Friday, March 2, 2012

Update on the US1 Transmission line fight. Pinecrest, South Miami, Coral Gables and Miami continue the effort

I have posted the update from Pinecrest Mayor Cindy Lerner who continues to take the leadership role to protect the economic viability and quality of life along US1.  Everyone living in South Dade should be thankful for the leaders in Pinecrest, South Miami, Coral Gables and Miami, which have stepped up, and don't just speak, but put action to their words by funding the fight to preserve our quality of life.  Mayor Lerner is providing a solid update regarding the US1 Transmission Line fight in her March 2, 2012, e-news update blast.  CLICK HERE to read the complete March 2012 Pinecrest E-news update.

US 1 Transmission Line Update (presented by Pinecrest Mayor Cindy Lerner)

The Village (of Pinecrest) has been fighting for the past two years to keep the proposed FPL transmission lines from being located along US 1, that is, unless FPL agrees to underground them and incur the costs as part of their upgrades and infrastructure improvements. There are currently no transmission lines running along US 1 and we do not want to allow it under any circumstances, as it would cause irreparable damage to the future economic viability of the corridor.   The City of Coral Gables is a partner in this litigation and we are also in a coalition with the cities of South Miami and Miami.   This administrative proceeding will not be decided until sometime in the spring of 2013. In the meantime, we continue the fight on other fronts as well.   FPL has not only been collecting additional fees from customers through Early Cost Recovery, a law they wrote and convinced the Legislature to pass back in 2006-2007, from which they have already collected $300 million additional charges which we the customers pay. But last month they also filed an application for a rate increase with the Public Service Commission which they were so brazen to say that they want their investors to see a higher return on their investment - higher than the 10.5% they now realize. Imagine the gall, for a public utility to ask for even higher rates from its customers, when they already get this Early Cost Recovery subsidy at OUR expense. So the Village and many other local governments plan to fight the proposal on behalf of our constituents.

2 comments:

  1. Gene, Why is Palmetto Bay no longer a part of the South Dade Coalition protecting US1?

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  2. Awww Mr. Mayor, what is wrong with the current village council? They can pick on a small private school, but they are too chicken to fight against FPL's monster plans to spoil the US1 corridor? Pullleeze. What a waste of elections. Mayor Stanczyk, Vice Mayor Pariser and Councilwoman Lindsay sure can spend public tax dollars to fight students, but they sure are transparent, or is it invisible?, in the joint effort by several local governments against FPL and protecting future quality of life. We all know that Mayor Stanczyk will show up to be photographed with the victors, whichever side that is, once the FPL battle is over regardless of the fact that she put no money into the fight and paid the effort mere lip service. She has nether sense or shame. Where is the lawyer Pariser on this issue? As you would probably say, he is probably telling people that it would violate the law to talk about the FPL issue and any plans that Palmetto Bay has to fight it.

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