Stop Dirty Coal

What's New

Last year, Environment Florida and a coalition of conservation and clean energy groups stopped the construction of a massive coal-fired power plant near Everglades National Park.  This victory, supported by Governor Crist, has resulted in a de-facto moratorium on new coal plants in Florida. 

Of the six proposed coal plants that were planned for Florida at this time last year, only one continues to move forward. Unfortunately, a court recently overturned a decision by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to halt Seminole Electric Cooperative's plans for a new coal plant.  The DEP was concerned that the utility failed to adequately consider the impact of  the plant's global warming emissions, which could lead to unanticipated rate increases and will make it much harder for Florida to meet our goal of significantly reducing global warming emissions.  The Florida DEP is considering whether to appeal the ruling, and Environment Florida is encouraging them to do just that. 

Brief Summary

Energy companies are planning to build over 150 coal-fired power plants in locations across the United States, including here in Florida. Far from enhancing our energy security, the wave of proposed plants – most of them powered by dirty, last-generation technologies – would dramatically increase global warming emissions and pose energy security and economic problems.

Outdated technology

Expanding our coal demand will come at a high price.  These coal plants would significantly increase global warming emissions.  Despite recent hype about the promise of “clean coal” – including the prospect of capturing and storing carbon dioxide emissions from power plants underground – only a small percentage of the proposed plants would use coal gasification technology, and none would incorporate carbon capture and storage. The rest would use older technologies that are already responsible for massive global warming emissions and the release of large quantities of pollutants responsible for human health problems.

Coal plants are the largest industrial source of smog and soot pollution that darken our skies and trigger a range of health problems, including increased levels of asthma and heart disease.  In addition, Florida already has a serious mercury pollution problem; every lake and river and our entire coastline is under EPA-issued advisories warning against eating certain types of fish due to high levels of dangerous mercury pollution.

Destructive mining

The rush to coal also means an increase in U.S. coal demand, which would require the opening of new mines and expanded infrastructure for delivering that coal to power plants. New mines will level more mountains, permanently bury hundreds of miles of pristine mountain streams under billions of tons of mining waste and continue to devastate local communities located near the mines.

Ratepayers at Risk

Finally, the rush to coal carries significant economic risks for ratepayers, utilities and generators, who could be liable for the cost of complying with any new rules to limit global warming emissions from power plants – rules that are increasingly likely as evidence mounts of the potential environmental and economic impacts of global warming. 

Stopping the Coal Rush

Environment Florida is calling for several steps to stem the “coal rush.” First, our leaders should establish a moratorium on new coal plants in Florida, in order to evaluate the environmental and economic impacts.  Second, Florida should establish a cap on carbon dioxide pollution, to be lowered over time; third, public money should not be spent on coal technology; and finally, we should dramatically expand programs to develop energy efficiency and renewable energy resources.