MARK SCHUMANN

In response to Florida Municipal Power Agency General Manager Nicholas Guarriello’s call for an end to what he described as “a letter writing campaign,” Florida Power & Light President Eric Silagy fired off another letter to Guarriello today.

Late last week, Guarriello wrote Silagy expressing “disappointment” at what he described as numerous misstatements made by FPL spokeswoman, Amy Brunjes, at last Tuesday’s City Council meeting.  Silagy defended Brunjes, writing, “we believe Ms. Brunjes accurately presented the situation from FPL’s perspective.”

Addressing more substantive issues, Silagy wrote the FPL and Vero Beach’s transactional attorneys do not agree with what he described as “rigid” positions the FMPA has taken regarding Vero Beach’s contracts for participation in three FMPA power projects and the FMPA All Requirements Project.  While praising FPL’s negotiating team for “continuing to work to identify and propose solutions,” Silagy essentially accused the FMPA of focusing on identifying problems.

“There is no question in my mind that if we all work together, this sale can be completed by January 2015,” Silagy added, reiterating the position he staked out two weeks ago when he met with reporters and editors of Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers at their offices in Stuart.

In suggesting further meetings between FPL and the FMPA, Silagy seemed to disregard Guarriello’s March 5 letter to City Manager Jim O’Connor in which he suggested a meeting exclusively between representatives of Vero Beach and the FMPA.  “I would personally welcome an opportunity to have a meeting with you, your city attorney, and the Mayor…That meeting, however, should not include FPL, as FPL’s responses to the $54 million number place a number of additional restrictions of FMPA that are unworkable and unacceptable under Vero Beach’s project contracts,” Guarriello wrote.

Vero Beach officials are scheduled to meet with FMPA representatives April 2.

FPL President Eric Silagy’s March 10 letter to FMPA General Manager Nicholas Guarriello: