Future Of North Escambia ‘Nuclear Site’ Now Uncertain, Could Be Sold
July 18, 2012
The future is now uncertain for 2,728 acres of land in North Escambia purchased by Gulf Power following ruling Tuesday by state regulators that the utility can’t make customers pay for the land in advance of plans for power plant.
Gulf Power, for the second time, asked the Florida Public Service Commission for a rate hike equal to about 20 cents per customer per month to fund the expenses related to the $12 million worth of land purchased near McDavid. And, for the second time, the PSC shot down the plan.
It is now unclear whether Gulf Power will ever build a power plant — nuclear or otherwise on the site near as the utility has not taken a key first step in the lengthy approval process — a step known as getting a “determination of need.” Also, it would likely take at least a decade to get permits and build a nuclear plant.
“We are trying now to get a good handle for now on what is the best course for the future,” Sandy Sims, Gulf Power spokeswoman, said Tuesday afternoon.
She said Gulf Power may make a third trip back to the Public Service Commission in attempt to fund the land purchases, but other options will be considered.
“We could sell it, lease it or look at other revenue generating opportunities,” Sims said. Possibilities for the property, if it is retained by Gulf Power, include selling the timber and replanting or even hunting leases on a portion of the 2,728 acres.
The base rate paid by Gulf Power customers already includes pennies each month for property purchased by Gulf Power years ago near Caryville for a power plant that has never been constructed. Part of that property is now leased for hunting.
“We’ve done all kinds of things in the past to generate revenue,” she said. “We even had a sod farm one time years ago under high voltage transmission lines.”
In an April filing with the Public Service Commission, Gulf Power suggested that it might sell all or part of the property if the PSC did not approve its rate increase request.
“The commission’s decision to exclude the North Escambia site from rate base … leaves open the very real possibility that the company, in the exercise of good business judgment, will divest itself of some or all the property constituting the North Escambia site,” the filing said. “The notion that the company will, or must, retain the property at its shareholders’ expense for the future benefit of its customers ignores economic reality, the regulatory compact, commission precedent and the fundamental nature of the utility business.”
In early 2009, Gulf Power quietly purchased just over 100 acres in the 200 block of Roach Road with no public announcement. The utility’s plans for a power plant, particularly the possibility of a nuclear power plant, in McDavid were not made public until NorthEscambia.com uncovered the land purchases in March 2009. The plans were revealed in an exclusive NorthEscambia.com article on March 14, 2009.
But now Gulf Power’s immediate needs have changed, adding to the uncertainty of the North Escambia site.
Gulf Power’s need for excessive power is now satisfied by a non-utility power plant in central Alabama. Gulf Power, according to PSC documents, has a 14-year contract that ends in 2023 to purchase 885 megawatts of electricity from the Tenaska Central Alabama natural gas-fired electric generating plant near Montgomery through a contract with Shell Energy North America.
“That has bee a great advantage to our customers,” Sims said. “Purchasing from the natural gas plant has reduced our costs and allowed us to lower rates.”
Pictured above: Property purchased by Gulf Power near McDavid for a possible nuclear power plant.Pictured below: One of the first parcels of land purchased by Gulf Power in 2009 in the 200 block of Roach Road. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Open House Set For New Molino Tax Collector, Property Appraiser Offices
July 18, 2012
An open house is planned for the new Escambia County Tax Collector and Property Appraiser offices in Molino.
The event will be held on Tuesday, July 24 from 9 a.m. until noon.
The offices have been open since July 2 at 6440 Highway 95A, next to the old Molino School.
Pictured: Escambia County Tax Collector Janet Holley outside her new office in Molino just prior to its opening on July 2. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
NHS Cheerleaders Earn Awards At Auburn Camp
July 18, 2012
The Northview High School cheerleaders received numerous awards during a UCA camp last week at Auburn University.
The junior varsity received all superior ratings as they competed in the small varsity division where they received second place in both cheer and extreme routine. Jadlyn Agerton received a gold superior ribbon in the jump contest. Agerton and Danielle Robinson were also chosen as UCA All-American cheerleaders.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The varsity also received all superior ratings and placed first in the large varsity division for cheer. Shaquanna Jones received a gold superior ribbon in the jump contest. Ashley Mooney, Katelynne Calloway, and Madison Arrington were all chosen as UCA All-American cheerleaders. Calloway and Arrington also received an invitation to try-out for UCA staff.
Ashton Gibbs, Northview’s mascot, received all superior ratings on her evaluations and was selected as the camp champion mascot.
The varsity also won the “Softlips Spirit Stick” for being the best dressed team at the summer splash pirates-themed pep rally.
