CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. (AP) _ The Nuclear Regulatory Commission wants to hear from people who oppose the construction of two new nuclear power reactors in west-central Florida.
The NRC’s licensing board plans hearings Thursday on Progress Energy’s plan to build and operate two new reactors in Levy County, not far from the utility’s existing nuclear plant in Crystal River.
Several environmental groups are trying to block the licensing of the plants. They claim that Progress Energy and the NRC failed to adequately analyze the environmental impacts.
The utility and the NRC say the plants will be safe and not harm the environment.
Progress Energy rate-payers are already on the hook for part of the $2.5 billion in repairs for the existing Crystal River nuclear plant, which has been shut down since 2009.
