JUNO BEACH, Fla. -- Florida Power & Light Company announced today its plan to share information with the community as well as collect community comments about alternate routes under consideration for a proposed, new power line to serve the growing electric needs of Manatee and Sarasota counties. The new power line will not only benefit the region by providing additional power to the area; it also will enhance the strength, reliability and security of the electric grid for everyone.

FPL has scheduled an open house event for interested community members to speak one-on-one with project team members, share ideas, learn about the project, and view maps of potential routes.  Community members are invited to attend at their convenience, as no formal presentation is planned for either meeting.  To ensure a convenient date, time and location for members of the community to attend one of the identical open house activities, FPL will host them as follows:

Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Between 4-8 p.m.
Parrish United Methodist Church
12180 U.S. Hwy. 301 N
Parrish
OR
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
 Between 4-8 p.m.
Willis Elementary School Cafeteria
14705 The Masters Ave.
(Lorraine Road, north of University Parkway)
Lakewood Ranch

 “The open house events are just one way we’re seeking local community input about a new transmission line needed for the area,” said Mel Klein, external affairs manager, for FPL.  “By meeting with people interested in the project throughout the route selection process, we’ll work out a plan to best meet the needs of the community and enable the company to meet its obligation to provide reliable electric power.”

In addition to the upcoming open house events, FPL has collected local input on the project through a community advisory panel, a direct mail survey, toll-free telephone number, e-mail and a project Web page. 

FPL plans to construct the 230 kilovolt (kV) single-pole transmission lines to connect a recently upgraded power plant near Parrish in Manatee County to a new substation to be located east of I-75 in Sarasota County.

The new overhead transmission line must be in place by 2011 in order to maintain service reliability in the area.  Because the power line will be more than 15 miles long and cross county lines, it will be certified through a process prescribed by the Florida Transmission Line Siting Act.

Interested community members are encouraged to continue to communicate with the company through e-mail at Bobwhite-ManateeProject@FPL.com.  FPL will continue to update the project Web site, www.FPL.com/Bobwhite, throughout the process.  Alternatively, a toll free telephone number is available (1-800-951-8849).  

Potential routes for the proposed line are shown on the attached map or found at www.FPL.com/Bobwhite.