ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida is exploring opportunities to expand nuclear power.

What You Need To Know

  • Florida is considering more nuclear power plants, among other energy alternatives

  • The consideration comes as Florida seeks to meet rising energy needs

  • The Florida Legislature was tasked with researching the idea in early 2024

  • State regulators first discussed the possibility Thursday in Tallahassee

The state is home to only two active nuclear power sites, both in South Florida — St. Lucie Nuclear Plant in Jensen Beach and Turkey Point Nuclear Plant in Biscayne Bay.

The state is also home to a decommissioning site in Crystal River, which shut down in 2013 after suffering damages.

According to the Florida House, the two remaining active sites in Florida provide roughly 13% of power to the state.

“We are a thousand miles away from any coal in Florida, and the cost of that doesn’t make good economics,” said Florida Electric Power Coordinating Group Board Chair Jacob Williams.

Nuclear energy got its second look Thursday at a meeting in Tallahassee involving Florida Public Service Commission staff members and electric-industry officials and experts after Gov. Ron DeSantis earlier this year signed legislation tasking the research.

The panel must deliver a research report, to be conducted in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Emergency Management, to the Florida Legislature in April 2025. The panel will also take into account public comment.

“We just want to produce this report, provide it to the Legislature with any recommendations that we may come up with for how we can increase the use of advanced nuclear in the state,” said Cayce Hinton, director of the Office of Industry Development and Market Analysis.

The panel has yet to release specifics, such as possible locations. However, the state is considering various nuclear possibilities, such as large- and small-scale reactors, as well as mobile nuclear power devices such as microreactors or small modular reactors.