JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Hundreds of concerned residents addressed their concerns about a new JEA power project during a meeting Thursday night at Bartram Springs Elementary.
JEA plans to install power poles and transmission lines along Philips Highway and Race Track Road, near the Bartram Springs subdivision.
The utility company says it will improve service to the growing number of customers in that area and create a backup if a circuit fails.
People packed the house tonight at Bartram Springs Elementary on Thursday night, as JEA addressed hundreds of residents' concerns.
Some residents like Elizabeth Metzger and Ilex Climenhaga argue the power poles behind their neighborhood will decrease property value or cause health issues.
“Home value is a big portion of it, the eyesore that it would put in our backyard,” Metzger said. “Then, there are the underlying health concerns as well.”
According to a video posted on JEA’s website, the company plans to remove trees and vegetation directly next to Philips Highway to install the power poles. However, they won’t remove existing trees that will serve as a buffer between the Bartram Springs subdivision and the new power poles. In the video, JEA demonstrated a variety of tests and showed why they believe the power poles will be hard to see.
The transmission lines used in the project are a lower voltage and JEA said it won’t create a loud hum.
For more information about the project, visit https://www.jea.com/us1.