On the second night of camp, Pryor Middle School and the UCA staff awarded both Northview teams with the coveted “Banana Award” for showing spirit.
Ariel Holland was hand selected by a UCA staff member for the “Pin it Forward” award. Morgan Ward was also pinned by another team’s cheerleader who felt she was positive and exhibited spirit.
Several girls received St. Jude’s pins for bringing in addresses and filling out letters to send to family and friends in order to raise money for the hospital.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Scroll down for squad photos and names.
Varsity
Members of the Northview varsity squad are (front, L-R) Ashley Cunningham, Ariel Holland, Ashley Mooney, Shaquanna Jones, (second row) Chloe Leonard, Courtney Weaver, Katelynne Calloway, Kamryn Brock, Madison Arrington, Hannah Gibson, (back row) Ali Martin, Mallory Ryan, Jessica McCullough, Kendal Cobb and Anna Fischer, Kristen Byrd.
Junior Varsity
Members of the NHS JV squad are (front, L-R) Rebekah Sepulveda, Lana Clayton, Samantha Barrow, (second row) Mariah Albritton, Lauryn Walker, (third row) Morgan Ward, Danielle Robinson, Kaylyn Garnet, Megan Bryan, (fourth row) Katie Born, Jadlyn Agerton, Dariane Guy, and (back) Shnala Banks.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Olympic Countdown: Torch Passes Through England (With NorthEscambia Photo Gallery)
July 18, 2012
Tuesday marked 10 days until the official opening of the 2012 Olympics in London, with the Olympic Torch Relay carrying the flame through the town of Crawley, England.
A Molino family living in England was there Tuesday with photos for NorthEscambia.com. To view the photo gallery, click here.
Crawley, with a population of about 106,600, is located 28 miles south of London.
According to organizers, a very precise ritual for the lighting of the flame is followed at every Games. It is lit from the sun’s rays at the Temple of Hera in Olympia, in a traditional ceremony among the ruins of the home of the ancient Games.
After a short relay around Greece, the flame is handed over to the new host city at another ceremony in the Panathenaiko stadium in Athens.
The flame is then delivered to the host country, where it is transferred from one torchbearer to another, spreading the message of peace, unity and friendship.
It ends its journey as the last torchbearer lights the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony in the Olympic Stadium, marking the official start of the Games. The flame then stays lit until it is extinguished at the closing ceremony to signify the end of the games.
Pictured top: The Olympic Torch passes through Crawley, England, about 28 miles south of London Tuesday. Pictured inset and below: The flame is passed from one Torch bearer to another as crowds look on. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sheriff’s Office ‘Operation Clean Sweep’ To Target Beulah Thursday
July 18, 2012
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Windy Hill Neighborhood Watch, will conduct an “Operation Clean Sweep” event in Beulah on Thursday.
Volunteers and participants will meet at Windy Hill Baptist Church at 9896 Rebel Road at 8:00 a.m. The community cleanup will include areas between Tower Ridge Road and Beulah Road.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the focus of “Operation Clean Sweep” is to work with neighborhood watch groups, residents, churches and business owners to control and prevent the damaging effects of crime.
The operation task force works closely with Escambia County Animal Control, Escambia County Environmental Law Enforcement, the military, Escambia County Roads and Bridges, and neighborhood watch groups to clean up neighborhoods and educate citizens on preventive measures that could be implemented to minimize possible crimes.
Century Care Residents Go ‘Nuts’
July 18, 2012
The residents at Century Care Center went “nuts” Tuesday for boiled peanuts.
The regular Covenant Hospice Coffee Club was combined with a big batch of boiled peanuts donated by Lowry Farms in Jay.
“Yelling ‘boiled peanuts’ or ‘watermelon’ is like yelling ‘Fire!’ around Century Care Center,” said Mae Hildreth, Century Care Center’s activities director. “The only difference is the direction they run in.”
Pictured: The residents at Century Care Center enjoyed a peanut boil Tuesday. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Clinton “Lamar” Lewis
July 18, 2012
Clinton “Lamar” Lewis, age 64 of Jay, passed away July 16, 2012.
Lamar retired from Exxon and worked at Quantum in Jay. He was a wonderful husband, father, granddaddy, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend. He was a very hard worker and a very good man. He will be missed by many.
Lamar was preceded in death by his parents, Asa Lewis and Irene Blackman Lewis and nephew, Thomas Asa (Bubba) Hobbs.
