Press Mention Pensacola News Journal November 6, 2001
SACE Quoted
Tennessee group here to help area clean up air
In this mention
The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy opened a new office in Pensacola, Florida to address serious air-quality problems in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. SACE staff attorney Jim Presswood stated the group aims to raise public awareness about air pollution and work with local leaders on solutions. The article notes SACE's track record of pressuring TVA to invest $2.5 billion in coal plant cleanup.
We'd like to raise public awareness about air pollution and its impacts in Pensacola on the environment and public health, and work with citizens and local community leaders on solutions
Jim Presswood
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Full transcript
Tennessee group here to help area clean up air
Scott Streater
@PensacolaNewsJournal.com
Residents concerned about serious air-quality problems in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties are getting some help from a Knoxville, Tenn.-based environmental group.
Southern Alliance for Clean Energy on Tuesday opened an office in downtown Pensacola. The nonprofit group is a well known lobbyist for clean air and is credited with helping to pressure the Tennessee Valley Authority to invest $2.5 billion to clean up its coal-fired power plants.
"We'd like to raise public awareness about air pollution and its impacts in Pensacola on the environment and public health, and work with citizens and local community leaders on solutions," said Jim Presswood, a staff attorney for the group who will head up the Pensacola office.
The two-county area is the only region in the state not projected to meet tough new federal ozone standards. Areas that are out of compliance can be subjected to emissions caps limiting economic development, lose millions in federal highway dollars and face mandatory automobile emissions tests.
There are a number of ongoing efforts to address the problem, including:
- An Escambia County citizens group, led by former state Rep. DeeDee Ritchie, that is studying ways to lower ozone. Next month, the group is expected to recommend steps to reduce pollution.
- A plan by Gulf Power Co. to install $162 million in pollution control equipment at its coal-fired Crist power plant northeast of Pensacola.
- A $500,000 budget request by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to develop ozone solutions in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Pensacola builder Michael O'Donovan says the group can help raise awareness about the contribution of power plant emissions to the ozone problem.
"Every day that goes by we're breathing the worst polluted air in Florida," said O'Donovan, who this week was appointed to the group's board of directors. "Until we have some retrofits on the coal-fired power plants in this area, this will continue."
Gulf Power spokesman John Hutchinson said the company welcomes the scrutiny.
"We've got a good record of reducing emissions," he said. "If they're wanting to reduce emissions, then they're on our side."