Recently, Duke Energy announced that they were abandoning plans to build a nuclear power plant in Florida’s Levy County. When the construction plans were initially publicized over seven years ago, they were met with favorable support and high hopes from the Levy community. These local residents had witnessed the economic upturn in both jobs and money a power plant had brought to nearby Crystal River and eagerly anticipated the same good fortune. When the news of cancelling the Levy County power plant met the public in early August, doubt overshadowed the hope these residents once felt. In a county with 15,000 residents currently employed with an average yearly household income of $36,000, the construction of a power plant had projected:
- More than 4,000 jobs created for the building of the power plant
- More than 2,000 jobs created for the power plant itself
- Yearly salaries averaging more than $80,000
- A projected $22 million tax bill for the county’s budget
The changing landscape of nuclear builds is hitting home to more than just Levy County residents. Earlier this year, Dominion Virginia Power announced plans to terminate their contract with Mitsubishi and instead return to GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) as their technology partner for the North Anna 3 Nuclear Power Plant Project. While the renewed partnership brings great excitement for both Dominion and GEH, there is still no commitment to begin building on schedule, much like what was experienced with the Levy power plant. The project development agreement between Dominion and GEH is set to include engineering work to support the development of a specific Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR) design for North Anna 3 and licensing support work for the power plant’s Combined Operating License (COL) application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. If carried through, North Anna 3 would have the potential of becoming the world’s most technologically advanced reactor.
The energy industry is constantly evolving and despite the changing landscape of nuclear builds, more and more jobs are coming to the surface each and every day. Working with an energy-specific niche staffing firm like FootBridge Energy is the only way to make sure you are finding the right energy industry companies and qualified candidates in the right place at the right time. FootBridge Energy brings over a decade’s worth of experience to the table and prides itself on successfully placing the energy industry’s top candidates with some of the most notable energy companies. If you are looking to grow your career in the energy industry or locate the energy industry’s top talent, contact FootBridge Energy for results today!