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Posted on July 3, 2007
Sierra Club
Another Coal Plant Bites the Dust in Florida
Taylor Energy Center to Suspend Plant Permitting During Formation of Florida's Energy Plan
Tallahassee, FL - Partners in the the Taylor Energy Center announced plans today to suspend permitting activities while they are participating in a state dialogue on Florida's energy future, but stopped short of saying the project is dead. A final decision concerning the coal proposal must be confirmed by the governing boards for the four participating municipal electric utilities: the Florida Municipal Power Agency, JEA - the Jacksonville Electric Authority, Reedy Creek Improvement District (Disney), and the City of Tallahassee.
Many Sierra Club members in Taylor County and across the state of Florida have opposed the partners' plans the past two years. Though the people of Taylor County have not been allowed by their county commission to vote on the issue, county commissioners have repeatedly curiously referred to the "silent majority" as if most residents were in favor of the coal plant. Local, regional, and statewide opposition has mounted steadily to the partners' plan to burn dirty coal at a time when climate change and global warming are increasingly growing concerns.
Florida's Governor Charlie Crist praised the decision to halt work towards a coal-fired power plant in Taylor County. "We all commend them. This administration commends them for what they are doing today," Crist said during a news conference to discuss a climate change workshop next week in Miami.
According to the partners, the suspension will allow the utilities time to assess how best to meet their customers' electricity needs in ways consistent with growing concerns about greenhouse gas emissions. The partnership expects to close its permitting processes through the Florida Public Service Commission and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. A spokesman for the partnership maintained that the partnership will continue to seek a land-use change for the nearly 3,000-acre site next to the Buckeye Florida pulp mill and said that some or all of the utilities in the future may still wish to use the site for a power plant.
Joy Towles Ezell, Sierra Club Energy Chair said "When only 4 people (aside from those who were paid to represent the power companies) spoke in favor of the plant at the recent land use hearing, with over 60 voicing their firm objections, along with serious objections raised at the public service commission hearing, it became very obvious that a filthy coal plant is not acceptable in Taylor County. The Public Service Commission's decision denying the Glades coal burner, with the praise of Governor Crist, was an unmistakable sign that the partnership's coal proposal is in trouble. Florida must move beyond dirty coal and develop a smart energy plan - one that includes solar, wind, and current power. The Florida Chapter of the Sierra Club looks forward to playing a part in developing a progressive clean energy plan for the state."
Susie Caplowe, Florida Chapter Sierra Club Legislative Affairs said "Amidst increasing awareness and concern about climate change, dirty energy must not be allowed in Florida. Rather than continue with plans for a dirty coal burner, it's more important that we develop a clean, efficient, energy plan for Florida. We look forward to working with the Governor, the Florida Energy Commission, and the Legislature to develop a better future for our state, its citizens, and Florida's fragile environment."
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