In Monroe County, Ocean Reef, Key Largo Anglers Club, and Card Sound Road residents and visitors could be affected in the unlikely event of an accident at the Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant, owned and operated by Florida Light & Power (FPL). This is Area 10 in the Emergency Planning Zone.
Monroe County Emergency Management is authorized for IPAWS (Integrated Public Alert & Warning System) which allows for geographically targeted notifications via Everbridge. The Emergency Alert System (EAS) sends a short text message to television and audio message to radio and the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system pushes the message to landlines and cell phones in the area. In the event of an incident at Turkey Point, everyone in the 10-mile EPZ zone will receive emergency protective actions on their cell phones. Non-Weather Emergency Messages will be broadcast on NOAA weather radios. In addition, a siren adjacent to Alabama Jacks Restaurant alerting the public of an emergency at Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant, public safety officials in the Monroe County 10-mile EPZ will make announcements via loudspeakers informing residents and visitors to tune into local media for information.
Ocean Reef, Card Sound Road, and Key Largo Anglers Club residents and visitors are in Area 10 in the Emergency Planning Zone.
The Turkey Point Nuclear Plant is an important source of electricity generation for the state of Florida. As someone interested in energy and infrastructure, I wanted to learn more about where this nuclear plant is located and share some key details with readers.
Overview of the Turkey Point Nuclear Plant
The Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Station is a nuclear and natural gas power plant located on Biscayne Bay in Miami-Dade County Florida. It sits on a 3300 acre site just east of Homestead, FL, which is about 25 miles south of Miami.
The plant is owned and operated by electric utility Florida Power & Light (FPL). It generates enough electricity to power over 900,000 homes.
There are currently two operational nuclear reactors at Turkey Point, which went into service in the early 1970s. The plant also has natural gas/oil steam generating units though some of these are retired.
Detailed Location
The Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Station is situated at coordinates 25.43417°N, 80.33056°W. Here are some key details about its location:
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It sits directly on the shoreline of Biscayne Bay, which opens into the Atlantic Ocean. The bay provides cooling water for the plant’s reactors.
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The site is just east of the city of Homestead, Florida. Homestead is in south Miami-Dade County, about 35 miles southwest of Miami.
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The plant property also borders Biscayne National Park. This national park protects the northernmost section of the Florida reef tract.
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The Turkey Point site is quite close to the Florida Everglades. It sits just east of Everglades National Park.
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The plant is located about 24 miles south of Miami city proper. It sits along the coastline that stretches south from Miami towards the Florida Keys.
Surrounding Population Centers
Since the Turkey Point plant provides electricity to a large portion of South Florida, it is located near some major population centers:
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The city of Miami is just 24 miles to the north of the plant site. The metro area population is over 2.7 million.
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Homestead is the closest community, situated just west of the Turkey Point property. The city has a population of about 68,000.
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Within 10 miles of the plant there are over 160,000 residents, and within 50 miles there are nearly 3.5 million residents.
So the Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Station provides power to a densely populated section of South Florida, including the Miami metro area. The plant’s location was selected in part given its proximity to major electricity demand centers.
Access and Transportation
The Turkey Point Nuclear Plant site is located off of Palm Drive, just northwest of the intersection between Palm Drive and SW 344th Street. Palm Drive provides public vehicle access to the plant.
The site has a private airport, the Turkey Point airport, which is used by FPL to shuttle in workers and supplies. Employees also access the plant via nearby Florida’s Turnpike by taking Exit 5 onto SW 344th Street/Palm Drive.
Materials and equipment are primarily brought to the plant by truck and by barge via Biscayne Bay. The facility has marine terminals along the bay with two barge unloading areas.
While visible from parts of Biscayne National Park, the Turkey Point facility does not allow public tours or access within the plant property. However, the park’s visitor center provides distant views of the plant site across Biscayne Bay.
