Versus Renewable Solar and Wind Energy Systems
News for Immediate Release
Date: 12 DEC 2009: Contact: Thomas Saporito: 561-972-8363
On Monday, December 14, 2009, Thomas Saporito will speak at the regularly scheduled meeting of the Palm Beach Environmental Coalition (PBEC) about FPL’s application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to build two more nuclear power plants at the existing Turkey Point nuclear site in Homestead, Florida.
The PBCEC meeting will begin at 7:00 pm at the Quaker Meeting House, 823 North “A” Street, Lake Worth, Florida.
Link to PBCEC: http://pbcec.blogspot.com
According to Saporito, “The State of Florida does not need any more nuclear power plants to meet the future energy needs of our state. Instead, FPL and Progress Energy should concentrate their resources to providing their residential and commercial customers with lease-to-own renewable solar voltaic and wind energy systems. These renewable energy systems are tied to the FPL or PE common electric grid through Florida’s net-metering law which requires the electric utility to pay the customer for excess electric power generated back to the grid. A properly designed system can completely offset 100% of a customers electric bill.”
“Clearly, clean, renewable electric systems are the future of Florida – not nuclear power which generates tons and tons of high-level nuclear waste which must be indefinitely stored at the utility’s nuclear plant site.” Saporito said.
Food for thought – if the majority of FPL and PE customers were to install solar and wind electric systems on their homes – FPL and PE would actually have to start shutting down existing power plants. Its time for the Florida Public Service Commission to step up to the plate and be an advocate for the Florida consumers in this regard instead of allowing FPL and PE to pre-charge their customers for the cost of building more nuclear power plants in Florida.
Please visit http://renewableelectricsystems.com for more information on solar and wind electric systems.
<<< End >>>
Saturday, December 12, 2009
PBCEC Update: N30 report, 12/14/09 meeting reminder, updates and events
Palm Beach Post coverage of PBCEC's Nov 30 meeting with DEP and EPA:
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/protesters-opposed-to-fpl-plant-near-loxahatchee-wildlife-91783.html
Unfortunately, the Post coverage did not go reflect the actual content of the meeting, and the struggle that proceeded it. The PBCEC coordinated an uphill effort to bring together diverse concerns relevant to greenhouse gas monitoring and regulation and present them to local/state DEP and Federal EPA representatives. After having DEP Southeast Director, Jack Long, attempt to limit participation to 8 people, deny media entry and threats of parking violation against meeting participants, we succeeded in having 16 people present (including photographer and videographer) and a conference call accessible to the public, which over a dozen listened in on, including administrators from other State agencies...
For our full N30 story:
http://pbcec.blogspot.com/2009/12/report-from-pbcecs-n30-meeting-with-dep.html
For news from N30 actions around the U.S.:
http://www.actforclimatejustice.org/n30-day-of-action/reportbacks-day-of-action/
Next PBCEC meeting Dec 14th, 7pm at the Quaker Meeting House, 823 North A Street, Lake Worth
Proposed Agenda:
-FPL and the DEP (updates from N30 meeting, 350 campaign, next steps, Dec 18 plan)
-Scripps (upcoming hearing Jan 14, 7pm at Palm Beach Gardens City Hall)
-Updates from recent County, District and Legislative meetings (offshore drilling, rock mines, landfills, etc.)
-Dec 17, Inland Port hearing (Port of Palm Beach)
-Environmental racism in Riviera Beach (FPL) and Lake Worth (Sun Recycling)
-Nuclear power and early cost recovery (joining statewide campaign)
Events Calendar and Updates:
Sat. Dec 12, Grand Opening of Night Heron Grassroots Activist Center (new office of PBCEC) Music, Food, introduction to the space, 4-8pm, 1307 Central Terrace, Lake Worth (at the corner of G Street and 13 Ave. north)
http://www.myspace.com/thenightheron
Sun. Dec 13, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Candle Vigil and Ringing of Bells regarding U.N. Climate Summit and 350 ppm CO2 as part of regular Network of Spiritual Progressives of Palm Beach County Meeting. Meeting location is 2011 S. Federal Highway, Boynton Beach at the Church of Our Saviour MCC.
http://www.350.org/node/13367
Some background on the upcoming contract for the Waste Transfer Dump (Sun 'Recycling') perpetuating environmental racism in the Osbourne Community:
http://www.lakeworth.org/vertical/Sites/%7B5E6FE119-0228-4C9B-B2DB-067168049C16%7D/uploads/%7BA6CF9CB7-4042-48E9-819B-104A418C381E%7D.PDF
Updates on the Eagle Training Center in Venus
Just a reminder to call, write, email or other contact to ask Highland County Commissioners to "recind" the two remaining issues we must get rid of regarding the changes opening more pathways to environmental degradation of our land and peaceful way of life.
