Ricky Junquera, ricky.junquera@sierraclub.org, 617.599.7048
Tampa, Fla. -- Earlier today, clean air, climate justice, and community advocates hosted a people’s forum on TECO’s plans for their Big Bend facility. TECO is proposing to continue burning coal while expanding the use of fracked gas at their Tampa-area power plants, despite the negative effects these dirty fuels will have on public health, the climate, and surrounding communities.
TECO plans to elevate some equipment by 14 feet and build a 20-foot sea wall to try to protect the same equipment from sea level rise, even as they continue burning the climate-disrupting fuels that cause sea level rise, while doing nothing to protect local communities from rising seas or storm surge.
Today’s event was related to the Sierra Club’s #TellTheTruthTECO campaign. Last week, Sierra Club released a video highlighting the dangers and hypocrisy behind Tampa Electric Company’s plan for the biggest fossil fuel expansion in the history of Hillsborough County, which has gone viral with over 350k views on social media. The new video shows how nearby communities and local landmarks—such as MacDill Air Force Base, the University of South Florida, St. Pete, and the Tampa airport—would be overcome by rising waters in a warming climate, as the Big Bend plant, a massive climate polluter, sits at a higher, constructed elevation.
In response, Gonzalo Valdes, organizing representative for the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign in Florida, released the following statement:
“There’s no reason the Sunshine State can’t be a leader in clean energy, and tonight’s standing-room-only turnout shows that the community supports and demands it.
“TECO must not be allowed to expand the use of fracked gas and recommit to burning coal when solar resources are abundant, and when the science is clear that Florida must stop burning dirty, dangerous fossil fuels to avoid the worst effects of climate change, including stronger hurricanes and flooding from rising seas.”
“Our hometown utility needs to get on the right side of history by scrapping this plan and investing in 100 percent clean energy. Floridians, especially here in Tampa, deserve decision makers who put our communities’ public health and safety above polluter profits.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, 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.