After years of planning, Living Waters and Faith Christian Academy building project at risk . . . An opinion

Submitted by Rob Goyette

Senior Pastor, Living Waters

May 9, 2016 1:33 p.m.

"If FPL  builds its substation where it wants, the new campus for Living Waters and Faith Christian Academy will no longer be a viable option. As a result, many children, families, and employees will suffer."

Several years ago, Living Waters World Outreach Center purchased a large track of land on County Road 107. With its church and school growing, and 70 families on a waiting list, the new campus offered hope for the future. During the down turned economy, Living Waters opted not to incur more debt in order to build its new facilities. Instead, they focused on site engineering, zoning approvals, traffic concurrency, and the sale of surplus property. To date all those have occurred. With only 9 acres of the original 43 left to sell, the 17 acre campus is closer than ever to becoming a reality.

The new campus will have a sanctuary, an outreach center and a school for 500 children. Faith Christian Academy is fully accredited and together with the church employs 27 people.

Recently Living Waters and Faith Christian Academy became aware that Florida Power and Light is trying to develop a massive electrical substation directly next to its new campus. The proposed substation would cover 3.2 acres of ground and be elevated 5 feet above existing ground height. This would create a visual eyesore that no buffer could adequately conceal.

Electrical substations bring with them a ton of controversy. From electric magnetic fields and childhood leukemia, to substation fires and explosions, you don’t have to search the web far to see the concerns. Just recently in Miami a teenager was electrocuted after trying to retrieve a ball from a nearby substation that was located next to a park. Though the state regulates some of these issues, local governments also have a say as to where substations can be built. The county may request FPL to provide additional sites. Unfortunately, FPL seems reluctant to do so. That being said, on May 19th at 6pm the Nassau county board of commissioners will hear the matter in a public hearing.

While Living Waters acknowledges that reliable electricity is important to our growing community, at the same time the safety and welfare of its citizens and property owners should never be compromised. Living Waters is determined to see FPL find a different location.

If FPL builds its substation where it wants, the new campus for Living Waters and Faith Christian Academy will no longer be a viable option. As a result, many children, families, and employees will suffer.

Editor's Note: It is expected the Nassau County Board of Commissioners will be make a decision at a future meeting to accept or reject Florida Power & Light's plan to build a substation adjacent to property owned by Living Waters.