Duke Energy announces final routes, substation location for Polk County Reliability Enhancement Project

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Dec. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy has selected the preferred routes and substation location for the Polk County Reliability Enhancement Project, designed to meet the increasing energy needs of those living and working in the growing heart of central Florida.

This project will enhance the ability of Duke Energy and neighboring electric utilities to provide safe and reliable energy to homes, community facilities and businesses in the area by connecting the company's Osprey Energy Center in Auburndale to existing substations in Kathleen and Haines City.

• The proposed location for the new substation will be on the Osprey Energy Center site.
  
• The new 230-kilovolt (kV) Kathleen Transmission Line will extend from the Osprey Energy Center approximately 26.2 miles west to the existing Kathleen substation.
  
• The new 230-kV Haines City Transmission Line will extend from the Osprey Energy Center approximately 21.4 miles east to the existing Haines City East substation.

The location and alignments of the routes for these new transmission lines are identified on this map.

As part of the route selection process, Duke Energy carefully reviewed and considered community input in addition to other factors such as safety, reliability, land use, cultural and natural resources. Based on extensive evaluation, the company selected a route with the least overall impact to homes, personal property, businesses, environment and the community.

The company engaged the community and solicited comments through open houses, letters, post cards, emails and phone calls. Duke Energy received approximately 300 comments from residents and members of the public during the open comment period.

"We appreciate the public's participation throughout the planning phase of this project," said Catherine Stempien, Duke Energy Florida president. "Know we are committed to continuing to engage the affected communities and keep them informed as we build an energy backbone to support the tremendous growth and development now underway in Polk County."

Next Steps

Land surveying activities will begin along the route in January 2019 and continue for approximately six months. Survey results are used to establish the precise location and alignment of the routes and identify where easements may be needed on individual properties. Duke Energy will work directly with property owners when areas needed to construct, operate and maintain the new 230-kV transmission lines are identified.

Construction of the Polk County Reliability Project is expected to begin in late summer 2021 and will continue until the line is placed in service in 2024.

More details can be viewed at duke-energy.com/osprey. Residents who have questions about the project, can contact email PolkReliabilityEnhancements@duke-energy.com or call toll-free 800.774.2852.

Duke Energy Florida

Duke Energy Florida owns and operates a diverse generation mix, including natural gas, coal and renewables, providing about 9,300 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 1.8 million customers in a 13,000-square-mile service area.

Duke Energy Florida is a subsidiary of Duke Energy DUK.

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is one of the largest energy holding companies in the U.S., with approximately 29,000 employees and a generating capacity of 49,500 megawatts. The company is transforming its customers' experience, modernizing its energy grid, generating cleaner energy and expanding its natural gas infrastructure to create a smarter energy future for the people and communities it serves.

The company's Electric Utilities and Infrastructure unit serves approximately 7.6 million retail electric customers in six states – North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. Its Gas Utilities and Infrastructure unit distributes natural gas to approximately 1.6 million customers in five states – North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. Its Commercial Renewables unit operates a growing renewable energy portfolio across the U.S.

A Fortune 125 company, Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2018 "World's Most Admired Companies" list and Forbes' 2018 "America's Best Employers" list.

More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center includes news releases, fact sheets, photos, videos and other materials. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Contact: Ana Gibbs
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SOURCE Duke Energy