FPL Proposed Coal-Operated Plant

- HERE WE GO AGAIN! -
February 2005
[May not be reproduced in whole or in part without express written permission ]

Email sent to Commissioner Craft
Response from Commissioner Coward
Email to FPL's Representative
Email sent to Commissioner Craft
Email sent to Public Commission Service
Email to Commissioner Craft & FPL Representative
Email sent to St. Lucie County Commissioners, and to Planning & Zoning Division

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Thank you for the time you gave to everyone yesterday in explaining what FPL is looking to do in the future.

Unfortunate as it may be, it will be very difficult for me to support a coal power plant operation in St. Lucie County. After watching CNBC Cover to Cover last evening, the overwhelming health hazards and environmental impacts a coal power plant brings such as the one in Tampa is not something I would like to see in St. Lucie County.

I would however be more inclined to support the FPL plant proposal for Midway Road which is powered by Natural Gas. From the program last night is seems the EPA is more in favor as well with power companies switching to NG. I know electric might cost a little more, but the future of our children and environment sometimes is worth a little extra.

I look forward to speaking with you again in the future as these plans are developed and moved forward.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Philip Stickles
10800 Carlton Road
Fort Pierce, FL 34987
Home 772-489-0603
Cell 954-683-6851

Thank you for your kind note. As I mentioned yesterday, I appreciate your letting me know where you stand, and I hope we can continue to talk.

Analee M. Mayes, AICP
President, Consensus Builders, Inc.
4035 Henderson Boulevard
Tampa, FL 33629
(813) 289-8500 Tel
(813) 289-2700 Fax

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I'm reconsidering my initial reactions to the project, in light of the findings Nelly has posted to noRock.org (see What's New, February) and the documentary aired on CNBC last night (Cover to Cover).

Logically, it would make sense for FPL to team up with popular support to get the PSC to change their untenable position. The PSC is clearly stating that our lives and health are easily sacrificed for lower electricity rates. Further, any premise that natural gas rates can be evaluated historically throughout the Enron manipulations in any intelligent way is simply fallacious.

I certainly did not elect my public officials to establish policy to proactively kill me and my family and friends!

The smaller-footprint natural gas Midway Road proposal seems to me to present a solution with cheaper capital costs, cleaner operation, lower environmental impact, and far fewer negative effects on human health.

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Thank you for meeting with us today to share thoughts about the proposed Bluefield generating plant. I attach my version recapitulating what we discussed, as sent to our District 5 County Commissioner.

I spoke with Ms. Rachel Scott to find out the status of the Midway Road proposed plant. She indicated that since the PSC was discouraging natural gas plants -- as you had mentioned -- which require far less real estate than the coal-fired variety, the plans for Bluefield were floated.

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This morning (February 10, 2005) we had a meeting with Analee Mayes, President of Consensus Builders, Inc., Tampa, who was representing Florida Power and Light.

Her purpose was to meet with some residents in this area (District 5, Carlton Road/Glades Cutoff Road) to obtain local opinions about the proposed coal-fired FPL "Bluefield Plant", scheduled to come into production by 2012 and 2013.

We (Craig Spengler, Jim Morgan, B.E. Williams, Alyce Stickles) expressed our concerns about (1) Health Impact, (2) Water Usage, (3) Noise, (4) Aesthetics, (5) effects of the construction phases.

We indicated an understanding that more power is needed in order to accomodate growth.

However, it is essential that all players -- especially the residents who will be most affected by the proposed plant's "sphere of influence" -- be consulted immediately.

FPL is planning to apply to the P&Z for a zoning change and conditonal use permit by April of this year.

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Just to inform you that we are updating NoRock.org to include the FPL's
proposed "Blue ranch" coal-operated power plant. I have nothing against it
except the fact that they will be using coal instead of natural gas. Use of
Coal is a huge pollutant and will affect 30+ miles of residents' and
environment's health. My question is why should we go backward to coal
again, when we are trying to avoid using it due to its hazards?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

This morning (February 10, 2005) we had a meeting with Analee Mayes, President of Consensus Builders, Inc., Tampa, who was representing Florida Power and Light.

We expressed our concerns about (1) Health Impact, (2) Water Usage, (3) Noise, (4) Aesthetics, (5) effects of the construction phases.

We indicated an understanding that more power is needed in order to accomodate growth.

However, it is essential that all players -- especially the residents who will be most affected by the proposed plant's "sphere of influence" - be consulted immediately.

FPL is planning to apply to the P&Z for a zoning change and conditonal use permit by April of this year.According to them Public Service Commission is discouraging natural gas plants which require far less real estate than the coal-fired ariety, the plans for Bluefield were floated.

This project will affect a lot of residents in the area including children, the preserved area and the Blue Ranch Mitigation field which offset environmental degradation, not to mention our water supply problems due to the use of coal. I don't see any reason why PSC should decide on our health and future. Enron is the past, even then we still spend a lot of money paying our electric bills as of today.Hoping to hear from you soon!