Florida Ranks Third for Global Warming Pollution from Power Plants
On the heels of increasingly severe weather events, a new report from Environment Florida Research & Policy Center finds that Florida ranks third in the country for most carbon pollution from power plants, the state's largest single source of global warming pollution. Scientists predict that extreme weather events will become more frequent and severe for future generations without action to reduce the carbon pollution fueling the problem.
The report, titled 'America's Dirtiest Power Plants,' comes as the Obama administration readies a new set of rules to tackle global warming. It illustrates the scale of carbon pollution from Florida's power sector and ranks Florida's biggest carbon polluters.
Key findings from the report include:
- Florida's power plants are the 3rd most polluting in the country.
- In Florida, the top five most polluting power plants are Crystal River, Big Bend, West County Energy Center, Seminole, and St. John's River Power Park.
- Florida's power plants are its single largest source of carbon pollution - responsible for 49 percent of statewide emissions.
- Duke Energy's (formerly Progress Florida Energy Inc.) Crystal River Plant is the 44th most carbon-polluting power plant in the nation.
- Florida's power plants produce as much carbon each year as nearly 25 million cars.
This summer, President Obama directed his Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to propose limits on carbon pollution from new and existing power plants, the largest single source of carbon pollution. In a major step, the EPA is expected to propose an updated rule for cutting carbon pollution from new power plants on September 20.
To read the full report, go to http://www.environmentflorida.org/reports/fle/americas-dirtiest-power-plants.