Orlando, FL: The U.S. Department of Energy on Thursday ordered the Orlando Utilities Commission, a municipal utility, to continue running its 465-MW, coal-fired Stanton Unit 1 instead of placing it in “cold shutdown” to address what the department deems
to be an energy emergency in Florida. This
decision was made despite the North American Electric Reliability Corp.’s most recent long-term reliability report
that deemed Florida to be at “normal risk” for long-term energy adequacy.
Read more here.
Here is Representative Dr. Anna V. Eskamani’s statement in response:
“Orlando families are already stretched thin by the cost of living, and now the federal government is forcing them to pay even more to burn coal, which we were finally ready to leave behind.
Last week, the U.S. Department of Energy ordered OUC to keep its Stanton Unit 1 coal plant running through September, overriding a transition plan our local utility has been building since 2020. OUC bought backup capacity, projected adequate power through 2035, and set a path toward cleaner, cheaper energy. Washington just tore that up; not because Orlando is running short on power, but partly to leave room for data centers that the community overwhelmingly does not want.
Here’s what that means for the everyday Orlandoan: coal is one of the most expensive ways OUC produces electricity, and under this order, those costs get passed straight to ratepayers. So Orlando families will see it on their bills, paying a premium to keep an aging coal plant alive.
This is the same week the Trump administration announced $850 million to prop up the coal industry. They are spending public money to subsidize the dirtiest, costliest form of power we have — the exact thing we should be moving away from — while working families foot the bill.
We deserve an energy future that is cleaner, cheaper, and decided here at home, not dictated by Washington to serve corporate interests. I stand with Orlando ratepayers, and I’m calling on our federal delegation to help reverse this order so our community can move forward towards a cleaner and more efficient future.”
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Anna V. Eskamani, PhD
Pronouns: She, Her, Hers
407-376-3609
