Additional Capacity From Our Existing Nuclear Units

FPL had a Determination of Need petition approved by the Florida Public Service Commission earlier this year to increase the generating capacity of its four existing nuclear units at Turkey Point and St. Lucie by an additional 100 megawatts each. Known in the industry as a "power uprate," this effort entails modifying or replacing existing plant components such as the turbine generators, valves and certain control systems to increase electric generation capacity.

Power uprates provide additional electric generation without greenhouse gas emissions while enhancing fuel diversity in our power generation mix to stabilize costs for our customers and increasing the reliability of our electric supply.

FPL will now apply with the state for site certification and seek a license amendment from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the power uprates to take place in 2011 for Turkey Point Unit 4 and St. Lucie Unit 1, and 2012 for Turkey Point Unit 3 and St. Lucie Unit 2. The uprates will take place when each of the four units is offline for scheduled refueling outages.

The NRC has approved different levels of power uprates for more than 100 nuclear units since the 1970s. FPL has implemented power uprates at all four of its nuclear units in Florida in the 1980s and 1990s, and more recently at its Seabrook Station nuclear power facility in New Hampshire.

For more information on FPL’s nuclear power plant uprates, click on the following link: POWER UPRATE Q&A