Lamar is survived by his wonderful wife, Paula Lewis; his children, Jennifer Karen (Eric) Ruzzin of Ben Salem, PA, Jeremy Clinton Lewis of Milton, Jacquelyn Irene Lewis (Ed Janoff) of New York, NY, Jonathan Lamar Lewis of Pensacola, Tim (Michelle) Lunsford, Jonathan Holland, and Lori (Rusty) Lee; brothers, Elmer (Sandy) Lewis of Van Vleck, TX, Jerry (Ann) Lewis of Brewton, Ed (Jeannie) Lewis of Youngstown, FL; sister, Sarah Lewis Hobbs of Milton; grandchildren, Ashley, Kimee, Erica Ruzzin, Natasha, Zac, Madison Lewis, Kody, Brant, Trevor Lunsford, Connor and Tanner Lee and many other relatives and friends.
Funeral Service will be 10 a.m. Thursday, July 19, 2012, at Lewis Funeral Home, Milton Chapel with visitation from 8:30 a.m. until service time.
DOC To Move Forward With Prison Health Privatization
July 18, 2012
The Florida Department of Corrections said late Tuesday it will move ahead with a plan to privatize prison health services, after a judge declined to resolve a legal fight about the issue.
The decision could lead to more legal wrangling, as the Florida Nurses Association and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees have fought state attempts to contract with private companies for the services.
Corrections Secretary Ken Tucker said in a prepared statement that the changes will save money. Corizon, Inc., will receive a contract to provide the services in north and central Florida, while Wexford Health Sources will receive a contract for the southern part of the state.
“It’s a decision that’s best for the taxpayers,” Tucker said. “This step will allow us to provide the same services we currently have, which meet state and federal standards, while saving money for the taxpayers. This step will be a cost savings in excess of 7 percent using private vendors.”
But Don Slesnick, an attorney for the Florida Nurses Association, said the department is hurting state employees.
“It doesn’t shock me,” Slesnick said. “It disappoints me that the state is that devious and the DOC is being that anti-employee.”
Lawmakers last year included fine print in the state budget that called for privatizing inmate health services. But the nurses association and AFSCME challenged the constitutionality of using the budget fine print, known as proviso language, to make such a change.
Leon County Circuit Judge Kevin Carroll, however, declined this month to rule on the constitutional question because the proviso language expired with the June 30 end of the state fiscal year. That left unclear whether — or how — the privatization would take place.
State attorneys have argued that the Department of Corrections has the legal authority to privatize health services, even without the proviso language. But attorneys for the nurses association and AFSCME last week filed motions seeking a rehearing before Carroll — a move that could provide an avenue for a continued challenge.
Ann Howard, a Department of Corrections spokeswoman, said it was not immediately clear how soon contracts could be signed with Corizon and Wexford. After the contracts are executed, the department said it expects the changes to take place during a 90- to 120-day transition period and that current employees will be able to interview for jobs.
“We still will continue to work with our employees and seek the best solutions for them and the inmates we serve,” Tucker said. “Change isn’t easy, and we know that it can sometimes be unsettling; however, the hard work of our employees is greatly appreciated and recognized.”
Privatization of state jobs is highly controversial, at least in part because workers worry they will see reductions in benefits and pay if they go to work for contractors. AFSCME Florida Council 79 President Jeanette Wynn issued a statement criticizing Gov. Rick Scott and the decision to move forward with the privatization plan.
“Governor Rick Scott is not above the law, he cannot charge ahead with this scheme to funnel more of our tax dollars to his big business buddies without the input from the Florida Legislature or the legal system,” the union president said.
By The News Service of Florida
Pictured: The medical unit at Century Correctional Institution. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Jacksonville Edges Pensacola Blue Wahoos 5-4 In 10 Innings
July 18, 2012
Suns catcher Kyle Skipworth blasted two home runs and Blue Wahoos shortstop Billy Hamilton stole his 110th base of the season, while four Jacksonville relievers combined to yield just two hits over the final four innings to push the Suns to a 5-4 extra-inning victory on Tuesday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Jacksonville with the win improved to 12-14 in the second half, while the Fish fell to 15-11 since the league’s All-Star Break. The defeat combined with a Montgomery victory means the two teams are now tied for first in the South Division. Before the game, Woodham High School grad and current Brooklyn Nets forward Reggie Evans was on hand to throw out a ceremonial first pitch.
The Blue Wahoos and Suns combined for four longballs in the contest, with Skipworth launching a two-run shot in the second before striking the videoboard in right field with a solo blast two innings later. Six of Skipworth’s ten roundtrippers this year have come against Pensacola.
