A trio of South Miami-Dade political leaders blasted Gov. Rick Scott’s decision to give the go-ahead to Florida Power & Light’s plan to build two nuclear reactors and high-voltage power lines.
Pinecrest Mayor Cindy Lerner, Miami- Dade Democratic Party chair Annette Taddeo-Goldstein and South Miami Mayor Philip Stoddard criticized the governor recently after he and the state cabinet voted to approve a contentious FP&L proposal to expand the Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant by adding the reactors and 90 miles of power lines that will cut through densely populated areas and brush up against ecologically sensitive areas.
“The vote was a crime against the safety of the citizens of Miami-Dade County,” said Mayor Stoddard. “It was an economic crime and it was a crime against the environment.”
The politicians blasted Scott for choosing to side with FP&L, a large contributor to his re-election campaign, over local residents and business owners. Scott’s reelection committee “Let’s Get to Work” has raked in more than $1 million in campaign contributions from utility companies — $550,000 alone coming from FP&L.
“It comes as no surprise that Gov. Scott has prioritized a huge corporation over Florida’s people yet again,” said Taddeo- Goldstein. “But this decision is a huge affront to the thousands of Miami voters who oppose it.”
The high-voltage power lines will cut through Cutler Bay, Pinecrest, South Miami, Coconut Grove and Coral Gables. The towers, which could be 150 feet high, will be built alongside the Metrorail and down US1, past retail stores, small businesses and auto dealerships. The power lines in the western part of the state will hug the edge of Everglades National Park.
Critics say the projects will negatively impact property values and the local economy. They also warn of the dangers of expanding a nuclear facility in a state that is prone to frequent hurricanes and vulnerable to climate-change related flooding.
“You’d be hard pressed to find a worse place to build a nuclear power plant than between two national parks on a hurricaneswept coastline,” said Stoddard. “First, it’s an issue of public safety. We are on a peninsula and we are not well protected in the event of a storm surge striking a nuclear power plant.”
The area leaders also charged that FPL’s preference for nuclear energy — as opposed to cheaper and greener alternatives such as solar — is because utility companies are allowed to charge customers for construction of nuclear power plants before they are built, under the state’s nuclear cost recovery fee known as the “utility tax.” Energy companies are not required to reimburse the fees collected even if the nuclear projects never come to fruition.
Progress/Duke Energy consumers, including those in Central Florida, are on the hook for $3.2 billion for nuclear energy plants that aren’t even producing energy.
“How long will the people of Florida let FPL dictate bad energy policies to Governor Scott and the legislature?” said Mayor Lerner. “When will we see real leadership for true energy efficiencies to maximize renewable energy in the sunshine state?”
I attended a meeting in Kendall that included local officials from Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, etc. and an FPL rep. The FPL rep was the last man standing when the officials stood up, thanked those in attendance and left to attend or watch a Miami Heat game. Really? The community needs to focus on the overall plan, protect all the citizens, even those in the unincorporated areas. We drive our cars when we can walk, leave our lights on and water running, keep our homes too cool in summer and too warm in winter. I know because I'm as guilty as you. I still "see Miami like a native." Let's all work together to improve all of Miami Dade County.