I don't know how many read the article posted.
There are some other interesting aspects.
"One important factor in the resurgence: new federal and state laws that help utilities pay for nuclear plants that, if completed, would be among the most expensive projects ever built in the country."
In short the Florida power consumer is going to be paying for these plants before they are done. They will pay if they are not finished, and they will pay for cost over runs .....
The risk is being shifted to the consumer.
I smell Neocons at work, Neocons who believe we need nuclear power.
I also believe these plants are going to cost a minimum of 3 times initial estimates.
And the first ones will be finishing up about the same time that gas from AK hits the L48. It will not be an insignificant addition to gas supply.
I have also wondered if segments of our whole power industry our obsolete, in particular the segment that still believes in these monster plants, coupled to a monster of grid system. Those types of systems are getting to be extremely expensive, from all angles.
Florida is a sun state. I would not be surprised if these new plants on the drawing board in Florida are impetus for widespread use of solar and other alternative and/or local energy, by Florida consumers. In the limit there is even a possibility that the gov't will pay for some of these plants, if there is not enough consumption revenue.
I have thought that someday where natural gas distribution systems are available every new home may also come with a fuel cell, for generation of most of its needs locally.
There was another part of that article incorrect. Oil companies gamble more money than quoted within this article, without anyone picking up the risk. They do it regularly. This is but one reason why many large oil and gas projects are partnered.
The Alaska natural gas pipeline is getting closer and closer to reality. I suspect the final cost on that monster will be 90 billion or so, before all said and done. We seem to underestimate regularly, by a factor of ~ PI.
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TF |
