Tell FPL they should do what is best for the residents and businesses of Miami-Dade County and bury the lines. We are already paying for them every month on our power bill; we shouldn’t have to pay for them with the health of our children and families, and the economy our community.

The Better Energy Alliance (BEA) is a Miami-Dade-based, 501(c)4 organization dedicated to the belief that any new power transmission lines to be run through the county, whether through a commercial or residential route, should be undergrounded for the safety and economic security of the residents of our community.

Public Counsel: Progress Energy should stop charging customers for Levy County nuclear plant

By Ivan Penn, Times Staff Writer In Print: Wednesday, August 17, 2011

TALLAHASSEE — Progress Energy customers should no longer have to pay for any additional development and construction costs for the proposed Levy County nuclear plant, the Office of the Public Counsel argued Tuesday. The construction has repeatedly been delayed, and now there is a growing concern that the plant might never be built, the Public Counsel officials told the state Public Service Commission at a hearing to decide how much Progress customers should have to continue paying in advance for the plant. That being the case, they argued, the advance fees should be limited to paying off the $1 billion that Progress already has spent on the plant, at least until the utility secures a license for the operation from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. In the meantime, the PSC should order Progress to spend no more money, other than what is necessary to acquire the license. The license approval is expected by the end of 2012 or early 2013. "Now that this project has reached $1 billion, we ask you to hold the line," Charles Rehwinkel, deputy public counsel, said in his opening statements to the commission. "We say enough is enough. Customers are weary of shouldering nuclear costs." Progress Energy argued that it has slowed spending while awaiting the license, but it still needs money to continue moving forward with the project. Talk of further delays and the possibility the plant won't be built at all are just "distractions," company officials told the commission. "Wha ...