Thursday, May 15, 2014

US 1 Corridor Municipalities need to budget expert witnesses to fight FPL … by gimleteye

Citizens, homeowners and businesses along the US 1 corridor are outraged by the flanking maneuvers by FPL that could result in two new nuclear plants ($26 billion at sea level) and high voltage lines overhead to the detriment of property values and health.

It is rare enough when businesses and ordinary citizens are on the same side of public interest issue, like the one decided in a heartbeat by Gov. Rick Scott and his cabinet this week in Tallahassee. But I can't think of another instance in South Florida when business plus citizens are also joined by municipal governments. That is the case here, with the City of Miami, South Miami, and Pinecrest all lined up to oppose FPL and the State of Florida.

So a question emerges as the municipalities consider an appeal to the 3rd District of the governor's approval of two new nuclear power plants and the overhead high voltage transmission lines: will these cities finally invest in the experts necessary to debunk the FPL BS?

Expert witnesses are expensive. I know from working on the public interest side of the environment for more than twenty years. And expert witnesses can be very difficult to recruit, since testifying on behalf of the public is normally a disqualifying fact when experts later try to work for government or industry.

FPL has all the money in the world to hire experts to bend the argument its way. Thank the Florida legislature, and early cost recovery, for that.

But municipal governments have taxing authority. They can raise money for whatever purpose they see fit to protect the public health and welfare.

It is time for the cities along the US 1 corridor to invest on behalf of taxpayers to fight FPL on the expert front, because that is what is needed to battle at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and in the courts.

It is horrendous to think that our money as taxpayers would be applied to fight in court and at the NRC our money as ratepayers, and for that you can thank Governor Rick Scott, your Florida state representatives and senators, too.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

How Come Coral gables was able to get the power lines buried? Why them and not South Miami?

Anonymous said...

Well, it is the beginning of the exodus in communities surrounding the US 1 corridor. Only people who are stuck will risk life and health for this awful decision by Scott. I wonder how many people who voted for him will be financially crippled by his decision?

Bob Ross said...

The last I checked, Pinecrest taxpayers had already shelled out more than a quarter million dollars to fight FPL's U.S. 1 transmission lines over the past five years and as a Pinecrest Council member, I have yet to receive the first resident complaint about the propriety of this investment. Every step we have taken thus far has pointed the way to spending additional amounts to protect our interests, so what else is new?

The silver lining in the Cabinet's otherwise disappointing decision is that construction of the transmission lines is now hinged to approval of the nuclear plants themselves. This buys more time for energy conservation measures and expansion of alternative energy choices to further postpone any need for new nuclear power plant construction and for all of us to appreciate that higher insurance costs related to global warming may begin to cause retreat from low-lying areas, effectively reducing demand, within the new plants' lifetimes.

By the way, the report that Coral Gables will have its lines put underground was in error.

Anonymous said...

Mayor Stoddard had mega dollars flow into his 2014 re-election campaign from special interests that supported him because they were reportedly in opposition to FPL’s plans (e.g., Baptist Wealth, Quintero’s toothy empire, Brad’s Boca Boys, MetroSouth, Dover Station, the YGrene/Electric Fish Consortium, etc.).

Now that Mayor Stoddard is fulfilling his campaign promises to these special interests ASAP, City of South Miami taxpayers should be able to breathe a sigh of relief that Stoddard’s pals with the big wallets will pony up the mega dollars needed to pay for these expert witnesses, rather than the City’s taxpayers. Isn’t that right Mayor Stoddard?

Anonymous said...

FPL is a monopoly and has more influence and political clout than citizens, GE who will probably build the plants also has more influence and power than citizens and small businesses. It is a very tough uphill battle for South Florida's health and future.

Anonymous said...

Perhaps the grand master plan is to make Miami-Dade County the garbage can of Florida.

Anonymous said...

Undergrounding would need to be a huge public works project that requires a bond offering. This town is bankrupt.

Anonymous said...

I voted for Mayor Stoddard because I didn't want the power lines. The flyers I got said he would stop this. I still hope he can stop this without hitting up the taxpayers, I will be deeply disappointed if those power lines are put up.

Anonymous said...

It is a major test of the power of the community. People have been running behind, sucking up, and supporting their very enemies. People who would cut your throats the first time they get an opportunity. For the Scott supporters, he turned on you and bit your heads off. Now the question is will you fight him back?

Anonymous said...

Couple of things. 1. Trolls who are hating on Stoddard for not succeeding thus far against the mega giant FLP, please just zip it. No one ever thought this would be easy. 2. I found it interesting that Senator Flores talks a line that "they want to put the lines in Kendall." As far as I can see, they are already putting one set in West Kendall. So, there is this sense that she is trying to pit the east against the west. I think that's unfortunate. I hope we don't have our Fukushima moment here, but if we did, we will have a hell of a hard time evacuating people from the keys, let along Miami Dade County. This is the absolute absence of logic.

Anonymous said...

Expert witness were hired, numerous witnesses from all local governments to fight during the administrative hearing. Obviously this did not hold any water with the adm judges decision.

Anonymous said...

Expert and opposing witnesses are not the same.
From my own personal experience nobody in Florida is an expert on anything with the exceptions of political corruption and legislators writing laws to protect themselves.
Cancer clusters, overhead high voltage, deep well injection and parks with incinerator ash mean nothing to the government.
Who gave to my campaign is where it's at.

Anonymous said...

I was an expert witness on the hearing and was testifying on behalf of preventing the lines and was not compensated and have qualified as an expert witness in federal, state and county court systems. I have the personal experience

Anonymous said...

Mayor Stoddard did his best. FPL has been spreading money around to get this result. FPL has more money (our money) than Stoddard does. Scott is such a SOB.

Anonymous said...

Well, we need you now more than ever. . .

Anonymous said...

I bet if the cities did this - they would get donations from all over the place to hire aggressive and hard hitting expert witnesses. Our problem is mirrored every where - just different utilities. Wouldn't it be fun to set a precedent! and get some good environmental and economic impacts acknowledged.

Anonymous said...

More cities might come on board if it weren't for some of the fools who control councils that are republican tea partiers. One council member was heard to say he wouldn't do anything against FPL because he owns stock in FPL. Another says FPL rates are low enough so early cost recovery should be left in place.

When the poles or towers go up ask who spoke for FPL.