Monday, February 26, 2007

FPL Power Plant Meeting At Hendry Commission

FPL Wants Hendry Commission Approval

LABELLE, FL. --  The Hendry County Board of County Commissioners will hold a workshop on Tuesday February 27, 2007 at 4:00 p.m. at the Hendry County Courthouse, Commission Chambers, LaBelle, Florida, to discuss the electrical transmission lines proposed through Hendry county for the Glades county FPL Power Plant Project. The Hendry Commissioners have a resolution supporting the construction of the power plant in Glades county pending.

The plant is proposed for the west shore of Lake Okeechobee in Glades county and the transmission lines will travel south through the center of Hendry County west of  the Hilliard Canal, along State Road 80, and south along county road 835 and near the Seminole Indian Reservation. There are several plans for the lines, and most probably will be revised as time goes on. The land area taken by the transmission lines runs from about half mile wide to one mile wide. according to FPL proposals.

So far, only Glades county commissioners have given their support. Lee county and St. Lucie county officals have voted against the coal-burning power plant proposal, objecting on environmental grounds. Neither Hendry county or Glades county have a county enviromnental department that would be qualified to comment on the power plant polution issues.

Rhonda Ruff, speaking on behalf of Save It Now, Glades!, Inc., said "We believe that any resolution in support of this project by either Hendry or Glades County, especially given the harsh warnings against it by Lee and St. Lucie Counties, is premature and irresponsible."

Because the issue is a "jobs and money" one, where large business interests, land owners, contractors and local businesses are expected to gain revenue in the short run, most observers say FPL will eventually gain approvals needed after some modifications of their plans to satisfy government officials.

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