begin a decades-long process that ultimately will lead to dismantling the plant and decontaminating the site. The situation, which began with a crack in a containment building at the plant, is unprecedented in Florida.

One comment

Considering that it will likely cost more to dismantle and decontaminate the facility than to repair it, and considering that there are likely billions of dollars of ancillary equipment and infrastructure, it looks like this is a lot more a political decision than a financial desision.

Yet again, the rate-payers get to bear the burden. For shame.