Storms, Scenery, and Community Lead to Power Line Victory

👥 Who: Scenic Walton, Florida Power & Light, Walton County leaders, including Tony Anderson and Clay Adkinson

⚡ What: A planned 45-mile high-voltage transmission line project will not move forward

📅 When: FPL informed Scenic Walton in early March 2026

📍 Where: Along Highway 331 between DeFuniak Springs and Santa Rosa Beach in Walton County

❓ Why: Alternative energy solutions now meet near-term needs, and community concerns were raised about aesthetics and storm resilience

Community Concerns

In 2024, Scenic Walton worked with the Walton County Board of County Commissioners to encourage FPL to consider alternatives to running the transmission line overhead across the Choctawhatchee Bay.

The group advocated placing the transmission infrastructure beneath the bay or, potentially, underground along its full route,  to preserve views and reduce vulnerability to storm damage.

That push led FPL to evaluate alternatives and extend the project timeline to allow for additional engineering review.

“We had tremendous concerns both from an aesthetic perspective and considering future potential storm impacts,” said Leigh Moore.

Moore said the organization was particularly worried about large transmission structures spanning the bay and the possibility that storm damage could lead to widespread outages.

“Overhead power lines that span bodies of water, especially transmission lines, can lead to widespread power outages for extended periods of time when they are damaged during a storm,” Moore said.

Local Leaders Involved

Moore worked with Tony Anderson, Clay Adkinson, the South Walton Community Council, and residents, including Barbara Morano, to raise concerns and advocate for alternatives.

Moore noted that FPL already had permits and approvals to construct the transmission line, but ultimately chose not to move forward.

“This is a tremendous victory for Walton County and its citizens and shows what we can achieve when we join forces and work together,” Moore said.

Not Necessarily the End

While the project is not moving forward now, FPL indicated the concept could be revisited in the future if energy demand increases or system needs change.

Scenic Walton said it will continue to monitor any developments related to the proposal.

The organization says it remains focused on protecting Walton County’s scenic beauty while advocating for infrastructure solutions that strengthen the region’s long-term resilience.