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Clean Up TECO Agreement

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By LYNN RINGENBER and DONALD MELLMAN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 3, 2008

The Tampa Bay Chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) is very concerned about an unspoken public health issue affecting the citizens of the Tampa Bay region, including the city of Tampa: the pollution from TECO's coal-powered plants.

We suggest an inserted clause in the proposed franchise agreement between TECO and Tampa could reassure the public their health will not be further compromised over the life of the franchise.

Because of the TECO power plants, the citizens of the Tampa Bay area may well be part of the American Lung Association's 2007 estimate of more than 54 million people who live in regions with harmful year-round levels of particulate matter. TECO has documented its concern in its 2005 white paper, "Vision and Commitment: an Environmental Report."

TECO's understanding of the situation and its acceptance of accountability and responsibility are evident when it writes of its efforts to take "significant steps to dramatically reduce its air emissions through a series of voluntary actions, including technology selections, a responsible fuel mix that takes into account price and availability impacts to its customers, and a significant capital expenditure program to add emissions controls."

Importantly, it continues: "Our values as a company mean that we must take a lead role in activities that protect the environment: the air, land, and water that comprise our service territory."

We applaud TECO's good corporate citizenship in honoring its commitment to improving the public's health.

The problem is this: TECO uses coal to power its Big Bend Power Station (100 percent coal-fired) and its H.L. Culbreath Bayside Power Station (60 percent coal and 40 percent natural gas).

From inhaling the particulate matter produced at these two stations, Tampa Bay area citizens are exposed to a wide range of adverse health conditions, including asthma, lung tissue damage, stroke, heart attack and premature death.

A 2000 study by Abt Associates estimated that particulate matter from coal plants is responsible for nearly 24,000 deaths each year in the U.S.

While coal is touted to be a cheap source of power, it becomes the most expensive when the adverse health effects are factored in.

Coal plants remain the single largest manufactured source of sulfur dioxide, mercury and toxic emissions and the second largest source of nitrogen oxide pollution. Moreover, once emitted, these compounds combine to form "secondary pollutants," such as ozone and particulate matter that pose an equally significant threat to public health."

Tampa Bay's proximity to the Gulf, with its rising sea levels from global warming, makes us primary victims of these problems.

The debate over the proposed franchise agreement between the city of Tampa and TECO offers an opportunity to codify a commitment to improve Tampa Bay's public health.

We would like a clause inserted that states these health concerns and formalizes willingness, over the life of the franchise, for the parties to work together to improve the local environment by consideration of any progressive changes in technology that become available.

Those who live, exercise and enjoy the beauty on Davis Islands, Harbour Island and Bayshore can literally and figuratively see (and breathe) the health problems in the plumes from the stacks of TECO's Big Bend and Bayside plants.

However, all the people of Tampa Bay are directly affected by TECO's use of coal. Our local economy is threatened by the resulting burden to our health care system and the health of the work force.

This issue is so important to our citizens that Tampa and TECO leadership must formally recognize and work in concert to minimize the adverse public health impact of this franchise.

Lynn Ringenberg, MD, is president of Physicians for Social Responsibility - Tampa Bay. Donald L. Mellman, MD, is vice president.

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