News

Today's Letters: Watch for energy company's tactics

Letters to the Editor
Published March 9, 2008

---

ADVERTISEMENT

Re: On the path of power lines March 4 story

The lines were long and people patiently waited their turn to be ushered through the Progress Energy stations in this divide-and-conquer scheme at Silverthorn Country Club last week. The plan, as I see it, is to have folks from the three proposed power line sites squabble over where it is ultimately put. Thus distracted, they would fail to pursue answers to the bigger questions, such as:

Why are we, in the Sunshine State, even considering using dangerous nuclear power? If all these people know that power lines are harmful, then how would a person sell their house given the bad connotation (whether it is true or not)? Isn't it safer, for people, to put these lines underground rather than the "cheap" way out? Wouldn't we create more construction jobs by putting a solar panel on every roof in Florida?

And wouldn't it be better to get people off the grid and be energy self-sufficient, as opposed to having to pay a private entity for this costly enterprise? What, precisely, could people do to cut their energy use? Wouldn't cuts in use effect the bottom line of Progress Energy, which is a publicly traded company?

Suffice it to say that they have scared some poor people out of their wits. People left the meetings ticked off and/or crushed and disillusioned. As I chatted with others at this "event," I found I was not the only one who had been asking these questions.

Can they be stopped? Yes. How? It says in their brochure titled "Private Property Public Purpose" that they are given this right of eminent domain by Florida Statute n 361.01 chapters 73 and 74. That means this "right" can be taken away by our elected Legislature. I suggest calling our state representative, Robert Schenck, R-Spring Hill, and have him get to work on this right away. Let's see how good he is. If he can't (or won't) stop this assault on homeowners rights, then he can be replaced with someone who can!

Also, question our governor who, along with the Florida Cabinet, is directly responsible for the final siting of this project. Above all, don't give up; this is not a done deal. (Progress Energy may just want you to think it is so it's easier sailing for them.)

Meanwhile, don't be too surprised to wake up one day and find the power out. This will be followed by a report that our existing plants can't handle the power needs. This will cause folks to demand a new power plant. Keep in mind, you read it here first. Or was it something you have heard before? Yes, that's it. Enron had the power turned off in California not that many years ago to boost its stock prices. I suggest that everyone rent a copy of the DVD Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room. (I will try not to think of another movie, Silkwood, but if suddenly I have an "accident," I hope someone does.)

Seriously, the Green Party is squarely opposed to nuclear power. It is not clean or cheap. Taxpayers fund construction and then the decommissioning of these plants. Please see our Web site, www.hernandogreens.4t.com, for more updates on this crucial issue affecting our quality of life.

Jennifer Sullivan

Hernando County Green Party, Spring Hill

Roads need safety overhaul

Driving in Hernando County traffic is bad enough in the daytime. At night, it is brutal!

All critical cement guides should have a fresh coat of yellow iridescent paint, and all overgrown trees and bushes should be trimmed. Some lines on roads can barely be seen.

Let's spend some money to make night driving in Hernando tolerable and save some lives.

James Gallo Spring Hill

[Last modified March 8, 2008, 21:18:08]

[an error occurred while processing this directive]