FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
Aug. 17, 2009
LAST WEEK
Cane Island Unit 4 Approval
FMPA received final approval last Tuesday from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for Cane Island Unit 4’s potable water and industrial waste water systems. Contact: Steve Carroll
Request for Proposals
FMPA issued a request for proposals last Wednesday for human resources consulting services to evaluate FMPA’s compensation plan, benefits plan, and employee handbook. The deadline for responses is Sept. 14. This is an action item from the Strategic Plan. Contact: Sharon Adams
Natural Gas Storage
FMPA met with representatives from Florida Gas Utility last Wednesday to discuss preliminary natural gas storage contracts. Contact: Rich Popp
Boiler and Machinery Risk Assessment
FMPA met last Thursday with management from Treasure Coast Energy Center and the Stock Island generating facility to review Aegis’ Boiler and Machinery Risk Assessment. The report will be presented to the Audit and Risk Oversight Committee on Sept. 24.
Job and Vendor Fairs
Zachry hosted a job fair July 30 to fill more 250 positions for the Cane Island Unit 4 project. More than 2,500 job seekers attended. Zachry has also scheduled a vendor fair for Florida businesses on Aug. 27 for services including miscellaneous sundries and supplies, lumber, auto parts, landscaping, office supplies, paving, catering and printing. The project has already contracted with more than a dozen Central Florida companies, spending more than $12 million.
FMPA.com Beta Testing
Beta testing for the redesign of FMPA’s Web site wrapped up last Wednesday. Special thanks to the beta testing volunteers for their feedback. The new Web site is scheduled to launch later this month. Contact: Bree Balchunas
THIS WEEK
Member Visit
Bud Boudreaux travels to Alachua on Tuesday and Mount Dora on Thursday.
Board Evaluation Committee
FMPA’s Board Evaluation Committee meets Thursday via conference call at 10 a.m. to gather comments and input for the general counsel’s upcoming performance evaluation. Contact: Sue Utley
Information Systems Feasibility Study
FMPA will complete work this week on a scope of work for a feasibility study of the Information Systems Department’s future plans. FMPA is working with a proposed vendor to refine the scope of the project. Once completed, Information Systems managers will work with FMPA to unify FMPA’s long-term strategy. Contact: Carter Manucy
All-Requirements Project Load
The weekly update of the All-Requirements Project historical load graph has been posted on the Member Portal. The graph is updated through Aug. 16. Contact: Jim Atz
Service Anniversary
Congratulations to Carter Manucy, who celebrates 13 years with FMPA on Wednesday, Aug. 19.
COMING UP
Cane Island Unit 4
FMPA, Zachry and representatives from General Electric (GE) meet Aug. 25 at Cane Island Power Park to coordinate GE’s equipment and manpower during the construction of Cane Island Unit 4. Contact: Steve Carroll
All-Requirements Project Conservation Program Roundtable
The All-Requirements Project participants are invited to a conservation program roundtable on Sept. 3 in the Board room at 10 a.m. Participants will discuss the ARP Conservation Program and exchange information on individual utility programs. For more information and to register, visit FMPA” rel=”nofollow”>http://www.fmpa.com/catalog/logo_apparel.html>FMPA Logo Apparel Catalog. Contact: Sara Barron
INDUSTRY NEWS
Florida Siting Board Approves Nuclear Facility Construction
Gov. Charlie Crist and his Cabinet, sitting as the Florida Siting Board, unanimously approved last Tuesday Progress Energy’s site certification request for construction of a nuclear facility in Levy County. The Levy Nuclear Plant is the first nuclear facility approved in Florida since 1976. “Today’s decision proves that Florida is on the right path toward achieving energy diversity and independence, said Goveor Crist. “I applaud Progress Energy Florida for its commitment to producing alteative energy options, creating jobs and protecting our environment for future generations.
Crystal River Unit 3
The Crystal River Unit 3 Nuclear Plant will begin a planned outage on Sept. 27. During the outage, Progress Energy will insert 76 new bundles of fuel and replace the steam generator. The overhaul is expected to be completed by December and will cost almost $300 million. Once completed, the plant’s output will increase 21% from 838 megawatts to 1,018 megawatts.
Wade L. Hopping Dies
Wade L. Hopping died last Tuesday of complications from a stroke and esophageal cancer. He was 77. Hopping was the founder of the Tallahassee law firm of Hopping Green and Sams and a former Justice of the Florida Supreme Court. Hopping Green and Sams participated in the negotiation and passage of various Florida laws, including the Florida Power Plant Siting Act and the Florida Electrical Transmission Line Siting Act. The firm also served as FMPA’s legal counsel on power generation projects including Cane Island Unit 4 and Treasure Coast Energy Center.
FMPA Weekly is published by FMPA for employees and goveing boards of FMPA member utilities. Questions or comments about this newsletter may be directed to Diane Nelson in FMPA’s Public Relations Department.
Want more background on the names and terms used in this newsletter? Check out FMPA’s new Glossary, which features some of the most frequently mentioned committees, companies, places and terms, or contact the person named in each FMPA story to lea more. (Click here for the Staff Directory).
Have a question, comment or story idea for the newsletter? FMPA welcomes your feedback at any time. Contact Diane Nelson.