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Progress Energy Releases Power Line Route Proposal

Progress Energy Florida

Progress Energy released Tuesday morning a map of proposed power transmission lines that the company says will avoid environmentally sensitive lands in Pasco and Pinellas counties.

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By Carl  Orth | The Suncoast News

Published: May 20, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. -- Feedback from residents convinced Progress Energy Florida that power lines it is planning to build to meet a growing demand for electricity on the Suncoast should follow existing corridors, company officials said in a press release this morning.

Hundreds of Pasco residents attended recent town-hall meetings to express alarm over some proposed routes along the S.R. 54 corridor. The Briar Patch Village of Seven Springs Coalition Against Progress Energy had been among homeowner groups concerned about the power lines which carry 500,000 volts.

"We listened to that feedback," Jeff Lyash, president and chief executive officer of Progress Energy Florida, said in a press release issued early Tuesday. "Overwhelmingly, people suggested we locate the new lines along or adjacent to existing lines wherever possible, to minimize the impact on nearby communities."

More than 90 percent of the preferred corridor follows existing rights of way. In limited areas, the existing right of way will need to be widened, the utility says. In most other areas, no additional land will be needed.

No more than 20 miles of new right of way will be acquired for the project, which measures nearly 200 miles long, Progress Energy says. The utility hopes to begin erecting the additional high-tension lines in 2012.

All areas will require further study before specific route options can be identified, the utility says.
The preferred corridor avoids any more impacts on the Brooker Creek Preserve, in the East Lakes area of Pinellas County, the Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Preserve, in southwestern Pasco, and other environmentally sensitive lands.

"We are committed to being good stewards of the natural resources entrusted to our care," Lyash said in the release.

Progress Energy Florida is considering adding about 200 miles of transmission lines across nine counties to keep up with population growth. New 230- and 500-kilovolt transmission lines could affect Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lake, Levy, Marion, Pinellas, Polk and Sumter counties.

Transmission lines are planned in three main segments, including:

• From a proposed power plant in Levy County to the Wildwood-Leesburg area.

• From Levy County south to Hernando County.

• From Pinellas County to Kathleen, in Polk County.

The preliminary preferred route is required for the Site Certification Application Progress Energy will file in June with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, utility officials explained.

The preferred corridor varies in width from 300 feet to 1 mile. It does not represent the specific route of the transmission lines, which will be significantly narrower than the preferred corridor. Specific route options will be selected in late 2008 and early 2009.

Thousands of residents of the potentially affected counties attended more than 30 informational meetings in the past nine months.

Progress Energy Florida will hold additional public informational meetings once specific routes are ready.

In coming weeks an interactive map will be available via the Progress Energy Web site for residents to see where their property is located in relation to the preferred corridor.

The public may get additional information via e-mail or by telephoning, toll free, 1-888-238-0373.

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