Print

Email story

Comment

Letter to the editor

Today's letters: Clearing up issue of clear-cutting

Re: Progress Energy's plan too costly for preserve editorial, Feb. 17

Progress Energy Florida would like to clear up some confusion about our proposed transmission lines and the Brooker Creek Preserve. It is critical for the community to understand the facts about this important project.

Our long-standing commitment is to meet the growing energy needs of Florida residents in a way that minimizes impact on the environment. It is important for residents and friends of Brooker Creek Preserve to know that the company has not and never will propose "clear-cutting a half-mile wide transmission corridor" through the preserve. We have no half-mile-wide rights of way in our territory.

The company has more than 5,000 miles of transmission lines across our 35-county service territory. In this early stage of the project, maps show corridor areas about 1 mile wide that represent the potential path of a transmission line. The specific transmission routes, which would be much narrower, would be determined at a later date.

The largest right of way Progress Energy Florida would purchase for a new single transmission line is 250 feet wide. In many cases, the company attempts to locate new lines along existing rights of way, often requiring little or no additional land, to minimize impacts. Within the preserve, there is an existing transmission right of way.

Progress Energy Florida has identified the need to add about 200 miles of new transmission lines affecting 10 counties. This project is expected to span up to eight years. In order to gain public input early in the process, the company initiated an innovative community approach last year that includes participation from key leaders throughout the region, called the Community Partnership for Energy Planning. This involves a cross-section of community leaders - including representation from Pinellas County and the Tampa Bay region - such as public officials, businesses, environmentalists, neighborhoods and economic development agencies, among others.

In Pinellas County, public involvement began last summer. We are committed to seeking broad community input and encouraging public involvement. That's why we're holding public meetings this early in the process, prior to any corridors being selected. These meetings are not required, but we value the opinion of all interested parties and are committed to a transparent, open process. There have already been a number of meetings and there will be many more throughout the process.

Let me stress: No decisions have been made. We don't know where the lines will go. We will continue our public outreach process and include this feedback in our analysis. We do have a responsibility to plan to meet growing customer demand.

When decisions are made, potential environmental impact will be a priority. Progress Energy Florida has a track record of being a good environmental steward, and we understand the importance of Brooker Creek Preserve. We are committed to working with communities to minimize our impacts on the environment, homes and businesses.

We're seeking feedback on this project, which is why we encourage the community to attend one of our open houses. In Pinellas County, our first open house will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Crescent Oaks Country Club, 3300 Crescent Oaks Blvd. We hope you will attend to better understand this important project.

Mark Wimberly, vice president, Progress Energy Florida's South Coastal region

Hey, legislators: We need help 

After reading about Florida's decline in population, the increased number of homes and apartments for sale or lease, and the people's concern over high taxes, I have listed a few suggestions that I pray local legislators will pursue. Upon implementation, they will help hard-pressed taxpayers, seniors who live in Florida year-round, senior snowbirds, Florida's economy and, also, it will keep people from moving out of Florida.

- Local legislators must change the current law that allows the eviction of mobile-home tenants who don't own the land and are given a mere $1,500.

Why? Because the year-round seniors and the senior snowbirds, as well, have invested $20,000 or more over the many years that they lived in their mobile homes. Also, the same seniors have been highly instrumental over the past 25 years or more in enhancing Florida's economy. As such, local legislators should not support a law that seriously fiscally penalizes seniors upon eviction. The law should rather be changed so that upon eviction, the tenant would receive a minimum of $20,000.

In 2005, upon our eviction from a mobile home, I wrote to then-Gov. Bush for help in changing the mobile-home eviction law. He wrote back and said, "Mr. Duci, you have a good point, but the state cannot legally change the law. I suggest you contact the local legislators. They can change the law."

I contacted the local legislators via a letter but, to this day, I have not received a response. So I decided to write this letter to the editor. I pray that after they read the sad facts herein, they will do something to help their bosses - the people.

- To keep people from moving out of Florida, local property taxes and state taxes must be reduced.

Currently, day after day, hard-pressed taxpayers are saying, "The cost of living and the high taxes are killing us." Once again local legislators, your bosses - hard-pressed taxpayers - need your help.

Finally, I respectfully remind local legislators that if they want more people to move to Florida and retain those who now live here, please take legislative action to implement the two suggestions herein.

Frank J. Duci, Largo

Re: Bus driver drops deaf student at wrong stop story, Feb. 15

School system, not driver, at fault

Let's not put the blame on the driver for this. The driver was filling in for another driver because of the shortage of drivers. As an ex-driver, I always said that all students should wear a name tag to ride the bus. This tag should have their name, bus stop and contact number. I was told this would cost too much money.

So it's the school system's fault, not the driver's. The parent should thank the driver for bringing his daughter home, not be angry at him. If he's really worried about his daughter, maybe he should drive her to and from school.

John Miccio, Tarpon Springs

[Last modified February 23, 2008, 21:50:13]