Atomic safety board to take statements

• WHAT: Statement session regarding the Levy County nuclear power plant
• WHEN: 1 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday.
• WHERE: Plantation on Crystal River, 9301 W. Fort

Island Trail, Crystal River.

CRYSTAL RIVER — A meeting is set for Thursday as part of the process to build a nuclear power station in Levy County.

A group of three judges has been assigned by U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) to conduct contested hearings for the Levy Nuclear Plant Combined License Application.

The ASLB will accept oral or written limited appearance statements from members of the public regarding the application of Progress Energy Florida Inc. (PEF) to the NRC for a license to construct and operate two nuclear power plants in Levy County. 

According to PEF, the proposed Levy County nuclear project, which has a planned in-service date of 2021, is expected to generate about 3,400 construction jobs at its peak and about 800 permanent jobs at the plant.

Once the nuclear units are in operation, customers would benefit from up to $1 billion per year in estimated fuel cost savings, according to the utility. The company also currently estimates savings of about $500 million per year in avoided carbon emissions.

Chronicle reporter Chris Van Ormer can be reached at 352-564-2916 or cvanormer@chronicleonline.com.