Coal for Christmas: Local Advocacy Groups Deliver Coal, Protest Letters to JEA - CleanTechnica

Local advocacy and climate groups in Jacksonville, Florida—including Sierra Club Florida, CLEO Institute, NAACP, and St. John’s Riverkeepers—delivered coal and protest letters to Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA) headquarters to oppose the continued operation of the Northside Generating Station coal plant and rising utility rates. They highlighted that retiring the coal units could save customers at least $20 million annually, potentially up to $60 million if fossil fuel prices remain high, while significantly improving public health by reducing harmful emissions. The groups urged JEA to prioritize cleaner air, lower bills, and a stronger commitment to renewable energy, especially as JEA prepares to release its 2026 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which will shape future energy sourcing. Speakers from the advocacy groups emphasized the financial and health burdens coal imposes on local families, particularly amid a housing crisis, and criticized JEA’s plans to build an expensive gas plant that would worsen energy affordability. They advocated for solar energy as a cost