AIF Intervenes Before PSC in FPL’s Glades Plant and
Provides Public Testimony April 17 , 2007
Recently on a unanimous vote of the AIF Board of Directors, AIF General Counsel TamelaI. Perdue, Esq. of the Stiles Taylor & Grace law firm was authorized to intervene in proceedings before the Public Service Commission (PSC) of the State of Florida in support of construction of a clean coal electricity plant in Glades County by Florida Power & Light. The PSC is conducting public testimony hearings in Tallahassee from citizens and business groups in support and opposition to the plant.
On April 16, 2007, AIF chief executive Barney Bishop provided the following comments in the public testimony portion of the hearing:
Good afternoon, Madam Chair and Commissioners. My name is Barney Bishop and I’m the President & CEO of Associated Industries of Florida. AIF was founded in 1920 and we have 10,000 members across the state including area’s served by Florida Power & Light (FPL). We represent Florida’s business community before elected and appointed officials of state government on issues important to Florida’s business community. I am here today because our members understand the future needs for energy and the need for a clean environment. AIF supports FPL’s request for approval of the Glades solid fuel generating units for four reasons:
First, AIF supports policies to insure that Florida businesses have a reliable and affordable energy supply so they may continue to compete in the global economy, while working hard to protect Florida’s pristine environment. AIF believes that construction of the Glades unit is an important step towards these goals. The Glades unit will provide reliable and affordable energy supply using an abundant, low-cost fuel that can be stockpiled and kept on hand.
Second, high oil and natural gas prices contributed greatly to the costs of electricity paid by costumers and our members in recent years. Lower fuel prices from coal will help lower overall fuel costs while also making those costs less volatile. As business owners and managers, lower and less volatile fuel costs of the Glades unit are important to AIF and to Florida. These units will also reduce Florida’s dependence on high cost natural gas and oil. AIF believes this reduction in reliance on natural gas will help fulfill the State of Florida’s policy objective of relying less on natural gas and oil.
Third, AIF’s business members value environmental stewardship. FPL is recognized as a leader in conservation and in protecting the environment.
Fourth, I would also say that it is disingenuous for environmentalists to suggest that natural gas should be used instead of coal, because if FPL had suggested a natural gas plant, which some speakers have advocated today, they would have objected to that too. I know, because many of them have testified against natural gas drilling at Minerals Management Service hearings in the past. The truth is that the folks who have testified today would be opposed to any plant, any where. Even renewable energy has its problems. For example, if wind turbines are proposed, some environmentalists will complain about bird deaths or how unsightly they are. For solar energy it is the danger of the photovoltaic process and the dangerous chemicals used in the manufacturing process. And in manufacturing any renewable device, we will still have to rely on current oil and natural gas to manufacture the actual product.
AIF recognizes that the choice in this case is between building an advanced technology coal plant or yet more natural gas-fired generation, on top of the very large amount of natural gas generation already owned and operated by FPL. AIF believes that the addition of the clean coal electric generation technology at Glades strikes the proper balance by augmenting and baklancing FPL’s natural gas-fired generation with much-needed solid fuel generation.
And for your information, in December of 2005, AIF endorsed all forms of “green” energy along with nuclear power. We understand that for Florida to get to the promised land of renewable energy, we will need to rely on current energy resources for the near future.
AIF is asking the Commission to approve FPl’s request. Thank you, and if you have any questions, I will be glad to answer them.
516 North Adams Street ● Post Office Box 784 ● Tallahassee, Florida 32302-0784 ● Phone: (850) 224-7173 ● Fax: (850) 224-6532 ● www.aif.com
