August 16, 2007
Florida

Windmills for St. Lucie still far off, FPL says

Plans for windmills to generate power in St. Lucie County are still in preliminary stages, Florida Power & Light said today.

It’s one of the company’s efforts to find alternative sources of energy to generate electricity.

“We’re working with the county’s Growth Management Department on what the requirements are for getting permits,” said Nick Blount, FPL’s Treasure Coast spokesman. He said St. Lucie County was selected because of wind conditions here, but the company doesn’t expect to generate a lot of electricity.

“We don’t expect the wind turbines to turn but about 20 percent of the time,” he said. “That’s why there are no wind mills in the southeast and the closest is in West Virginia.

“Windmills will never be a sole source of power,” he said.

Blount spoke at the St. Lucie Nuclear Plant’s Energy Encounter this morning, primarily about the company’s preparations for hurricane season.

FPL has increased its program for inspecting and replacing utility poles and trimming trees so they’re less likely to fall on power lines during high winds.

The company has strengthened utility lines to St. Lucie Medical Center in Port St. Lucie and is working on lines around other facilities designated as top priority by county and city emergency managers.

By Jim Reeder

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

palmbeachpost.com

15 August 2007


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/08/16/windmills-for-st-lucie-still-far-off-fpl-says/