Press Mention Miami Herald / Naked Politics blog January 29, 2013
SACE Referenced
Weatherford opens door to revising nuclear cost recovery law
In this mention
House Speaker Will Weatherford signaled openness to revising Florida's 2006 nuclear cost-recovery law that has allowed FPL and Progress Energy to collect nearly $2 billion from customers before building nuclear plants. The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy is challenging the law in the Florida Supreme Court, arguing it socializes risk while privatizing profits. Previous repeal efforts by state representatives have stalled amid utility industry pressure.
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Weatherford opens door to revising nuclear cost recovery law
House Speaker Will Weatherford told reporters on Wednesday that he is open to revising the the 2006 law that allowed Florida Power & Light and Progress Energy of Florida to collect money for nuclear power plants before building them.
Speaker to reporters at the annual pre-session gathering for reporters and editors hosted by the Associated Press, Weatherford said he will leave it up to lawmakers on the various committe to decide whether to alter or repeal the law that has allowed the two utility companies to collect nearly $2 billion from customers with no guarantees they will build the plants.
"It's an interesting discussion,'' said Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel. "Obviously, no one can be
happy with the way we find ourselves today with regard to nuclear cost
recovery. There have been some unexpected things that took place. The cost of
natural gas has plummeted -- not a bad thing. We had the situation in Japan. We also
had an economic downturn. So what looked like a great idea in 2006, in
hindsight, may not have been.
"We can't go back and rewrite time and history but I know
there are people interested in this area and if the committee decides to take
it up we certainly will be supportive of their efforts."
Reps. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, and Michelle Rehwinkel Vasinlina have proposed bills over the last several legislative session that would repeal the law but, amid intense pressure from FPL and Progress Energy, the measures have never received a hearing.
The 2006 law is now being challenged by the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, an alliance of clean energy advocates who argue that the measure amounts to Florida taxpayers socializing the risk but privatizing the profits.
Posted by Mary Ellen Klas at 4:52 PM on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013