Ricky Junquera, ricky.junquera@sierraclub.org
TAMPA, FL - The Sierra Club released the second version of their Dirty Truth Report along with a major ad buy in the Tampa Bay Times, The Florida Sentinel Bulletin, and La Gazeta. 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.
“The Dirty Truth Report grades utilities’ by their commitments to move away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy, and TECO continues to receive a failing grade,” said Walter Smith, The Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign Organizer in Tampa. “While other Florida electric utilities fare well, TECO is at the bottom of the standings with its fossil fuel plants, lack of energy efficiency, and slow movement to renewables. This Saturday, we are holding a Tampa Environmental Justice Think Tank to gather in community with those most impacted by TECO’s overreliance on coal and gas, hoping to strategize ways to mobilize our utility towards more renewable energy commitments.”
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.