Ricky Junquera, ricky.junquera@sierraclub.org
ORLANDO, FL - The Sierra Club released the second version of their Dirty Truth Report along with a major ad buy in the Orlando Sentinel, and have taken over the Orlando Sentinel Homepage today. A year and a half ago, the organization analyzed the plans of 77 utilities owned by the 50 companies most invested in fossil fuel generation and found that while the majority of the utilities had stated goals of significant carbon reduction over the next few decades, there was a colossal gap between their ongoing practices and the steps they need to take to avert climate disaster.
In this second version of the report, Sierra Club investigated what progress, if any, has been made since the last utility report card to retire coal plants, stop building new gas plants, and build clean energy in the next, crucial decade. The results are disappointing but not surprising.
While utilities have focused on generating massive profits and maintaining the status quo over the year and a half since the last report, calls for a transition to clean energy have only grown at the federal level, in states, in the financial sector, and across the public.
“Under the Inflation Reduction Act, OUC has the opportunity to make a transition straight to renewables, and yet they are keeping their plans to convert unit 2 at Stanton into a fracked gas unit,” said Raquel Fernandez Makarov, The Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign Organizer in Orland. “After increasing rates due to the rising cost of gas in the state and the obvious devastating impacts of fossil fuels after Hurricane Ian, OUC must commit to doing better. In order to get a higher grade OUC must honor Mayor Dyer and the city of Orlando’s unanimous pledge to go straight to solar. Instead, they maintain their B grade because they have not made any progress with a market that is favorable towards renewables.”
This Fall, President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into law. Last year, President Biden announced his vision for the country to produce 100 percent carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of 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.