Didn’t the State of Florida recently pass legislation that was supportive of Tampa Electric’s plans to build an IGCC unit?
Yes. In June, Governor Crist signed House Bill 549, which amended existing statues, to add new IGCC technology to the section that allowed advanced cost recovery for siting, design, licensing, and carrying costs for the construction of new nuclear power plants. The statute expressly states that the intent is to “promote” and “encourage” investor-owned utility investment in nuclear and IGCC technology. The law also directs the Florida Public Service Commission to consider the balance of fuel diversity when evaluating an IGCC’s cost effectiveness during a determination of need proceeding.