www.noeagletrainingcenter.com.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/protesters-opposed-to-fpl-plant-near-loxahatchee-wildlife-91783.html
Unfortunately, the Post coverage did not go reflect the actual content of the meeting, and the struggle that proceeded it. The PBCEC coordinated an uphill effort to bring together diverse concerns relevant to greenhouse gas monitoring and regulation and present them to local/state DEP and Federal EPA representatives. After having DEP Southeast Director, Jack Long, attempt to limit participation to 8 people, deny media entry and threats of parking violation against meeting participants, we succeeded in having 16 people present (including photographer and videographer) and a conference call accessible to the public, which over a dozen listened in on, including administrators from other State agencies...
For our full N30 story:
http://pbcec.blogspot.com/2009/12/report-from-pbcecs-n30-meeting-with-dep.html
For news from N30 actions around the U.S.:
http://www.actforclimatejustice.org/n30-day-of-action/reportbacks-day-of-action/
Next PBCEC meeting Dec 14th, 7pm at the Quaker Meeting House, 823 North A Street, Lake Worth
Proposed Agenda:
-FPL and the DEP (updates from N30 meeting, 350 campaign, next steps, Dec 18 plan)
-Scripps (upcoming hearing Jan 14, 7pm at Palm Beach Gardens City Hall)
-Updates from recent County, District and Legislative meetings (offshore drilling, rock mines, landfills, etc.)
-Dec 17, Inland Port hearing (Port of Palm Beach)
-Environmental racism in Riviera Beach (FPL) and Lake Worth (Sun Recycling)
-Nuclear power and early cost recovery (joining statewide campaign)
Events Calendar and Updates:
Sat. Dec 12, Grand Opening of Night Heron Grassroots Activist Center (new office of PBCEC) Music, Food, introduction to the space, 4-8pm, 1307 Central Terrace, Lake Worth (at the corner of G Street and 13 Ave. north)
http://www.myspace.com/thenightheron
Sun. Dec 13, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Candle Vigil and Ringing of Bells regarding U.N. Climate Summit and 350 ppm CO2 as part of regular Network of Spiritual Progressives of Palm Beach County Meeting. Meeting location is 2011 S. Federal Highway, Boynton Beach at the Church of Our Saviour MCC.
http://www.350.org/node/13367
Some background on the upcoming contract for the Waste Transfer Dump (Sun 'Recycling') perpetuating environmental racism in the Osbourne Community:
http://www.lakeworth.org/vertical/Sites/%7B5E6FE119-0228-4C9B-B2DB-067168049C16%7D/uploads/%7BA6CF9CB7-4042-48E9-819B-104A418C381E%7D.PDF
Updates on the Eagle Training Center in Venus
Just a reminder to call, write, email or other contact to ask Highland County Commissioners to "recind" the two remaining issues we must get rid of regarding the changes opening more pathways to environmental degradation of our land and peaceful way of life.
www.noeagletrainingcenter.com.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Report from PBCEC's N30 meeting with DEP and EPA
Regarding FPL powerplants in South Florida
Palm Beach Post coverage of PBCEC's Nov 30 meeting with DEP and EPA:
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/protesters-opposed-to-fpl-plant-near-loxahatchee-wildlife-91783.html
Unfortunately, the Post coverage did not go reflect the actual content of the meeting, and the struggle that proceeded it. The PBCEC coordinated an uphill effort to bring together diverse concerns relevant to greenhouse gas monitoring and regulation and present them to local/state DEP and Federal EPA representatives. After having DEP Southeast Director, Jack Long, attempt to limit participation to 8 people, deny media entry and threats of parking violation against meeting participants, we succeeded in having 16 people present (including photographer and videographer) and a conference call accessible to the public, which over a dozen listened in on, including administrators from other State agencies.
When a final group was told to leave the building by West Palm Beach Police, they refused without a written explanation of why they were being forced from a building which State and Federal public dollars pay for. The police backed down, and remaining meeting participants left on their own terms (no parking tickets!)
The following day, DEP's Jack Long (who passed the buck at every opportunity) accused PBCEC's letter of threatening him. Long filed a formal complaint with the WPB Police. No legal action has been taken against anyone yet.
[View letter: http://pbcec.blogspot.com/2009/12/n30-letter-delivered-to-jack-long.html ]
Despite the DEP's efforts to intimidate us, we maintain a position that Jack Long, as well as his higher-ups in Tallahassee (Mike Halpin and Michael Sole) who have signed off on countless permits for pollution and sprawl, are not fit to direct environmental protection efforts for Florida. More specifically, we feel these individuals, along with other agencies (such as the Public Service Commission) knowingly assisted companies such as FPL in maximizing permits for carbon-intensive applications prior to the establishment carbon regulations. Our estimation is that their actions resulted in the permit approvals for 20-30 million tons of greenhouse gases (specifically related to power plants and fossil fuel infrastructure) that would not have been needed if growth projections, efficiency standards and renewable options were assessed in favor of the public rather than corporate profits.
