FPL Transmission Lines and the Florida Legislature: Speak Now Or Never ... by gimleteye

Law to enable FPL transmission lines on US-1 and Everglades up for vote in Tallahassee this Tuesday, April 4th. Please write legislators to oppose Senate Bill SB1048 and House Bill HB1055 "Linear Facilities" FPL’s plans for giant transmission lines through South Miami and the Everglades were blocked by the 3rd District Court of Appeals.  Florida’s Supreme Court refused to hear the case.   Now FPL is asking the State Legislature to change the laws so (1) FPL won’t have to follow local regulations on land use and Everglades protection, and (2) the Governor and Cabinet cannot order FPL to underground the lines. So far, our own State Senator, Jose Javier Rodriguez, has been the only one to oppose this law in committee.  FPL is fast-tracking approval.  It comes up for a floor vote in the Senate on Tuesday, thus the urgency to contact local legislators. Talking points  – The entire Miami-Dade Delegation should oppose this law, because: Hurricane safety hazard Tall transmission towers and lines are a hurricane hazard, as proven during Hurricane Andrew.  They do not belong near residential apartments, above our Metrorail, or above the Underline.  This change in law will make it easier for FPL to endanger public safety and private property.  The lines should be underground. Ruins the coming Underline Trail The Legislature has already apportioned millions of dollars to create the Underline Trail, which is undergoing development, starting at Brickell.  Shade trees cannot be planted near transmission lines.  Why should Legislators turn around and let FPL ruin the Underline with giant overhead transmission lines?  Harms the County's tax base Transmission lines anywhere in the County depress local land values and hurt the entire County’s tax base.  Only 10-20% of local property taxes go to the municipality, the remaining 80-90% go to the County and the School District. A taking of private property value Lowering private property values by transmission lines is an uncompensated “taking” of private property by FPL to benefit its shareholders. Harms the Everglades Paves too much Everglades land and endangers fledging wading birds.  We all value the Everglades, and FPL should not be allowed to ignore the County’s environmental regulations protecting them.   CALL – EMAIL – TWITTER Sunday or Monday, reach out to the top 7 on the list to affect the Senate’s floor vote on Tuesday.  Then go for the rest: Representative Jose Felix Diaz, 116th District Chair of the Miami-Dade Delegation Jose.Diaz@myfloridahouse.gov (850) 717-5116 Twitter: @JoseFelixDiaz Sen. Anitere Flores, 39th District Senate President Pro Tempore Flores.Anitere@flsenate.gov  (850) 487-5039 Twitter: @Senator_Flores Sen. Oscar Braynon, II, 35th District Braynon.Oscar@flsenate.gov (850) 487-5035 Twitter: @oscarjb2 Sen. Daphne Campbell, 38th District  Campbell.Daphne@flsenate.gov (850) 487-5038 Twitter: @FLSenate38 Sen. Rene Garcia, 36th District  Garcia.Rene@flsenate.gov (850) 487-5036 Twitter: @SenReneGarcia Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez, 37th District  Rodriguez.Jose@flsenate.gov (850) 487-5037 Twitter: @JoseJavierJJR Rep. Jeanette Nunez, 119th District Speaker Pro Tempore Jeanette.Nunez@myfloridahouse.gov (850) 717-5119 Twitter: @RepJNunez Rep. Joseph Geller, 100th District  Joseph.Geller@myfloridahouse.gov (850) 717-5100 Twitter: @RepJosephGeller Rep. Sharon Pritchett, 102nd District  Sharon.Pritchett@myfloridahouse.gov (850) 717-5102 Rep. Manny Diaz, Jr., 103rd District  Manny.Diaz@myfloridahouse.gov (850) 717-5103 Twitter: @RepMannyDiazJr Rep. Carlos Trujillo, 105th District  Carlos.Trujillo@myfloridahouse.gov (850) 717-5105 Twitter: @RepCTrujillo Rep. Barbara Watson, 107th District  Barbara.Watson@myfloridahouse.gov (850) 717-5107 Rep. Roy Hardemon, 108th District  Roy.Hardemon@myfloridahouse.gov (850) 717-5108 Rep. Cynthia Stafford, 109th District  Cynthia.Stafford@myfloridahouse.gov (850) 717-5109 Rep. Jose Oliva, 110th District  Jose.Oliva@myfloridahouse.gov (850) 717-5110 Twitter: @RepJoseOliva Rep. Bryan Avila, 111th District  Bryan.Avila@myfloridahouse.gov (850) 717-5111 Twitter: @BryanAvilaFL Rep. Nicholas Duran, 112nd District  Nicholas.Duran@myfloridahouse.gov (850) 717-5112 Twitter: @DuranForFlorida Rep. David Richardson, 113rd District  David.Richardson@myfloridahouse.gov (850) 717-5113 Twitter: @David4Florida Rep. Daisy Baez, 114th District  Daisy.Baez@myfloridahouse.gov (850) 717-5114 Twitter: @DaisyJBaez Rep. Michael Bileca, 115th District  Michael.Bileca@myfloridahouse.gov (850) 717-5115 Twitter: @mbileca Rep. Kionne McGhee, 117th District Kionne.McGhee@myfloridahouse.gov  (850) 717-5117 Twitter: @KionneMcGhee Rep. Robert Asencio, 118th District  Robert.Asencio@myfloridahouse.gov (850) 717-5118 Twitter: @Asencio2016 Rep. Holly Merrill Raschein, 120th District Holly.Raschein@myfloridahouse.gov (850) 717-5120 Or here they are in a single email block if you prefer: Jose.Diaz@myfloridahouse.gov Flores.Anitere@flsenate.gov Jeanette.Nunez@myfloridahouse.gov Braynon.Oscar@flsenate.gov Campbell.Daphne@flsenate.gov Garcia.Rene@flsenate.gov Rodriguez.Jose@flsenate.gov   Joseph.Geller@myfloridahouse.gov Sharon.Pritchett@myfloridahouse.gov Manny.Diaz@myfloridahouse.gov Carlos.Trujillo@myfloridahouse.gov Barbara.Watson@myfloridahouse.gov Roy.Hardemon@myfloridahouse.gov Cynthia.Stafford@myfloridahouse.gov Jose.Oliva@myfloridahouse.gov Bryan.Avila@myfloridahouse.gov Nicholas.Duran@myfloridahouse.gov David.Richardson@myfloridahouse.gov Daisy.Baez@myfloridahouse.gov Michael.Bileca@myfloridahouse.gov Kionne.McGhee@myfloridahouse.gov Robert.Asencio@myfloridahouse.gov Holly.Raschein@myfloridahouse.gov I don't have every resident's email address so please share this note with your neighbors and friends elsewhere in the County. Regards, Philip