By rapidly doubling or tripling its solar capacity, OUC could make burning coal unnecessary. Unlike fossil fuels, solar power has no fuel cost, helping protect OUC customers from the price swings that come with natural gas and coal.
“ While Resilient Florida is necessary, it's not sufficient,” said Yoca Arditi-Rocha, CEO of The CLEO Institute, a nonpartisan, climate-focused nonprofit. Local governments are bringing forward projects to protect critical assets like main roads, hospitals and water treatment facilities. “The state is not keeping pace with the demand,” Arditi-Rocha said.
Protecting Americans' lives from hurricanes or wildfires or extreme heat is not a partisan issue. Every family and every community can benefit from accurate forecasts.
"It was really important to us for this to not feel like it could be an entity influenced by outside forces and it would really be a voter-led utility," said Raymer Maguire, who works on campaigns at The CLEO Institute, a Florida climate change advocacy group.
With 90% of Duke Energy Florida’s generation mix coming from these polluting sources, it’s yet another proof point that we must transition to cheaper, cleaner energy solutions to both protect our pocketbooks and our health.
Yoca Arditi-Rocha, CEO of The CLEO Institute, described the program as important but not enough, saying, "The state is not keeping pace with the demand."
“In 2023, JEA claimed a new methane gas plant was the most affordable option for Jacksonville’s energy needs. Just two years later, projected costs have increased 139%, and an independent analysis found the project could cost customers an additional $2.5 billion over its lifetime, plus roughly $1 billion in health impacts from pollution,” said Susan Glickman, vice president of Policy and Partnerships at The CLEO Institute.
The initiative includes 10 heat and hurricane preparedness workshops hosted by The CLEO Institute and community distribution events focused on reaching neighborhoods at-risk during hurricane season.
“In 2023, JEA claimed a new methane gas plant was the most affordable option for Jacksonville’s energy needs. Just two years later, projected costs have increased 139%, and an independent analysis found the project could cost customers an additional $2.5 billion over its lifetime, plus roughly $1 billion in health impacts from pollution,” said Susan Glickman, Vice President of Policy and Partnerships at The CLEO Institute.
“If you have a neighbor who’s a senior, if you have a relative who’s a senior, check on them, because many heat-related illnesses can lead to death. And sometimes those preventable deaths happen because no one realizes that someone got ill from the heat.”
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