Doug Jackson, 202.495.3045 or doug.jackson@sierraclub.org
Ricky Junquera, 617.599.7048 or ricky.junquera@sierraclub.org
TAMPA, FL -- An administrative law judge is allowing Tampa Electric Company (TECO) to move forward with plans to burn fracked gas and more coal at their Tampa-area Big Bend plant. The decision comes after an administrative hearing in which TECO attorneys suppressed expert reports on the
, lower-cost alternatives to TECO’s billion dollar gas plant, and the
wrought by the pollution that this plant would emit.
The Florida Power Plant Siting Board, composed of Gov. DeSantis and the Cabinet, has ultimate authority on whether the plans to further pollute the Tampa region may move forward.
TECO’s proposal has generated controversy and opposition from the community, including the Sierra Club’s #TellTheTruthTECO campaign, and a trip by Tampa Bay-area residents to TECO’s parent company’s shareholder meeting in Halifax, Canada earlier this month.
In response, Director of the Florida Chapter of the Sierra Club Frank Jackalone released the following statement:
"At a time when clean, renewable solar energy is affordable and abundant here in the Sunshine State, Gov. DeSantis and the Cabinet must throw TECO’s plan where it belongs -- in the trash. Tampa is one of the cities most vulnerable to sea level rise and storm surge, yet Tampa’s own utility wants to burn the very coal and fracked gas responsible for the climate crisis. TECO knows that climate change is causing rising sea levels, higher storm surges, and stronger hurricanes -- that’s why they plan to elevate their plant and build a sea wall around it -- yet they press ahead with plans to burn climate-disrupting fuels while doing nothing to protect the surrounding community. To make matters worse, TECO has repeatedly misled the people whose air, water, and health would be most affected by the burning of coal and gas, and ignored their opposition to it.
“While we are disappointed with this ruling, Governor DeSantis and the Cabinet still have the opportunity to make the right decision and reject this dirty and dangerous proposal once and for all.”
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About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 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.