Turkey Point Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Why is new generation needed?

A. Our entire 35-county service area is made up of some of the fastest growing communities in the nation.

South Florida and Miami-Dade County in particular are undergoing tremendous growth. Homestead grew more than any other city in Miami-Dade County between 2000 and 2002, according to new census data reported in the Miami Herald. Nearby, Miramar and Weston are said to be among the 10 fastest growing cities in the nation.

Additionally people everywhere are increasing their everyday use of electricity by adding multiple new appliances and electronics.

To respond to this growth, FPL forecasts the need to add power plant resources capable of serving an additional 230,000 homes and businesses by 2007.

Q2. Why not build elsewhere?

A. We have recently completed new plants in southwest and northeast Florida and are building additional plants in Manatee and Martin counties.

Now it's time to turn our attention to the growth in southeast Florida.

In Broward, our last expansion was done when we repowered the Fort Lauderdale units in the early 1990s. In Miami-Dade, we have not added new generating units since the two Turkey Point nuclear units were added in the early 1970s.

The result is that we are currently importing 45 percent of the electricity we use in Broward and 40 percent in Miami-Dade.

Q3. What would FPL build at Turkey Point?

A. FPL's proposal involves adding a new, natural gas-fired plant capable of serving approximately 230,000 customers to its existing 11,000 acre Turkey Point plant site near Florida City.

The new unit would be among the cleanest, most environmentally-advanced and efficient power plants in the state.

Q4. Where is Turkey Point and what's there currently?

A. The Turkey Point site is about 25 miles south of Miami near Florida City.

There are two nuclear-powered generating units and two oil/gas-fired generating units at the site, which have been serving our electricity needs safely and reliably for more than three decades.

Q5. How much will the new plant cost and will it affect my rates?

A. It's anticipated that the project would cost approximately $600 million.

Since the new unit wouldn't be in service until 2007, it's premature to say how a new generating unit might affect rates in the future. However, whatever costs are incurred to build and operate new power plants and other facilities are shared by all 4 million FPL customers, not just those closest to the new plant.

Q6. What is FPL doing to keep rates down?

We work very hard to keep rates low. We are very proud of the fact that despite capital investments of more than $5 billion since 2000 to meet growth and further enhance reliability, FPL’s rates are the lowest among the major investor-owned utilities in Florida.

Q7. Why doesn't FPL add more renewable energy instead?

FPL is now moving ahead with three commercial solar energy projects in Florida, including one that will be the world’s largest photovoltaic solar plant and another that will be the first “hybrid” energy center, coupling solar thermal technology with an existing combined-cycle generation unit.

With our solar projects, FPL is expanding the use of renewable energy in Florida and demonstrating our commitment to our customers. Solar power will increase the amount of clean, renewable energy while decreasing greenhouse emissions and displacing the use of oil and natural gas. The three solar projects combined will prevent the release of nearly 3.5 million tons of greenhouse gases over the life of the project, the equivalent of removing 25,000 cars from the road per year and will make Florida No. 2 in the nation in the generation of solar power.

FPL’s other uses of renewables include purchasing energy from waste-to-energy plants, including plants that make use of methane gas from landfills and biomass waste such as sugar cane and wood chips.

Q8. How about more conservation?

A. FPL is a national leader in energy conservation. And, we have every intention of continuing our commitment to both conservation programs and load management programs, which help meet peak periods of high electricity use. FPL customers have helped defer the need for 10 power plants over the past two decades by adopting cost-effective conservation measures and by participating in voluntary programs where power to certain appliances can be automatically reduced at peak periods in return for a credit or discount on monthly bills.

Q9. Will a new pipeline have to be built to serve Turkey Point?

A. No. The Turkey Point site is currently served by an existing Florida Gas Transmission pipeline to the site, though some upgrades may be needed in the future to facilitate deliveries.

Q10. Will new transmission power lines be needed?

A. No. The Turkey Point site is currently served by existing FPL transmission lines, though some upgrades may be needed to the lines in existing rights-of-way.

Q11. What will the economic impact be locally?

Turkey Point’s contribution to the local economy today is significant. Through payroll, property taxes and local service and material purchases, we contribute more than $75 million into the local economy annually. Additionally, our 850 employees are active members of the community and are involved in all kinds of volunteer, civic, church and community activities.

During construction, we would expect to contribute an additional $60 million to the local economy in payroll and purchases. There also would be temporary job opportunities for hundreds of skilled workers during construction.

On a permanent basis, however, we expect to add only about 12 new jobs due to the efficiencies of the new generating technology and already having many employees on site.

Q12. What’s the process for approval of the new unit?

There are many agencies involved in reviewing the Turkey Point proposal. For example, this summer the Florida Public Service Commission will hold a “need determination” hearing to review FPL’s selection of the Turkey Point project as the best and most cost-effective proposal for customers.

At the same time, the project is undergoing other aspects of its site certification process, which is required by Florida law. This process involves the review of FPL’s operating plans and plans to minimize environmental impacts by many local, regional, state and federal agencies and ultimately calls for final approval of the project by the governor and Cabinet.

Q13. How can others learn about and comment on the project?

Our dialogue will be on-going and will focus on building relationships and shared understanding of the Turkey Point project among individuals and communities of interest. As part of our dialogue and communications, we are pursuing activities people have told us are of interest to them, including local presentations, update letters, this Web site and one-on-one discussions. If you have a question for one of our team members or you would like to arrange a presentation for your club, church or civic association, please call our project number 1.866.362.4888. We welcome your interest in our plans to help meet Florida’s future needs for electricity.