We consider these actions to be collaboration with a massive assault (at the least, acts of criminal negligence) against millions of unsuspecting victims, impacting billions of dollars in public and private property.
Finally, we feel that the future monitoring and regulation of greenhouse gases will not be sufficient. A true pursuit of climate justice means not only removing corrupt agency heads and revoking permits that were granted in excess attempting to skirt the costs associated with future carbon reduction, but preparing to compensate people both who will face the effects of sea level rise and those who have been poisoned by air pollution as a result of fabricated dependency on fossil fuel.
There is no reason that a reasonable person should settle for less.
Signed,
Panagioti Tsolkas
Co-Chair, PBC Environmental Coalition
Palm Beach Post coverage of PBCEC's Nov 30 meeting with DEP and EPA:
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/protesters-opposed-to-fpl-plant-near-loxahatchee-wildlife-91783.html
Unfortunately, the Post coverage did not go reflect the actual content of the meeting, and the struggle that proceeded it. The PBCEC coordinated an uphill effort to bring together diverse concerns relevant to greenhouse gas monitoring and regulation and present them to local/state DEP and Federal EPA representatives. After having DEP Southeast Director, Jack Long, attempt to limit participation to 8 people, deny media entry and threats of parking violation against meeting participants, we succeeded in having 16 people present (including photographer and videographer) and a conference call accessible to the public, which over a dozen listened in on, including administrators from other State agencies.
When a final group was told to leave the building by West Palm Beach Police, they refused without a written explanation of why they were being forced from a building which State and Federal public dollars pay for. The police backed down, and remaining meeting participants left on their own terms (no parking tickets!)
The following day, DEP's Jack Long (who passed the buck at every opportunity) accused PBCEC's letter of threatening him. Long filed a formal complaint with the WPB Police. No legal action has been taken against anyone yet.
[View letter: http://pbcec.blogspot.com/2009/12/n30-letter-delivered-to-jack-long.html ]
Despite the DEP's efforts to intimidate us, we maintain a position that Jack Long, as well as his higher-ups in Tallahassee (Mike Halpin and Michael Sole) who have signed off on countless permits for pollution and sprawl, are not fit to direct environmental protection efforts for Florida. More specifically, we feel these individuals, along with other agencies (such as the Public Service Commission) knowingly assisted companies such as FPL in maximizing permits for carbon-intensive applications prior to the establishment carbon regulations. Our estimation is that their actions resulted in the permit approvals for 20-30 million tons of greenhouse gases (specifically related to power plants and fossil fuel infrastructure) that would not have been needed if growth projections, efficiency standards and renewable options were assessed in favor of the public rather than corporate profits.
We consider these actions to be collaboration with a massive assault (at the least, acts of criminal negligence) against millions of unsuspecting victims, impacting billions of dollars in public and private property.
Finally, we feel that the future monitoring and regulation of greenhouse gases will not be sufficient. A true pursuit of climate justice means not only removing corrupt agency heads and revoking permits that were granted in excess attempting to skirt the costs associated with future carbon reduction, but preparing to compensate people both who will face the effects of sea level rise and those who have been poisoned by air pollution as a result of fabricated dependency on fossil fuel.
There is no reason that a reasonable person should settle for less.
Signed,
Panagioti Tsolkas
Co-Chair, PBC Environmental Coalition
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
N30: Letter delivered to Jack Long, Southeast District Florida DEP Director
Nov. 30, 2009
First, thank you for meeting with us today, Jack. We have gathered that there are many pressures and potential obstacles regarding this event. We also realize that there is a new level of dialogue occurring at a Federal and global level on the subject of monitoring carbon emissions. We feel that now is the time to act, while support for cutting carbon emissions is growing.
We have come here in the spirit of openness, in the interest of finding out what the Southeast DEP District can contribute to the urgency we are facing with a looming climate crisis—a crisis which threatens to exacerbate all ecological and financial dilemmas facing the people of this state, the country and the planet.
At the surface we are talking about carbon emissions, but on a deeper level we are addressing the continued poisoning of the public for private profits. This is a systemic problem. With your pen you can cause greater impacts to the planet than the rest of us in the room will likely cause in our lifetimes.
Since our Governor called a statewide summit on climate change in the spring of 2007, there has been no concrete steps towards tracking carbon emissions through monitoring in order to reduce them. I have personally taken part in meetings held by task forces, boards and agencies across the state discussing the threats of climate change; I have read studies and resolutions from multiple public agencies.
