Doug Jackson, 202.495.3045 or doug.jackson@sierraclub.org
TAMPA BAY, FL -- Yesterday, the Sierra Club launched their #TellTheTruthTECO campaign, designed to hold the Tampa Electric Company (TECO) accountable for doubling down on climate-disrupting fossil fuels like coal and gas, even as they prepare for the effects of climate change. The campaign was over halfway to its goal of 2,000 signatures just 24 hours after its launch and the Tampa Bay Times reported on it.
TECO is planning to build a 20-foot high sea wall and elevate part of their Tampa-area power plants by 14 feet to try to protect them from sea level rise, even as TECO expands the use of the fossil fuels that cause climate change and sea level rise. Moreover, TECO has not proposed any measures to protect the surrounding community in the same way they are trying to protect their own facilities.
“TECO needs to tell the truth about their plan to burn more dirty, dangerous coal and fracked gas here in the Tampa Bay area,” said Gonzalo Valdes, Organizing Representative for the Sierra Club. “We launched the #TellTheTruthTECO campaign so people in this community know TECO is leaving us to fend for ourselves while protecting their own facilities from the effects of climate change, even as they are making climate change worse. In fact, just hours after the launch of the #TellTheTruthTECO campaign, over 1,000 people signed on to demand that TECO invest in clean energy instead of the dirty fuels that cause climate change.”
TECO’s proposal calls for the continued burning of coal while expanding the use of fracked gas at their Big Bend plant. If approved, this plan would extend their use of fossil fuels for decades, despite the fact that climate change is causing the rapid sea level rise and stronger hurricanes that makes Tampa Bay one of the most threatened cities in the world for climate change.
“Florida is already hurting from the negative effects of climate change, but our leaders keep letting our utilities burn dirty, dangerous coal and fracked gas instead of investing in clean energy like solar energy that is affordable and abundant here in the Sunshine State,” said Frank Jackalone, the executive director of the Sierra Club Florida chapter. “If we want to get serious about protecting Florida from sea level rise and stronger hurricanes, we need to hold our elected officials accountable, and our #TellTheTruthTECO campaign does just that.”
The #TellTheTruthTECO campaign will include digital ads, social media, and grassroots mobilization.
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About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.