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Residents Elated Power Lines A No-Go

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By JULIA FERRANTE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 20, 2008

Residents were relieved to learn this week that Progress Energy will bypass Pasco County in its plans for 200 miles of high-power transmission lines to carry electricity from a proposed nuclear power plant in Levy County to their customers through the region.

The company announced Tuesday it will expand its power grid along existing corridors in nine other counties including Pinellas, Polk, Hillsborough and Hernando counties.

Electricity will be channeled through lines already standing in Pasco, but the company will not require additional equipment or property, Progress officials said.

Community leaders credited vigilant opposition and support from state and county leaders for keeping the transmission lines out of Pasco, at least for the time being. The county commission was prepared to take Progress Energy to court to keep the "unsightly" power lines out of their county.

"I'm sure that some of our saber rattling helped," Commissioner Michael Cox said. "I think that probably made them think a lot more."

Progress Energy engineers decided against expanding transmission lines along heavily populated State Road 54, through Seven Springs and the Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Preserve after evaluating public input and other factors, company spokeswoman Cherie Jacobs said.

"Public input was one factor, but it was a balance between environmental issues, reliability, land use and cost," Jacobs said. "As we looked at it further and looked at the options, existing lines in Pasco are able to handle the load. ... It's sort of like a highway. It can handle some additional traffic."

The Public Service Commission, state Department of Environmental Protection and the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission still must approve the project before Progress Energy moves forward. Company officials say the power plant and transmission lines are needed because of the growing population, larger home sizes and higher energy demand in recent decades. The utility has 1.7 million customers in 35 Florida counties and anticipates 300,000 more customers by 2017.

Some Overjoyed, Some Cautious

Fred Krauer of Oakstead in central Pasco, who organized a community meeting and collected 3,000 signatures on a petition opposing transmission lines through Pasco, said he was "in shock" about the decision to stay out of Pasco.

"When they said they were to make an announcement on this Tuesday, my whole weekend I just kept thinking the worst," Krauer said. "It's a whole lifting off the shoulders, and I am happy for the residents of S.R. 54 who worked so hard."

Commissioner Ann Hildebrand, who represented Pasco in community meetings on the power line project, was cautiously optimistic.

"It's good news for Pasco," she said. "We will have to see the fallout and more in depth what their plans are and go from there. ... Some other areas in our state are not going to be as happy a camper as Pasco."

Pasco is not off the table for future transmission line projects, and Jacobs gave no timeline on when such projects may be considered.

"Pasco is one of the fastest-growing counties in the country, and we are constantly evaluating our transmission lines to make sure we have reliable power," Jacobs said. "New growth is constantly coming in. This project is one project. Pasco is not needed for this project."

County commission chairman Ted Schrader said he is glad Progress Energy plans to put the lines in existing corridors. "It's very encouraging that they paid attention and listened to our concerns," Schrader said. "I'm glad they made the decision as quickly as they did. For the residents, the uncertainty can be as bad or worse as the ultimate decision."

Cox said he hopes Progress officials will make Pasco part of future decisions.

"Hopefully, they will understand that Pasco wants a seat at the table rather than being dictated to," Cox said.

Krauer and his group are not letting their guard down, either.

"Honestly, I won't believe it until I see Progress Energy put their application with the state in," he said. "We've dodged this bullet, but will we dodge bullets in the future?"

Krauer plans to lead the charge to designate an east-west power line corridor that would be acceptable to residents for future transmission line projects. Residents and developers are concerned transmission lines will reduce their property values and drive away potential businesses.

Another Battle Brewing?

Betty Abshire of Briar Patch Village in Seven Springs, a stone's throw from one of the power corridors considered by Progress, was "elated" the utility chose another route. She and her neighbors were concerned their property would be taken by eminent domain.

"To run through such a populated area was daunting," she said. "I really do think that the effort and forces put together did have an impact."

Ralph Weinmann of Shady Hills also was relieved.

"Wow. That's amazing. Something actually went right for the people," he said. "My major concern was we built a house. We're going to stay in it forever. We don't want to root up and move."

Residents may soon have another fight on their hands. Florida Gas Transmission has filed paperwork to expand its 30-inch gas lines to 33 inches or 36 inches, requiring 50-foot-wide easements parallel to existing lines in Pasco.

"When one of those lines blows, they call the area around it a kill zone," Krauer said. "That's probably going to be another battle."

Reporter Julia Ferrante can be reached at (813) 948-4220 or jferrante@tampatrib.com.

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