Progress Energy may build nuclear plant in Levy County

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Progress Energy Florida says it may build a nuclear power plant in Levy County a few miles north of its existing Crystal River plant.

The state's second-largest electric company said last year it's considering building another nuclear plant to meet Florida's growing power needs.

Company officials say the decision to move forward with the plant still hasn't been finalized, but that if the company decides to build it would use the Levy County site.

Progress serves almost two (m) million Florida customers, mostly in the St. Petersburg area and the Orlando suburbs.

The state's largest electric company, Florida Power and Light, also has notified government regulators of its intent to build a new nuclear plant in Florida.

A new nuclear plant would be the first one in Florida since 1983, when F-P-L opened a second reactor at its St. Lucie nuclear complex near Fort Pierce.

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