November 29, 2007 - Commissioners To Visit Potential Windmill Sites Dec. 7

The St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners, Administration staff and Florida Power & Light Co. officials will take a field trip along Hutchinson Island on Friday, Dec. 7 from 9 - 11 a.m. to look at potential sites for the possible installation of windmills.

Florida Power & Light Co. (FP&L) is asking Commissioners to consider allowing nine wind turbines at several locations on South Hutchinson Island. Four of these potential sites are on public beach accesses, including Frederick Douglass and John Brooks Parks. The other turbines would be located on the St. Lucie Nuclear Plant property. If approved by Commissioners, it would be the first wind turbine project in the State of Florida.

The turbines would be mounted on steel towers about 14 - 16 feet in diameter and measure up to 417 feet tall. FP&L officials estimate this new alternative energy project would employee 30 people during construction and have a $7 million annual economic impact.

St. Lucie County Commissioners will travel by bus Friday, Dec. 7 to visit these potential sites, along with staff from FP&L and various county departments.

If anyone from the general public or media is interested in attending this field trip, please call (772) 462-1400.