Apalachicola residents file suit against Progress Energy

A group of Apalachicola residents and business owners have filed a lawsuit against Progress Energy seeking an emergency injunction to keep the company from erecting large new power poles in the historic downtown district.

The suit was filed in state court in Apalachicola on Wednesday by members of the Apalachicola Area Historical Society as well as several businesspeople and city residents.

The group said they filed suit after Progress Energy rejected a city request for a 90 day moratorium and refused to discuss alternatives such as burying the utility lines or finding another route.

The lawsuit asks the Franklin County Circuit Court to issue a temporary injunction preventing Progress Energy from installing any additional poles for 90 days claiming that the company’s plans conflict with federal, state and local rules governing the protection of historical areas.

The city of Apalachicola is on the National Register of Historic Sites and Places, and the state of Florida has designated the town an “area of critical state concern.”

Protests against the utility giant’s plans have escalated in recent weeks.

Members of the historical society created a website, www.saveapalach.com, where people can go for information on the power pole issue.

On November 19th, citizens also held a mock funeral procession for the tourist attracting city they believe will be damaged by the new poles.

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