In the 70s, Florida had three nuclear power plants . Today, Florida is down to two.
Those two, in St. Lucie at Jensen Beach and Turkey Point in Homestead, are producing energy through four reactors. The third plant is being decommissioned, a process that has already stretched 15 years.
But don’t count nuclear out in Florida or the rest of the country. Florida Power & Light (FPL), which is the largest U.S. electric utility by residential customers, owns the two operational nuclear plants and has applied to continue their licenses for nearly 30 more years.
Touted in the 60s and 70s, but rejected in the 80s and 90s after two large disasters (Three Mile Islan d and Chernoby l) and a move toward natural gas, nuclear power is seeing continued usage and renewed support and research.
FPL and its parent company are working to cut carbon emissions and nuclear energy plays a big part because it doesn’t emit greenhouse gas emissions. It is considered a must-use, along with solar and wind energy.