Major win for Florida's environment
Earlier this week, the Florida Public Service Commission denied a Florida Power and Light "Needs Determination" permit for a huge coal-fired power plant on 4900 acres of wilderness near the Everglades National Park in Glades Co. Florida, effectively killing the project.
Although it was supposed to use a" cleaner" design, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy said the proposed Glades Power Park plant would use 26 million gallons of water per day from the drought-stricken Florida Aquifer and inject industrial waste water back into the ground. It would also generate 3827 tons of nitrogen oxides per year, 3049 tons of sulfur dioxide, over 1000 tons of particulate matter, and 16 million tons of carbon dioxide. It would also emit 180 pounds of mercury per year, making it one of the largest emitters in the state and threatening the health of residents in the area and the nearby Everglades ecosystem.
Gov. Crist had opposed the plan and approved the Commission's action, saying yesterday: "The Public Service Commission today made the right decision for the environment, the right decision for the Everglades and the right decision for Florida."
Dr. Stephen Smith, Director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, said in a statement:
"We welcome the Florida Public Service Commission's (PSC) denial of the FPL coal-fired power plant proposed for construction at the headwaters of the magnificent and fragile Florida Everglades. This is the second time FPL's attempt to build this plant in Florida has been denied, the first being denied by the St. Lucie County Commission in November of 2005.
"We hope that FPL will finally get the message that Floridians don't want any new coal-fired power plants in their state. It is time that FPL get serious about investing in energy efficiency and clean energy which will not threaten the future health and safety of their customers. We look forward to working with Governor Crist and the Florida PSC to advance safe, climate friendly technologies to meet Florida's energy needs in the future."
The last time the Florida Public Service Commission denied a power plant permit was in 1992. This is a huge victory for Florida's environment, and a signal of shifting public and political winds regarding clean energy and the environment.