They do it, because they can. At the state capitol -- that distant land of Tallahassee where no sunlight shines -- FPL is pushing to unravel a judicial ruling that nixed FPL's plan to put high transmission lines along heavily urbanized US 1. The lines are need for two new nuclear reactors that in all likelihood will never be built.
That's right. N-E-V-E-R B-E B-U-I-L-T.
Toshiba, in Japan -- as a result of the Fukushima disaster -- just placed its nuclear division into bankruptcy. So the division -- Westinghouse -- owned by Toshiba, will not be initiating any new reactor projects like the one for which FPL already spent hundreds of millions of ratepayer dollars.
Why? Why? Why?
A big part of the reason is that FPL and its parent company, NextEra Energy, is immune to shareholder action. Like any protected monopoly, FPL benefits top line executives who earn millions in compensation thanks to corporate welfare approved by GOP and Democrats. Early cost recovery for the two new nuclear plants accounts for more than $100 million of our money in FPL's pockets, each year.
A portion of that money is being spent on "legitimate" expenses toward the nuclear reactor planning, like the transmission line issue. A portion of that money enriches FPL brass. Last year a court ruled against FPL's plan. So what did FPL do? It invested in a state legislative workaround of local authority.
Isn't it interesting how Republicans are ALL FOR LOCAL CONTROL except when it comes to protecting the interests of big campaign contributors like Florida Plunder and Loot?
FPL bill passes committee, despite opposition from Miami officials
By Bruce Ritchie
03/20/2017 06:15 PM EDT
Despite opposition from the city of Miami, a House bill that would exempt utility transmission lines from local government development regulations cleared its second committee stop on Monday.
Florida Power & Light Co. requested HB 1055 after an appeals court overturned a Cabinet decision involving two proposed new nuclear units at the utility's proposed Turkey Point power plant in Miami-Dade County. FPL argues that the Public Service Commission rather than local communities has exclusive jurisdiction in deciding whether transmission lines must be buried.
Rep. Clay Ingram, a Republican from Pensacola and bill sponsor, said the PSC should have that authority because of the potential cost to customers from having to bury transmission lines.
But Miami assistant city attorney Kerri McNulty argued that the bill was an expansion of the exemption under state law dealing with a variety of development regulations. The city had challenged the Cabinet's approval of the transmission lines from the proposed nuclear units.
"They (bill supporters) are basically trying to unravel the entire court case and what they were being subjected to having to do with about 30 miles they were trying to build in suburban and urban Miami-Dade County," she said.
The bill and its companion in the Senate passed its first committee stops last week without opposition votes. On Monday, HB 1055 passed 14-1 with one more committee stop remaining.
To view online:
http://www.politico.com/states/florida/whiteboard/2017/03/fpl-bill-passes-committee-despite-opposition-from-miami-officials-8611318
That's right. N-E-V-E-R B-E B-U-I-L-T.
Toshiba, in Japan -- as a result of the Fukushima disaster -- just placed its nuclear division into bankruptcy. So the division -- Westinghouse -- owned by Toshiba, will not be initiating any new reactor projects like the one for which FPL already spent hundreds of millions of ratepayer dollars.
Why? Why? Why?
A big part of the reason is that FPL and its parent company, NextEra Energy, is immune to shareholder action. Like any protected monopoly, FPL benefits top line executives who earn millions in compensation thanks to corporate welfare approved by GOP and Democrats. Early cost recovery for the two new nuclear plants accounts for more than $100 million of our money in FPL's pockets, each year.
A portion of that money is being spent on "legitimate" expenses toward the nuclear reactor planning, like the transmission line issue. A portion of that money enriches FPL brass. Last year a court ruled against FPL's plan. So what did FPL do? It invested in a state legislative workaround of local authority.
Isn't it interesting how Republicans are ALL FOR LOCAL CONTROL except when it comes to protecting the interests of big campaign contributors like Florida Plunder and Loot?
FPL bill passes committee, despite opposition from Miami officials
By Bruce Ritchie
03/20/2017 06:15 PM EDT
Despite opposition from the city of Miami, a House bill that would exempt utility transmission lines from local government development regulations cleared its second committee stop on Monday.
Florida Power & Light Co. requested HB 1055 after an appeals court overturned a Cabinet decision involving two proposed new nuclear units at the utility's proposed Turkey Point power plant in Miami-Dade County. FPL argues that the Public Service Commission rather than local communities has exclusive jurisdiction in deciding whether transmission lines must be buried.
Rep. Clay Ingram, a Republican from Pensacola and bill sponsor, said the PSC should have that authority because of the potential cost to customers from having to bury transmission lines.
But Miami assistant city attorney Kerri McNulty argued that the bill was an expansion of the exemption under state law dealing with a variety of development regulations. The city had challenged the Cabinet's approval of the transmission lines from the proposed nuclear units.
"They (bill supporters) are basically trying to unravel the entire court case and what they were being subjected to having to do with about 30 miles they were trying to build in suburban and urban Miami-Dade County," she said.
The bill and its companion in the Senate passed its first committee stops last week without opposition votes. On Monday, HB 1055 passed 14-1 with one more committee stop remaining.
To view online:
http://www.politico.com/states/florida/whiteboard/2017/03/fpl-bill-passes-committee-despite-opposition-from-miami-officials-8611318
1 comment:
Brilliant, thank you for keeping on top of these thieves/liars, enemy of the people for sure (except after hurricanes of course), but they could do a better job of greening their business and our future.
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