Taxpayers Steaming Over Florida Nuclear Plant's Shuttering
The operator of Florida's Crystal River nuclear plant sent shockwaves through the state when it announced recently that it was shutting down the facility for good.
When nuclear plants have closed elsewhere, locals have cheered. But in Citrus County, it's been more like a death in the family.
At Fat Boy's Bar-B-Q restaurant in Crystal River, owner Bubba Keller says he's worried about what's going to happen to the community.
"I mean, things are already tough," Keller says. "If this makes it worse, don't know if I can hang in there."
Keller's restaurant has been serving beef, pork ribs and chicken here for more than 40 years. When the Crystal River plant was operating, Fat Boy's Bar-B-Q could depend on regular takeout orders from the several hundred people who worked there.
But those days are gone. The plant shut down for maintenance in 2009 and last week, Duke Energy announced it would not reopen.
An Economic Engine, Shut Down For Good
Citrus County is a largely rural area that's still struggling with the collapse of the housing market and the construction industry. Coming on top of that, Keller says, the plant's closure hurts.
"It's definitely going to trickle down. I mean, if it hurts the economy any more than it's already hurting," he says. "Because our biggest problem is our sales are down, and that's primarily because our biggest clientele can't afford to go out and eat."
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