Why was the Levy County site chosen as the location for possible future nuclear expansion?

When choosing a prospective site for a new reactor, three considerations are essential: the availability of land, water and access to electric transmission capacity as well as an evaluation of environmental considerations. The Levy County site has each of these components.

Why was the Crystal River site not chosen for potential expansion?

Progress Energy's Crystal River Plant is an excellent candidate for a new reactor, as are all of the company's existing nuclear plant sites. The support of the existing plant from local community and elected officials has certainly been extended to the possibility of a new reactor. From the perspective of reliability, it is preferable to disperse generation sites rather than concentrate a high percentage of generation at one site.

How many jobs would be added if a reactor is built at the Levy County site?

If the decision is made to move forward with building a nuclear plant at the Levy County site, the construction process would be expected to generate 3,000 or more jobs of various types and durations, with a significant multiplier effect in the community for goods and services. The proposed two-unit facility would create 800 full-time, high-paying positions, and generate another 1,000 to 2,000 indirect jobs.

Will evacuation routes need to be determined around the Levy County site?

If a nuclear plant is built at the Levy County site, coordinated emergency planning would be an integral part of the process. That planning would include emergency preparedness activities with local, state and federal agencies, emergency planning zones and evacuation routes in the unlikely event of an emergency. These and other facets of nuclear plant operation would be developed and implemented as part of the long process if a decision is made to proceed with construction.

What would happen if there were an emergency or radiation release at the new site?

Safety and security are priorities for Progress Energy's existing nuclear sites and will be a high priority at the Levy County site if the decision is made to build a plant there. Emergency planning is a critical part of the comprehensive safety plan. At Progress Energy's existing plants, teams of employees focus on emergency planning year-round and work closely with state and local officials to ensure plans are current, realistic and protective of the public.

Would a new nuclear plant require any new infrastructure or service expansions in Levy and Marion counties?

Emergency preparedness for nuclear plant operations is mandated by federal law. Its development and implementation is coordinated among the utility and the federal, state and county agencies. Comprehensive emergency plans are developed to protect the public's health and safety.

In addition to emergency-response measures undertaken onsite at a nuclear plant, there are several functions and services that must be developed and implemented in the 10-mile emergency planning zone (EPZ). These include establishing arrangements for emergency medical care with local facilities and ambulance services; developing plans for transportation to off-site facilities; developing plans for training and equipping primary and back-up hospitals; training off-site and on-site emergency response teams; arrangements for off-site fire department response and training and, as needed, equipping those responsible for that response.

Are nuclear plant neighbors exposed to radiation?

Radiation occurs naturally and is found in the sun and minerals, as well as man-made sources like medical and dental X-rays and TVs. A unit of radiation is measured as a millirem. The average person receives 360 millirems of natural and man-made radiation a year, mostly from natural radiation sources. Nuclear plants contribute a minimal amount of radiation, less than 1 additional millirem of radiation exposure a year to people at the site boundary.

Are employees at nuclear plants exposed to radiation?

A very small number of employees at Progress Energy's nuclear plants actually ever work in areas where they would be exposed to small doses of radiation. These employees are rigorously trained to keep their exposure to a minimum by thoroughly planning all work, wearing protective clothing and using monitoring devices at all times. Progress Energy closely monitors radiation exposure to all nuclear plant employees to ensure that any exposure is within strict company and federal safety guidelines.