Two Wins for Green Groups: FPL Coal Plant, Gulf Drilling Both Go Down

Two Wins for Green Groups: FPL Coal Plant, Gulf Drilling Both Go Down

Jun 13 - Florida Keys Keynoter, Marathon, Fla.

Protectors of the Keys coral reef received welcome news on two environmental fronts this month.

A new coal-powered generator planned near Moore Haven in Central Florida was blocked by the state Public Service Commission at a June 5 session.

Glades Power Park, a $5.8 billion generator sought by Florida Power and Light, drew fire from several environmental groups, including the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council.

In Washington, D.C., a move to bring oil drilling closer to Florida's Gulf of Mexico coast may have been stalled by a congressional committee.

"We're not out of the woods yet but we're getting there," said Deevon Quirolo, executive director of the Reef Relief group.

While statewide environmental groups hailed rejection of the massive generator near Moore Haven, Public Service Commission members cited economic costs to consumers as reasons to reject the power plant.

FPL officials said the 1,960-megawatt plant would have been the least environmentally damaging coal plant in the country, and would cut the utility's dependence on oil and natural gas.

The plant proposal sparked a daylong meeting May 22 by the Keys sanctuary council. Members heard reports on how global climate change affects the reef, and how the plant could contribute to the problem.

Sanctuary advisors unanimously passed a resolution declaring they were "particularly opposed to the proposed Glades Power Park project since it increases greenhouse gas emissions in the Everglades with its corresponding pollution and effects on global climate, while irreversibly setting our energy policies in a direction away from conservation, energy efficiency and renewable resources use."

The council also passed a resolution calling for all government agencies to reduce sources of "human caused global climate change that are causing significant harm to the resources of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary."

PSC members "didn't say it was climate change or mercury or other things that the sanctuary council concerned about," advisory panel member Chris Bergh said, "but I'm glad we took that action."

"It was particularly gratifying to see Gov. [Charlie] Crist clearly made the linkage between environmental degradation, global climate change and the power plant," said Bergh.

Money to fund a planned sale of drilling rights in Lease Area 181 in the Gulf of Mexico was stripped out by the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee this month.

If it survives additional action in Congress, the move will keep alive a 20-year moratorium on drilling in the eastern gulf.

The full House is expected to vote on the U.S. Department of the Interior budget this week.

While exploration and drilling would be hundreds of miles from the reef, studies of gulf currents show pollution or oil spills would likely reach the Keys reef, Quirolo said.

"We have had very we some good representation through out Florida congressional delegation, which has been vigorous in pursuing protection for the reef," she said.

The House committee also blocked a proposal to allow drilling for natural gas within 25 miles of the Florida coastline.

U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who represents the Keys, urged its defeat.

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