Progress Energy insists approach to bungled nuclear project was 'reasonable'

[kristopher]

Source: St. Petersburg Times

Progress Energy asked the state Monday to rule the botched handling of improvements at its Crystal River nuclear plant were "reasonable" and "prudent," the first step to passing at least some costs to customers.

Customers could pay as much as $690 million or about a quarter of the $2.5 billion in repair costs and purchase of alternative energy while the plant remains offline. The plant has been offline for two years and isn't expected to return to service for at least two more.

...On Sunday, the Times documented how Progress Energy opted to manage the improvements at the nuclear plant on its own. In its decision to handle the project itself, Progress Energy became the first utility in the country to oversee cutting into its own concrete nuclear containment building and replacing the reactor's steam generators.

Progress Energy eschewed the expertise of the two companies that handled all of the other similar projects in an effort to shave about $15 million off of the lowest bid of $81 million...

Read more: http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/energy/progress-energy-insists-approach-to-bungled-nuclear-project-was-reasonable/1196193

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Since the corporations that promote nuclear power assure us that building and operating nuclear power plants is an exercise in science, not economic, we all know that there is no need to worry about nuclear plants cutting corners.

You can trust them...

[DirkGently]

1. That sounds like Progress.

[Citizen Worker]

2. Cutting corners, cutting costs, we'll just pass it on to the ratepayers. Who said incompetence

doesn't pay and pay very well?

[No Elephants]

5. Wait until we start bailing out nuclear power plants, too.

According to an article that was supposedly written by Harold Ford, Jr. that appears on the DLC website, nuclear power plants are part of our "public" infrastructure. He groups them in with things like bridges.

"The best way to begin restoring our economy is to spend the $10 billion over the next four years on strategic investments in building up our public infrastructure -- our airports, roads, bridges, ports, nuclear power plant security, broadband networks and environmental technologies.

Who knew?

He's probably a little shaky on the public nature of things like broadband networks and environmental technologies, too. And, if I am not mistaken, some airports are privately-owned and entities like the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey began intertwining with private entities, the lamented World Trade Center being a prime example.

Facts. They only get in the way of the vision of the DLC.

[gratuitous]

3. So if taxpayers backstop Progress Energy's fuck up

We can expect Progress Energy to keep rates low, share any profits it makes from the plant with consumers, and in essence make those taxpayers full partners in the revenue stream from the plant, right?

:rofl:

I crack me up.

[kristopher]

4. Well, it isn't like it is a nuclear power plant or something.

No worries.