Did you know that Disney has the legal ability to build a nuclear power plant at Walt Disney World in Orlando? They do according to an old Florida law that was established during the original creation of Walt Disney World and the Reedy Creek Improvement District back in the 1960s.
That right might be stripped by the state of Florida according to recent political conversations reported by the Orlando Sentinel.
Though no one believes Disney would ever build a nuclear power plant, particularly with their recent investment in solar power, some politicians want to guarantee a nuclear power plant will never come to fruition. The bill to remove Disney’s nuclear options also includes additional protections for firefighters working in the Reedy Creek area.
Sen. Victor Torres, D-Kissimmee, spoke about the bill:
“I don’t think Disney would ever do that, I don’t foresee that. But I just want to prevent anything like that from occurring — period.”
State Sen. Victor Torres, D-Kissimmee
However, stripping the nuclear abilities from the original law might face some opposition. Opponents could suggest that removing Disney’s ability now would prevent their ability to use an advanced form of the technology should safety, reliability and affordability improve in the future.
The law was originally crafted when Disney wanted protection from government regulation as it prepared to build its Florida destination, including the original version of EPCOT – the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. The original concept for EPCOT was an actual city, which may have warranted future plans for a nuclear power plant. That vision for EPCOT has long since faded and any ideas surrounding Disney building and running a nuclear power plant are completely unrealistic. The cost alone (believed to be well above a billion dollars) would end any conversation.
Currently, Walt Disney World is mostly powered by its own plant that’s primarily fueled by natural gas and by its recently-expanded solar panel farms.
