Today, the Florida Public Service Commission voted 4-0 to deny Florida Power & Light’s permits for a proposed coal-fired power plant in Glades County. The $5.7 billion proposed plant would have been located just 68 miles from Everglades National Park heavily polluting the Glades and surrounding area. This plant would use 26 million tons of water daily, emit 180 pounds of toxic mercury every year, and further fuel climate change by releasing an estimated 16 million tons of C02 annually.
FPL faced a huge opposition from both local and national groups who recognize that energy efficiency and renewables like solar and wind should be our priority – NOT dirty fossil-fuels. While this is a great victory in stopping new coal development – Florida is still facing at least 8 more coal-fired power plants, and 150 more are planned around the US.
Learn more about some of the organizations fighting FPL’s dirty coal plants and the US coal rush:
Save it Now, Glades!
Environment Florida
Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
Energy Justice Network
Rainforest Action Network
Sierra Club
This is a really good sign in our fight to make sure that there is no new coal in the sunshine state. Governor Crist seems to understand the need for firm action on global warming, and we intend to keep pushing to stop new coal plants throughout Florida. Right now we are gearing up for Energy Justice Summer Taylor county, where we will be linking students with the community members fighting a proposed plant there. This is going to take place in August on the 3rd-5th, if you want more information go to http://www.energyjustice.net/ejs/florida.html and come on down. Its going to be a awesome time!
Great news! One down, eight to go, eh?
I think public utility commissions are more and more turning against the idea of allowing new coal-fired power plant construction. There are still a lot of new plants on the drawing boards, and some will likely win approval, but if we remain vigilant, both in fighting individual plants at the local level, and in fighting for comprehensive national and state climate change policies that will prevent the construction of new coal plants that do not sequester emissions, I think we can win the war.
Nice one!
If you guys in the US keep rejecting dirty coal perhaps the utilities will take a hint and look for alternatives.
Would be nice for someone to just outlaw them though…
Please remove us, The Florida Alliance for a Clean Environment, from the list above. While you are corerect about our succesfull efforts to oppose the Glades power park you are wrong to link us to the, Environment Florida organization’s website. We are not part of that group and don’t care to be. If you care to have a deeper understanding of our efforts regarding the Glade plant I recomend going to the Florida PSC website and finding docket 070098. Read the opening statements of the intervenors which include ours under Krasowski’s, the post hearing brief’s and the transcript of the final determination hearing.
Bob Krasowski
The Florida Alliance for a Clean Environment
Naples Fl. 34103
Alliance4CleanFl@aol.com
239-963-6285-C
239-434-0786-H