LF Donald Lutz and 3B David Vidal each left the yard for the Fish, with Lutz’s big fly coming in his first at bat with the club after being promoted from High-A Bakersfield earlier in the day. Lutz launched 17 longballs for the Blaze before joining Pensacola, while the roundtripper for Vidal was his fifth of 2012.
Hamilton reached on an infield single in the fifth before swiping his 110th base of the year, which ties him for the eighth highest single-season steal total in Minor League Baseball history with Maynard DeWitt’s mark from 1946. Hamilton, who is now 35 steaks away from Vince Coleman’s top mark of 145, would then come across on CF Ryan LaMarre’s RBI single to draw the contest even at 3-3.
The Suns however, answered back in the seventh when 1B Ben Lasater singled and moved to second on a free pass before being sent home on CF Donnie Webb’s run-scoring single to right. The Fish would then tie it again in the next inning when LF Josh Fellhauer walked and went to third on a Jacksonville error prior to C Tucker Barnhart’s clutch two-out single up the middle.
Jacksonville then plated the game-winning run in the first extra frame to take the series. SS Chris Gutierrez reached on a base knock and advanced to second on a wild pitch and third on a passed ball to set up RF Kyle Jensen, who bounced a single in the hole between third base and shortstop to push the Suns ahead 5-4.
RHP Joshua Schmidt (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 SO) earned the win for Jacksonville to improve to 4-3 this season, while closer A.J. Ramos (1.0 IP, 1 BB, 1 SO) notched his 12thh save of the year. Schmidt and Ramos combined with Jordan Conley (1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO) and Kyle Kaminska (0.1 IP) to give up only two hits in the final four frames. Pensacola reliever Mark Serrano (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 6-2 in 2012.
Skipworth (2-5, 2 R, 2 HR, 3 RBI) and Gutierrez (2-5, 1 R) each tallied two hits in the contest for the Suns, while LaMarre (2-3, 1 2B, 1 RBI) and Rojas (2-5) collected multi-hit efforts in the defeat.
The Blue Wahoos have an off-day Wednesday before heading to Mobile for a four-game series with the Mobile BayBears, the Double-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, with the series opener slated for a 7:05 p.m. start.
By Andrew Green
Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Regulators Deny Gulf Power Rate Hike For Potential North Escambia Plant
July 17, 2012
Refusing to backtrack from a decision earlier this year, state regulators on Tuesday rejected a proposal by Gulf Power Company to pass along costs to customers for a potential nuclear power plant site in North Escambia.
Gulf Power wanted the Florida Public Service Commission to approve a relatively small increase in base rates to help cover costs related to the 4,000-acre site. Commissioners turned down the idea in February as part of a broader rate case, but Gulf Power made a somewhat unusual request to reconsider the decision.
In again rejecting the proposal, commissioners sided with the state’s Office of Public Counsel, which represents consumers, and two business groups that often tangle with utilities about electricity costs. Opponents pointed, in part, to another Gulf Power property in Caryville that has long been in the rate base but has not been developed for a power plant.
“It would be bad public policy (to approve Gulf Power’s request), and it would go against the record evidence we have before us,” Commissioner Julie Brown said at one point during Tuesday’s discussion.
But Gulf Power attorney Jeffrey Stone said it is important to allow utilities to recover money from customers to help cover costs of future power-plant sites. Otherwise, Stone said, utilities will put off land purchases, ultimately costing customers more money.
“That is a delay that will disadvantage ratepayers in the long term,” Stone said.
The PSC in February approved an overall $64.1 million increase in base rates for Gulf Power customers, but the utility wanted an additional $2.06 million increase to cover costs related to holding the property for future use as a potential nuclear site. The utility said the additional amount would have translated into 20 cents a month for a residential customer who uses 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity.
But Robert Scheffel Wright, an attorney for the Florida Retail Federation, one of the business groups in the case, said opponents think Gulf Power prematurely bought the land. He and others said the utility failed to show earlier this year that it was entitled to collecting the additional money.
“This is just an attempt to reweigh the evidence,” said Vicki Gordon Kaufman, an attorney for the Florida Industrial Power Users Group, the other business organization that opposed the proposal.
Commissioners raised repeated questions about Gulf Power’s unused site at Caryville, which likely would not house a nuclear facility but could hold another type of power plant. As an example, Commissioner Art Graham has expressed support for the idea of buying land far ahead of the time Gulf Power might build a nuclear plant, but he also questioned utility customers paying for both the North Escambia and Caryville sites.
PSC members and staff said Gulf Power could request another, more-limited proceeding to address the issue of having both sites. Stone said the utility would have to evaluate whether it wanted to make such a request.
By The News Service of Florida