FPL pauses planned transmission-line project after Walton County push

Lee Moore, representing Scenic Walton, told the Walton County Board of County Commissioners that Florida Power & Light has "decided to table the entire project for now," including a proposed transmission line that had been planned to run over Top Hatchee Bay.

Moore said the group first learned of the plan in 2024 and urged FPL to consider undergrounding where feasible. He said the company is "doing some engineering and cost studies" but for now is not moving forward with the line and "they don't have an idea of when or if it might come back up." Moore called the pause "a huge victory for Walton County and for the community." (Lee Moore, public commenter)

Commissioner Anderson praised Moore and other local activists and staff, saying the effort was a joint initiative and noting that while the decision is welcome, it does not guarantee the project is permanently shelved. "This by no means says it'll never happen, but it's not gonna happen for a while," Anderson said. The commissioner also recounted meetings with FPL representatives and attorneys in which the county emphasized opposition to a route that would cross the bay. (Commissioner Anderson)

Why it matters: commissioners and residents framed the halt as both an aesthetic win — the line would have affected shoreline views — and a resiliency issue: transmission lines serve as system "backbones," and outages on such lines can affect broader areas and take longer to repair, particularly if lines are damaged over water, Moore said.

What happens next: Moore and county officials said they will continue to monitor the matter and maintain contact with FPL. No formal county action was required at the meeting; FPL has not provided a schedule for reconsideration of the project.

The board took no formal vote on the announcement; the item was presented as a public update and discussion point during the citizen-request portion of the agenda.