After an intensive study, Progress Energy Florida has identified potential routes for new transmission lines through Levy, Citrus and Hernando counties that largely follows the path of existing lines.

The company will host open houses early next month to gather feedback from the community.

The transmission lines needed from the proposed Levy plant in Levy County to the Brooksville West substation in Hernando County will be about 40 miles of 230- and 500-kilovolt (kV) transmission lines that will largely follow the path of an existing 115-kV line in Citrus and Hernando counties.

In Levy and northern Citrus counties, new rights of way will be needed. In some limited areas of Hernando County, northwest of the Brookridge substation, the company may need to widen its existing right of way or purchase new rights of way.

Typical 230-kV structures along this line would be single concrete or steel poles between 90 and 150 feet tall; for 500-kV lines, structures could be single poles or H-frame (two-pole) structures that range from 120 to 175 feet tall. Structures may be taller when crossing roads, water or other electrical equipment. The structures would be spaced 700 to 1,300 feet apart, depending on terrain. Specific locations of poles will be determined at a later date.

“Because we’re largely following the path of an existing transmission line, we will be able to minimize the impacts on the community and environment from the line than runs from the proposed Levy plant to the Brooksville West substation in Hernando County,” said Jeff Lyash, president and CEO of Progress Energy Florida. “We have actively solicited community input about this project, and, overwhelmingly, people suggested we locate the new lines along existing lines wherever possible. We listened to that feedback.”

Working with the Community Partnership for Energy Planning, the company will host informational meetings, which will follow an informal open-house format, allowing people to attend as their schedule permits. Representatives will provide information on the potential corridors, including aerial photographs, estimated timeline, the need for the lines and other informational materials.

• From 4 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13, at the National Guard Armory, 8551 W. Venable St., Crystal River.
• From 4 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14, at the Brooksville Elks Lodge, 14494 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville.
• From 4 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, at West Citrus Elks Lodge, 7890 W. Grover Cleveland Blvd., Homosassa.

Progress Energy has sent letters to about 6,000 homes and businesses near the proposed routes in this area. For anyone who cannot attend the open houses, information is available online at www.progress-energy.com/energyplanning. They also may e-mail EnergyPlanning@pgnmail.com or call 888.238.0373. If someone has a disability and needs an accommodation at an open house, they may leave a message at 1.888.238.0373 at least seven days prior to the open house.

As energy use in Florida continues to grow, Progress Energy Florida is planning to add about 200 miles of transmission lines across nine counties to maintain reliability and to move energy efficiently to residents throughout the region and the state. Transmission lines are planned in three main segments, including from a proposed nuclear power plant in Levy County to the Wildwood area in Sumter County; from Levy County south to Hernando County; and from the Oldsmar area in Pinellas County to Kathleen in Polk County.

After a series of public meetings in early 2008, the company considered community feedback when it selected its preferred corridors for the transmission lines in May 2008. For the lines that run from the proposed Levy plant to the Brooksville West substation, the majority of the preferred corridor is about 1,000 feet wide.

The preferred corridor does not represent the specific route of the transmission line, which will be narrower - approximately 100 feet for the majority of the 40 miles and 700 feet for 9 miles in Levy and northern Citrus. During the summer of 2008, the company began an intensive route-study process to narrow the preferred corridors to potential routes for the lines.

Progress Energy Florida continues to identify potential routes for the lines in other areas of Florida. Open houses are planned in those areas at a later date. Rights of way will be acquired beginning later this year. Construction of the lines is planned to begin in 2012, with the project expected to be in service in 2016. The project will require approval by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and other agencies.

Progress Energy Florida is committed to seeking community input and encouraging public involvement as it selects potential transmission routes. As part of this process, the company has initiated an innovative community approach that includes participation from key community leaders throughout the region. The Community Partnership for Energy Planning involves a cross-section of community leaders and representatives in Levy, Citrus and Hernando counties, including public officials, businesses, environmental groups, neighborhoods and economic development agencies, among others.

For more information about Progress Energy, visit the company's Web site at www.progress-energy.com.

Fast Fact:

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