As concern over greenhouse gas emissions grows, so does opposition to new coal plants in Florida. The Public Service Commission rejected a coal power plant that Florida Power & Light wanted to build near the Everglades and more recently a plant proposed near Tallahassee. While coal is still much cheaper than renewables, Gov. Charlie Cristsaid, it's good that Florida is rejecting new projects.
The proposed coal-fired power plant in Taylor County might have provided Walk Disney World with up to a quarter of its future electricity.
The group that had planned to build the 800-megawatt Taylor Energy Center announced Tuesday it was suspending its efforts and will join Crist's alternative-energy program. The consortium, which has already spent $14.6 million, includes Disney's electricity provider, the Reedy Creek Improvement District.
No alternative to provide those 800 megawatts has been proposed yet.
"It means we're going to have to look for some other alternatives," said Ray Maxwell, Reedy Creek Improvement District's administrator. "This plant was not scheduled to come online until 2011 or 2012, so it's not something we have to deal with immediately."
During peak, mid-summer times, Reedy Creek provides about 120 megawatts of power to Walt Disney World and other businesses on Disney property. Reedy Creek produces up to 55 megawatts from its own gas-turbine power plant at Disney World and purchases the rest.
