Issues, Florida Chapter

Energy

Unwise energy policies threaten our water ( surface waters, lakes, rivers, streams, Gulf, Atlantic Ocean), air, marine and aquatic life, wildlife health and habitat, and public health.

Threats

It appears that there are 7 proposed coal burning plants for Florida from Big Bend to Loxahatchee, including (Taylor, Orange, Alachua, Palatka, St.Lucie Counties). Not only will our paradise be paved over we will have pollutants spewing forth in our air and eventually in our water. Therefore the ramifications of the coal burning plants encompasses the expertise of not only Chapter’s energy committee but also our Toxics, Water and Wetlands, Sprawl/Growth Management and Environmental Justice, due to location of many of the plants.

We agree that the continued use of coal will dampen or eliminate the moving forward of clean renewable power and building new coal powered plants in the 21st Century is neandrathal thinking. Alternative sources of energy such as wind and solar should have priority rather than relying on a dirty and non renewable source like coal.

The Clear air act, now "clear skies initiative" has lowered standards for emissions allowing more sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide and the ever popular mercury to pollute our air and water. The coal burning power plants contribute 88% and above of these pollutants.

OPPORTUNITIES

We expect to have opportunities in each of the jurisdictions to pressure or to vote directly on each of the proposed plants. We intend to organize and build our networks in these jurisdictions to increase our impact. We want to educate and inform our members and the public about clean energy sources. Please see the attached document that we prepared for our local Coal Referendum fight. We know that following the first ever Sierra Club Environmental Summit we will have the opportunity to work together with National volunteers…here is a summary from the meeting:

As you know we are faced with several coal power burners in this state and we have been in contact with National and understand that while they agree that our reliance on fossil fuels has got to stop. So for all of us involved in different aspects (talking to grassroots, utility industry representatives, media, elected officials) of the coal burners please keep to the general message below.

Also, in summary from the recent Sierra Summit:

Thousands of Sierra grassroots from around the United States and the delegates who attended the first ever Sierra Club Summit overwhelmingly chose "Build a New Energy Future." The Florida Chapter, including its representatives, needs to advocate for energy solutions that will:

1. employ a significant amount of efficiency technologies,
2. employ a significant amount of renewable energy technologies,
3. bring an end to oil dependence,
4. bring an end to global warming,
5. bring an end to toxic air emissions, and
6. "bring an end to environmental damage in sensitive areas" includes mountaintop removal for coal and gas/oil drilling. These are words from the "Vision" of the Direction Setting,

Goals

See "Opportunities" above. To supplement those efforts we will seek to replace existing governmental officials with those more favorable and also engage in selective use of Administrative and Legal actions where necessary.

Stop the proposed onslaught of new coal-burning power plants in Florida and the southeast. We anticipate seven (including Taylor, Gainesville, Palatka, Orlando, 2 in St. Lucie) or more NEW coal burning projects statewide. Longterm would be to cleanup and/or phase out the current coal plants, especially the dirtiest ones.

Legislative

We anticipate legislative action on the power plant siting act and rules to implement same to follow. We could engage in selective use of Administrative and Legal actions where necessary.

Government Entities and Allies

The Governor recently held an energy summit where unfortunately the discussion centered around nuclear and coal power as "diversity" and as the primary alternatives. Some of the local jurisdictions will be faced with votes. For example even in Counties like St. Lucie where the proposal of FPL was turned down, we anticipate that maybe efforts in the same or nearby jurisdictions to revisit the issue of a new dirty pulverized coal burning power plant "dinosaur."

Further Actions

As the Issue Chair I would carry forward the knowledge of my professional skills regarding solar energy, renewables, conservation technologies. I have hands on experience thru two electoral campaigns as the ballot issue.

Recent Achievements

From our most recent lessons learned we had extensive door to door volunteer get out the vote and voter identification; polling; phone banking; literature drops; yard signs; bumper stickers "VOTE NO COAL"; weekly and often times daily radio, tv, and public forums where we had a speakers bureau cover the area, especially as the election date approached. We are prepared to do this type of effort where appropriate again in the state, and to compare tactics with the local organizing projects around the country. (New compliance requirements from both national and state changes in elections procedures will be planned carefully through requisite Club approval procedures).

We hosted the West Virginia anti-mountain top removal Sierrans in multiple cities in Florida. We were skilled at publishing letters to the editors and op-eds and preparing meaningful, targeted flyers for the African American Community and comprehensive coverage in our Sierra newsletters. We will continue to raise awareness of the mercury contamination crisis in Florida (virtually all water bodies have mercury fish warnings.) The link between coal power plant emissions and mercury contamination, air quality (increased asthma attacks, etc) is still not widely acknowledged by the public. We will continue to educate the public on how communities targeted by coal burning power plant proposals are predominantly low-income/ minorities who are disproportionately impacted by pollution from various sources.

We also hope to upgrade and mechanize our phone banking skills to involve more Sierrans in direct campaign activities. We will also continue to promote energy efficiency and conservation, renewables and alternatives to coal and nuclear power (especially since we are the so-called "Sunshine" state). We look forward to learning from other Sierra projects around the country on new tactics, materials, research, arguments, etc. around the new Conservation Initiative.

What can you do?

Become involved in each jurisdictions where the fight is. Talk about renewables and energy efficiency.