History of the Site Selection
Constructing such a large power plant requires a lot of considerations regarding location. Here is some background on how and why this site was chosen for the Turkey Point Nuclear Plant:
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In the late 1960s, fast-growing South Florida needed additional power generation. FPL purchased a 15,000 acre site along Biscayne Bay for a new plant.
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The location provided sufficient acreage for a large facility with room for future expansion. It also offered ease of access to cooling water.
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Being on the coastline allowed barge delivery of large reactor components. Road access was facilitated by the construction of nearby Florida’s Turnpike.
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While not heavily populated, the site was close enough to provide electricity to the Miami metro region. However, it was distant enough to minimize impact on major population centers in the event of an emergency.
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The area enjoys a subtropical climate. Reliable warm cooling water would be available year-round from Biscayne Bay.
Future Expansion Plans
As electricity demand continues to grow in Florida, there are plans to expand generating capacity at the Turkey Point site:
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FPL is planning two new nuclear reactors at Turkey Point, called Units 6 & 7. The utility received approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and is working through the permitting/construction process.
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These new reactors will be located on the southern end of the Turkey Point property. They will generate a combined 2,200 megawatts of electricity once completed.
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FPL projects the new units will begin operating in the late 2020s if the construction moves forward as planned. This will help meet Florida’s increasing energy needs for decades to come.
The Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Station site was intentionally selected with room for growth. This allows new power generation capacity to be located adjacent to existing infrastructure.
Ingestion Pathway Zone (IPZ)
- Extends 50 miles from the nuclear power plant.
- Exposure can be through the consumption of contaminated agricultural and dairy products.
In 1979, following Pennsylvanias Three Mile Island nuclear power plant accident, the federal lead role in offsite radiological emergency planning and preparedness activities were transferred from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
FEMA established the Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) Program to:
- Ensure the health and safety of citizens living around commercial nuclear power plants would be adequately protected in the event of a nuclear power plant accident.
- Inform and educate the public about radiological emergency preparedness.
REP Program responsibilities encompass only offsite activities, which include emergency planning and preparedness activities that take place beyond the nuclear power plant boundaries. Onsite activities continue to be the responsibility of the NRC.
Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ)
- Extends 10 miles from the nuclear power plant.
- Exposure can be through direct contact with or inhalation of radioactive particles released in a plume.
- The 10-mile area around the plant has been divided into evacuation and sheltering areas. These areas were established to allow local officials to provide clear evacuation and/or sheltering information for people in each area.
- If there was an accident at Turkey Point, it is not likely everyone within 10 miles would be affected. The area affected would depend on weather conditions, such as wind speed, wind direction, and the severity of the situation. Monitor news channels, the radio, and this page for information.
- Annually, FPL sends an information flyer to all residents and businesses within the 10-mile EPZ with important emergency information and directing them to FPL’s “Important information for nuclear plant neighbors” website
Study finds high levels of radioactive isotope in Biscayne Bay linked to Turkey Point canals
FAQ
How many nuclear reactors are in Turkey Point?
Where is Bill Gates building a nuclear power plant?
How old is the Turkey Point nuclear power plant?
Does Turkey Point have a nuclear power plant?
At the edge of Biscayne Bay, Turkey Point’s two nuclear units provide power to millions of people. The facility, which came online in the early 1970s, is operated by Florida Power & Light.
How do I contact Turkey Point nuclear power plant?
This information is updated annually. Español/Creole: (305) 468-5400 Planning is an important part of FPL’s strategy to protect you and your family. Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant has a more than 40-year record of safe operations, but it makes sense to have a plan in the unlikely event of any emergency.
Are Turkey Point nuclear reactors safe?
Though the agency that regulates the nuclear industry says mathematical modeling done by the plant shows that Turkey Point’s reactors are safe, Stoddard isn’t taking any chances.
Is Turkey Point a combined cycle?
Combined cycle? Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Station is a nuclear and gas-fired power plant located on a 3,300-acre (1,300 ha) site two miles east of Homestead, Florida, United States, next to Biscayne National Park located about 25 miles (40 km) south of Miami, Florida near the southernmost edge of Miami-Dade County.