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Transmission Line Protesters Celebrate Route Decision

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By Carl  Orth | The Suncoast News

Published: May 24, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - Does Christmas come in May? Yes!

At least Betty Abshire and other Briar Patch Village residents might have been tempted to say so after Progress Energy Florida this week steered clear of Pasco County for possible routes for new transmission power lines.

"I would use the word elated," Abshire said as president of Briar Patch Village of Seven Springs Homeowners Association. The 155 villas are nestled near Seven Springs Boulevard and Perrine Ranch Road.

Power line towers might have essentially split the community in half under one route the utility had suggested, Abshire believes.

About 200 people from Briar Patch Village, Trinity West and Nature's Hideway appeared for a May 3 protest meeting against the potential power line route. That protest had followed an April 28 protest in Land O' Lakes which drew more than 400 concerned residents from a wide area.

Progress Energy Florida officials "listened to the voices" of protesters, Abshire remarked. Utility executives realized it would be "unpleasant" had they proceeded with the route through the Briar Patch area. Some families were concerned for their children's sake.

The transmission lines will carry up to 500,000 volts. Abshire said a cardiologist told her the magnetic fields from such a strong current would create a hazard for people with pacemakers.

People trying to sell homes in the area breathed some sighs of relief, Abshire thinks. The market is slow enough as it is without trying to convince buyers to purchase a home near transmission lines.

Abshire firmly believes the outcry from residents dissuaded utility officials from pursuing the southwestern Pasco route.

"The people who worked with me on this committee worked really hard and did a lot of research," Abshire concluded.

Commissioner Pat Mulieri also hailed the utility's decision. "I think it is great that they are avoiding Pasco." It is an "example of the people, government and industry working together."

Commissioner Michael Cox also expressed gratitude. "I believe that our efforts of taking a proactive approach to commit to fighting the proposed routes have paid off. I am proud of the all the citizens for having the determination to stand up and fight for their community."

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

No more than 20 miles of new right of way will be acquired for the project.

The preferred corridor avoids any more impacts in Brooker Creek Preserve in Pinellas County, the Starkey Wilderness Preserve in Pasco County and other environmentally sensitive lands.

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; and from Pinellas County to Kathleen in Polk County.

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

Rights of way will be acquired beginning later this year and will continue for several years. Engineering and design work will begin in 2009. Construction is planned to begin in 2012.

In coming weeks, an interactive map will be available online at www.progress-energy.com/energyplanning> for residents to see where their property is located in relation to the preferred corridor.

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