Florida's "Energy Bill" Could Affect Brooker Creek Preserve

With plans to build a new power plant in Levy County to keep up with the increasing need for electricity, Progress Energy has developed various “corridors of opportunity” for placement of the associated power transmission lines. One of those potential corridors is through Brooker Creek Preserve.

Several months ago, the Friends board of directors became aware of Senate Bill 1506. If passed, this bill would allow power companies the right to utilize publicly owned lands for placement of power transmission lines wherever they deem it necessary.

It would not allow for any recourse or input by local governments or the public .

Our most current concern is now SB 1544. This bill couples the unacceptable provision for placement of transmission lines (SB 1506) with other provisions, some of which may actually be desirable.

At its April board of directors meeting, the Friends of Brooker Creek Preserve approved the following position statements. We have sent letters reflecting our position to Progress Energy, as well as to our elected officials.

POSITION STATEMENT REGARDING SB1506 and SB 1544

The Friends of Brooker Creek Preserve are opposed to Senate Bill 1506, regarding the siting of power transmission lines, or its equivalent in any other bill. We oppose bundling the provision for allowing the siting of power transmission lines into Senate Bill 1544 or any other Senate Bill.

POSITION STATEMENT REGARDING THE PROGRESS ENERGY CORRIDOR WITHIN BROOKER CREEK PRESERVE

As of April 10, 2008, based on the information we have from Progress Energy, which is that they would need a corridor of approximately 250 feet if they were to place transmission lines on their property in Brooker Creek Preserve, the Friends of Brooker Creek Preserve are opposed to expansion of the currently existing right-of-way or easement because this appears to be sufficient to meet their needs. 

HOW YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

As the legislation is being amended frequently, we recommend that you review the listed websites below, make your own decision, and act on it quickly to have your opinion heard. As we gather new information, we will post it here.

• SB 1544
• SB 1506
• Howard Troxler's summary 4/3/08 http://blogs.tampabay.com/troxler/2008/04/the-electric-bi.html)
• Howard Troxler’s column 4/19/08 http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/energy/article464502.ece
• Find information about the Levy County nuclear power plant and its associated transmission lines at Progress Energy’s website: www.progress-energy.com. Use such search words as “corridors of opportunity” “ Levy County nuclear power plant” and “ Pinellas County ”.  

CONTACT INFORMATION:

• Find your legislators and search for specific bill numbers at www.leg.state.fl.us
• Senator Mike Fasano Room 302 Senate Office Building 404 South Monroe St. Tallahassee , FL 32399-1100