Say Goodbye To Coal
(Photo: Martha Jackovics, Seattle, WA)
You would think that in a state like Florida, it would only be natural to take advantage of solar energy, and yet, larglely, we don't. Aside from solar panels for some homeowners (yours truly included) and for the occasional traffic signal, Florida relies instead on coal plants, and nuclear plants, which we pay for dearly, especially for those which will never be built, thanks to our lawmakers and corporate welfare.
Now a group called the Sunshine State Clean Energy Coalition is launching tomorrow for what could be a big change for Floridians as we move away from dirty coal to clean energy.
And what better place to hold a launch rally than in front of the headquarters of company we're paying for non-existent future nuclear plants: Duke Energy?
From Progress Florida:
The Sunshine State should be a world leader in solar energy production. Instead, we're home to dirty and obsolete coal plants like Duke Energy's Crystal River plant.
But we have an opportunity to change that. Duke has already admitted that it would cost more to continue running these massive pollution sources than to retire them. So the question is not if Florida will move beyond coal, but when and how.
Duke's leadership, including their new CEO Lynn Good, is beginning to listen to the alliance of business, labor, health and faith communities in the Sunshine State Clean Energy Coalition.
From The Sierra Club:
More than twenty business, faith, labor, consumer, public health and environmental groups have formed the new Sunshine State Clean Energy Coalition to advocate for Florida’s largest utility companies to invest in clean, local solar energy. Representatives from the new coalition will join dozens of solar energy supporters at a rally and press conference at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, November 13 to call on Duke Energy to phase out the oldest coal-fired units at the Crystal River power plant by 2016 and invest in solar power to boost Florida’s economy, keep energy dollars in state, and bring clean air to communities.
Rally details:
WHAT: Rally and press conference to announce new Sunshine State Clean Energy Coalition
WHEN: Wednesday, November 13 at 10:00 AM
WHERE: Williams Park, across from Duke Building, 299 1st Avenue North, St. Petersburg (MAP)
WHO:
Darden Rice, St. Petersburg City Council Member-Elect, District 4
Kelly Martin, Sierra Club senior campaign representative
Lynn Ringenberg, M.D., Chapter President, Physicians for Social Responsibility
Rick Smith, Chief of Staff, SEIU/FPSU
Tim Heberlein, Political Director, Florida Consumer Action Network
Andy Bell, Executive Director, Sunshine State Interfaith Power and Light
Rosemarie Grubba, Hernando County resident
