tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6587124498125450849.post6830404403595100810..comments2023-06-14T05:02:47.513-04:00Comments on South Dade Updates: Public input sought - FPL and the Everglades meeting tonight, Wednesday, June 22, 2011EugeneFlinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01571996541456241105noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6587124498125450849.post-20129116964994127162011-06-22T19:07:52.620-04:002011-06-22T19:07:52.620-04:00Additionally, there seems to be a misunderstanding...<i><b>Additionally, there seems to be a misunderstanding about the State Site Certification Process that considers both the proposed power plant and the associated transmission lines at the same time. Your comment that this process somehow short circuits public involvement or makes a certain outcome inevitable is incorrect.</b></i><br /><br />Mr. Rodriquez:<br /><br />As someone who has followed FPL for the past zillion years, let me say one thing: There is no misunderstanding that FPL will work to short circuit public involvement or work to make a certain outcome inevitable. That is why you all have lobbyists and why your Public Affairs staff quell public discord at every opportunity. <br /><br />FPL has been been playing the community for years. Community people tend to go with the flow because taking on FPL is intimidating and find it time consuming to challenge FPL. <br /><br />However, I find it very strange that your corporation would spend the money to do the infrastructure for power plants that don't exist. <br /><br />Don't you think most prudent business people get the approvals for their main project so they know they are going to need to create infrastructure before they spend the funds on it? <br /><br />I suspect that FPL will have plenty of time to design and build-out the feeder lines after approval of the nukes. However, FPL and the state of Florida seems to be acting like the nuke project is a done deal.<br /><br />Given that FPL has probably scooped up over $250 million in prepaid contributions by the general public for the Unapproved Nukes, I have to wonder what kind of water is being served by FPL in Tallahassee to the folks who are charged with protecting the consumer .out of sighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13469687616424383067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6587124498125450849.post-12559754948347430972011-06-22T16:23:14.017-04:002011-06-22T16:23:14.017-04:00Mr. Flinn,
Please allow me to clarify some of the...Mr. Flinn,<br /><br />Please allow me to clarify some of the facts of the proposed land exchange.<br /><br />•In 2007, at the request of Everglades National Park, state and federal agencies worked collaboratively with FPL to identify an option that would help resolve the land ownership issue created by the park expansion in 1989. The proposed solution was an exchange of lands to move any future transmission lines out of the park at no expense to taxpayers or FPL customers.<br /><br />•In 2008 through a multi-agency, public/private effort including South Florida Water Management District, Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the United States Army Corps of Engineers, and FPL, developed a solution.<br /><br />•In 2009 federal legislation was enacted authorizing the land exchange and changing of the Everglades National Park eastern boundary so future lines would not be in the park.<br /><br />The Environmental Impact Statement underway now by the National Park Service is the final step in this process.<br /><br />Additionally, there seems to be a misunderstanding about the State Site Certification Process that considers both the proposed power plant and the associated transmission lines at the same time. Your comment that this process somehow short circuits public involvement or makes a certain outcome inevitable is incorrect.<br /><br />FPL is committed to delivering services to our customers in an environmentally responsible manner and is open and willing to find the approach that satisfies all parties. we firmly believe that the land exchange that has been agreed upon by multiple state and federal agencies, and authorized by federal law will best meet the mutual objectives of all entities.<br /><br />M. J. "Manny" Rodriguez, P.E. <br />Miami-Dade Regional Director <br />Florida Power & Light Company <br /><br />Manny_J_Rodriguez@fpl.comM. J. "Manny" Rodriguezhttp://www.fpl.comnoreply@blogger.com