Meetings, studies and resolutions do not lower carbon in the atmosphere. It takes real action of the sort that DEP is mandated by the State of Florida to carry out through monitoring, regulation and enforcement.
There is no justification for waiting two and a half years to begin monitoring greenhouse gases such as CO2 in the permits you are frequently approving. In order to make the serious cuts that accepted international science has illustrated the need for, monitoring is the clear and easy first step. There is no excuse for further stagnation, except that energy corporations such as FPL do not want to risk their profits in the process of emissions reduction.
This is unacceptable. Knowingly allowing the permitting of unmonitored carbon emissions is a grave and criminal negligence in violation of your mandate to protect the environment. There is no excuse for waiting. While the DEP cannot sink below EPA standards, you are able to improve upon them in the interests of the people of this State. We consider the failure to do so an act with criminal intent.
Ten years ago this day, I sat in a Seattle jail cell for taking part in the protests during the World Trade Organization (WTO) meetings. After 5 days in jail, I was released without criminal charges. The reason I was there is the same reason I am here today—to ensure that the protection of public interest surpasses the permitting of rampant corporate greed which threatens the planet and its people.
Today we ask you, Jack Long, as the Director of the Southeast Florida DEP District to send the following message to Tallahassee, Washington D.C. and Copenhagen, Denmark:
"We cannot wait longer; it is in the interest of both our local region and the world around us to take effective action; this District office will an agree by December 7, the start U.N. Climate Talks, to monitor emissions."
If our fair and reasonable request cannot be met by negotiation with this public agency, we will consider you to be working in
collaboration with an unjust corporate energy empire and we will pursue a campaign of direct action and civil disobedience to confront and expose you for knowingly putting our communities and ecosystems in danger.
-Panagioti Tsolkas
Co-Chair PBC Environmental Coalition
First, thank you for meeting with us today, Jack. We have gathered that there are many pressures and potential obstacles regarding this event. We also realize that there is a new level of dialogue occurring at a Federal and global level on the subject of monitoring carbon emissions. We feel that now is the time to act, while support for cutting carbon emissions is growing.
We have come here in the spirit of openness, in the interest of finding out what the Southeast DEP District can contribute to the urgency we are facing with a looming climate crisis—a crisis which threatens to exacerbate all ecological and financial dilemmas facing the people of this state, the country and the planet.
At the surface we are talking about carbon emissions, but on a deeper level we are addressing the continued poisoning of the public for private profits. This is a systemic problem. With your pen you can cause greater impacts to the planet than the rest of us in the room will likely cause in our lifetimes.
Since our Governor called a statewide summit on climate change in the spring of 2007, there has been no concrete steps towards tracking carbon emissions through monitoring in order to reduce them. I have personally taken part in meetings held by task forces, boards and agencies across the state discussing the threats of climate change; I have read studies and resolutions from multiple public agencies.
Meetings, studies and resolutions do not lower carbon in the atmosphere. It takes real action of the sort that DEP is mandated by the State of Florida to carry out through monitoring, regulation and enforcement.
There is no justification for waiting two and a half years to begin monitoring greenhouse gases such as CO2 in the permits you are frequently approving. In order to make the serious cuts that accepted international science has illustrated the need for, monitoring is the clear and easy first step. There is no excuse for further stagnation, except that energy corporations such as FPL do not want to risk their profits in the process of emissions reduction.
This is unacceptable. Knowingly allowing the permitting of unmonitored carbon emissions is a grave and criminal negligence in violation of your mandate to protect the environment. There is no excuse for waiting. While the DEP cannot sink below EPA standards, you are able to improve upon them in the interests of the people of this State. We consider the failure to do so an act with criminal intent.
Ten years ago this day, I sat in a Seattle jail cell for taking part in the protests during the World Trade Organization (WTO) meetings. After 5 days in jail, I was released without criminal charges. The reason I was there is the same reason I am here today—to ensure that the protection of public interest surpasses the permitting of rampant corporate greed which threatens the planet and its people.
Today we ask you, Jack Long, as the Director of the Southeast Florida DEP District to send the following message to Tallahassee, Washington D.C. and Copenhagen, Denmark:
"We cannot wait longer; it is in the interest of both our local region and the world around us to take effective action; this District office will an agree by December 7, the start U.N. Climate Talks, to monitor emissions."
If our fair and reasonable request cannot be met by negotiation with this public agency, we will consider you to be working in
collaboration with an unjust corporate energy empire and we will pursue a campaign of direct action and civil disobedience to confront and expose you for knowingly putting our communities and ecosystems in danger.
-Panagioti Tsolkas
Co-Chair PBC Environmental Coalition
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