Ricky Junquera - ricky.junquera@sierraclub.org - (617) 599-7048
TALLAHASSEE, FL -- Earlier today, Governor DeSantis and Cabinet voted 3 to 1 for Tampa Electric Company (TECO) fracked gas plant proposal, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried being the sole no vote.
“On the first major vote on climate, Commissioner Nikki Fried proved that she is the champion we need when it comes to fighting climate change. Unfortunately Governor DeSantis, CFO Patronis, and Attorney General Moody failed.” - Susannah Randolph, Senior Campaign Representative for Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign in Florida
TECO sought approval from the Governor and cabinet, acting as the Florida Power Plant Siting Board (Board), for a project to burn more coal and fracked gas--for decades--in Hillsborough County, at TECO’s Big Bend site near Apollo Beach.
“TECO has betrayed the people of Tampa by refusing to consider clean, renewable energy instead of dirty fuels like fracked gas and coal. In the Sunshine State, which is facing the most extreme effects of climate change, TECO is dragging us backwards instead of charting the course for a new, clean energy future.” - Sierra Club Tampa Organizer, Gonzalo Valdes
This morning, Tampa residents delivered petitions and a community letter urging Governor DeSantis and Cabinet to vote no on Tampa Electric Company (TECO)’s plan to burn more coal and fracked gas in power plants at the Big Bend site near Apollo Beach, in Hillsborough County. More than 9,000 people have signed petitions against TECO’s proposal, more than 300 residents have shown up at rallies in Tampa to demand clean energy, and elected officials such as Hillsborough County Commissioners Pat Kemp, Mariella Smith, Les Miller, and Kim Overman and U.S. Congresswoman Kathy Castor demanded a more thorough review of the project before moving forward with this project.
“Florida should no longer be importing $58 billion dollars a year in fossil fuels that poison our water, degrade our air, and place the state of Florida, especially Tampa Bay, at severe risk of sea level rise and acidification of our oceans and waterways. It's time for Florida to commit to a clean energy future and create our own good paying energy jobs while saving taxpayer and ratepayer dollars and mitigating sea level rise. Florida is lagging behind other states and the rest of the world in embracing the benefits and savings renewable energy sources provide.” - Hillsborough County Commissioner Pat Kemp
The campaign called on the Governor and Cabinet to reject TECO’s plan to build a large, new fracked gas unit and to expand coal-burning in two existing units. Instead, local communities want TECO to invest in clean energy like solar and energy efficiency upgrades for homes and businesses which would save $2 billion and improve the local economy, public health, and the environment.
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.