Apr 30 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Julia Ferrante Tampa Tribune, Fla.

The message was clear: Residents along the State Road 54 corridor don't want high-powered transmission lines in their neighborhoods -- or anywhere in Pasco County.

More than 400 people turned out to tell Progress Energy officials just that during a two-hour community meeting Monday night at Rushe Middle School, which lies in the heart of the area in question. Some carried signs reading "Go North" or "Power Lines" inside a big, red circle and a slash through the words. Other people demanded answers.

"I'm tired of your story of ifs," said Jennifer Fix of Ashley Lakes, who attended another public meeting on the subject in March. "I don't believe that if you were not going to build a power line you would be buying property. I keep hearing if, if, if, if, if."

Gail Simpson, Progress Energy's public policy manager for Florida, promised the group that her company has not decided where to set up about 200 miles of transmission lines or even whether to proceed with plans to build a nuclear power plant in Levy County to serve growing needs. The first of those decisions is expected in early June. Building the plant would require permission from the state Department of Environmental Protection and the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

"We hear you that you don't want transmission lines in your area," Simpson said, after being interrupted several times by residents yelling out questions during an information presentation. "Nobody really does, but we are looking for the best place possible. As much as you feel strongly about where the lines are to be, we have a regulatory process that requires us to look at all of these options."

Several Routes Under Consideration

Progress Energy is considering a number of routes for the transmission lines, including existing power fields and highways in counties from Levy to Hillsborough and Pinellas to Polk. Three of the milewide study areas cross through Pasco, one hugging S.R. 54. In all, 10,000 landowners in 10 counties could be affected, Simpson said.

The power plant and transmission lines are needed because of growing population, larger home sizes and higher energy demand in recent decades, Simpson said. The investment also is intended to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. The utility has 1.7 million customers in 35 Florida counties and anticipates 300,000 more customers by 2017.

Pasco County commissioners also are concerned about high-power transmission lines. On Tuesday, they agreed to hire an outside consultant to fight the proposal.

Fred Krauer, of the Oakstead community along S.R. 54, organized Monday's meeting after he realized many of his neighbors knew nothing about the utility's plans, he said. He invited several other homeowners association leaders to speak, along with Octavio Blanco, a local activist, developer and veterinarian.

Blanco, whose family settled in Pasco in 1958, recounted his own experiences fighting big government organizations, such as the state Department of Transportation and a major natural gas company when those agencies wanted to take his land and home. He urged his fellow residents to be vigilant but to keep their emotions in check.

Progress Energy officials are "used to hearing 'Oh, my home,' 'Oh, we have kids.' You have to get out of your shoes and get into Progress Energy's shoes," Blanco said. "You have to stay involved, and never assume they aren't coming here until the lines are drawn."

Blanco appealed to the group to come up with arguments that stand out. He urged them to cite the emerging Ashley Glen employment center next to his property at the Suncoast Parkway and S.R. 54, calling it "the gateway" to Pasco and the key to drawing businesses here. He argued that 160-foot power lines would be unsightly and drive big employers away from Ashley Glen.

County Action Likely, Cox Says

County Commissioner Michael Cox, who sits on the Pasco Economic Development Council, told the group the county likely would challenge the power line project in court.

"I anticipate we will launch a challenge similar to the Buccaneer gas line project," he said. "We will hire attorneys and experts to prove that these are not the perfect routes."

Rebecca Gerhardstein of Ballantrae questioned how safe residents would be living near transmission lines. She noted that some studies have connected electromagnetic fields with increased incidences of cancer and birth defects.

"I don't want to downplay what it means to have your home taken at market value now," Gerhardstein said. "But what about the people who are left here? A possible risk of cancer; that's not good enough for me."

Simpson noted that Florida limits how close power lines can be to homes.

After the meeting, Karen Hillis of Concord Station said she still did not understand why the utility would want to build transmission lines through such a developed area.

"I don't think S.R. 54 is the right place to go," she said. "I'm trying not to be a total NIMBY not in my back yard. I know we're growing, but we're already too populated."

Ismael Torres of Oakstead said he heard a lot of "ifs" from Progress Energy.

"We don't want to see how they will do it," he said. "We just don't want them to do it here."

WHAT'S NEXT

SATURDAY: A community meeting for Briar Patch, Nature's Hideaway and Trinity West is slated for 10 a.m. at Chester McKay VFW Post 7987, 7445 Chester McKay Drive, New Port Richey.

MID-MAY: Progress Energy plans to file an application with the state Department of Environmental Protection and identify a preferred route for 200 miles of high-power transmission lines. A decision is expected in 2009.

2008-12: Progress Energy plans to acquire right of way and other property needed for the power line project.

2009: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is expected to consider the proposal. The review should take about three years.

2016: Proposed Levy County power plant is expected to open.

For information, go to . To comment on the project, e-mail .

Reporter Julia Ferrante can be reached at (813) 948-4220 or jferrante@tampatrib.com. Keyword: Power Line Meeting, for a photo gallery of Monday night's gathering.