How David Slew Goliath: A CommunityBased Organization Approach to Preventing the Siting of a CoalFir

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How David Slew Goliath A Community-Based
Organization Approach to Preventing the Siting of
a Coal-Fired Power Plant
S.C. Stokes IV, F.T. Close, J. Zokovitch
Environmental Sciences Institute, Florida AM
University, Tallahassee FL 32307 College of
Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Florida
AM University, Tallahassee FL 32307 Assisting
Communities with Environmental Solutions Program,
WildLaw, Tallahassee FL 32308
ABSTRACT
A comprehensive examination of every local,
state, and federal law associated with the
electrical power plant siting process was
conducted. Upon completion, a Power Plant
Checklist was created along with a timeline
indicating the various opportunities for public
involvement during the power plant siting
process. A comprehensive list of every meeting
(Development Agency, Planning Zoning Board,
County Commission, City Council, and Regional
Planning Council) in the Dixie, Leon, Madison,
and Taylor Counties area that related to the
proposed coal-fired power was compiled. At least
one representative attended each meeting, and the
time, location, and place of each meeting were
communicated via Listserv and telephone calls.
Two types of factsheets, one for the general
public and the other for the scientific
community, which provided information on how
coal-fired power plants work, pollution
associated with coal-fired power plants, how the
pollution can affect human health, and the
current environmental and health status of Taylor
County were created and disseminated at each
meeting. Letters in opposition to the power
plant were written to the Editors of the local
newspapers.
BACKGROUND Minority and low-income communities
are particularly susceptible to the ravages of
environmental pollution and locally unwanted land
uses (LULUs). Despite the international data
gathered by the environmental justice movement
highlighting disparate exposure and health
outcomes, these communities are still being
targeted by potential polluters. Taylor County,
Florida (FL), a low-income overburdened community
that ranks among the worst counties in FL in
asthma hospitalizations, lung cancer deaths, and
chronic lower respiratory disease
hospitalizations, was the targeted site for the
construction of a coal-fired power
plant. PURPOSE To identify the steps necessary
to form a coalition in this community and,
opportunities for public involvement by the
coalition during the power plant siting
process. METHODS Potential members were obtained
by attending City Council meetings in Tallahassee
and Perry, FL, and surveying local interest
groups in Leon, Madison, and Taylor Counties.
After the potential members were screened, the
No Coal Coalition website was created utilizing
Yahoo! Groups, which provided a listserv,
calendar, and message posting and file uploading
capabilities for free. An executive board was
created and, general body and executive board
meetings were held once a month. A comprehensive
examination of every local, state, and federal
law associated with the electrical power plant
siting process was conducted. RESULTS A power
plant checklist was created along with a
timeline indicating the various opportunities for
public involvement during the siting process. A
comprehensive list of every meeting in the Leon,
Madison, and Taylor counties area that related to
the proposed coal-fired power was compiled. At
least one representative attended each meeting,
and the time, location, and place of each meeting
were communicated via Listserv and telephone
calls. Two types of factsheets, which provided
information on coal-fired power plants,
associated pollution and human health effects,
and the current health status of Taylor County
were created and disseminated at each meeting.
Letters in opposition to the power plant were
written to the Editors of the local
newspapers. CONCLUSION Because of our efforts
within the community, we created enough
opposition to force the power plant partnership
to place the project on hold and, withdraw its
application from the Public Service Commission
and the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection.
RESULTS
POWER PLANT CHECKLIST OUTLINE

• Do Your Homework
• Investigate
• Ask About Alternative Technologies
• Become a Stakeholder
• Submit Public Records Request
• Participate in the Decision-Making Process
• The Local Decision-Making Process
• Resolutions
• Land Use Determinations
• The State Certification and Siting Process
• Notice of Intent
• Need Determination
• Certification
• The Application
• Land Use and Zoning Hearing
• Agency Reports and SCO Analysis
• Certification Hearing
• Siting Board Hearing and Final Decision
• Post-Certification Activities

OBJECTIVES

• Identify the steps necessary to form a coalition
  in this Environmental Justice Community.
• Identify opportunities for public involvement by
  the coalition during the power plant siting
  process.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
Potential members for the No Coal Coalition
were obtained by attending City Council and
County Commission meetings in both Tallahassee
and Perry, FL, Florida Senate meetings that
discussed the proposed coal-fired power plant,
and surveying local interest groups in Leon,
Madison, and Taylor Counties. After the
potential members were screened for any spies
and/or persons with conflicts of interest, the No
Coal Coalition website was created utilizing
Yahoo! Groups. Yahoo! Groups provided a
Listserv, calendar for events with automatic
email reminders, message posting, and file
uploading capabilities for free. Yahoo! Groups
provided a simple and efficient way to
communicate among No Coal Coalition members and,
was the primary means of communication. Only the
moderators had unrestricted access to the Yahoo!
Group. Members were allowed to access the
features of the Yahoo! Group, but only at the
moderators discretion. Invitations to join the
Yahoo! Group were sent via email. A work plan
and strategic goals, which served as
guidance/source documents, were developed. An
executive board and various committees were
created. The committees were (1) Events and
Activities, (2) Fundraising, (3) Letter Writing,
(4) Media, (5) Membership and Outreach, (6)
General Organizational Assistance, (7) Research,
(8) Technical, and (9) Legal/Regulatory. No Coal
Coalition General Body meetings were held once a
month and steering committee meetings were held
twice a month. A No Coal Coalition report, which
was a summation of every coal-fired power plant
related activity that occurred, was written and
disseminated every week to the coalition members.
Because of our efforts within the community and,
support from Floridas Governor Charlie Crist
whos concerns regarding greenhouse gas emissions
from coal-burning plants created a snowball
effect that fueled our anti-coal campaign, we
created enough State-wide opposition to force the
power plant partnership to place the project on
hold and, withdraw its application from the
Public Service Commission and the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection. The
power plant partnerships decision to withdraw
its applications came a week before Governor
Crists Global Warming Summit where he promised
to "identify specific actions" that Florida can
take to combat climate change.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This activity was funded by ATSDR/AMHPS (Grant
U50/ATU473408-03). Thanks Dr. Fran T. Close for
making this internship possible Jeanne Zokovitch
for her guidance