In Jacksonville, a proposed natural gas plant has sparked controversy, with AARP Florida at the forefront of the opposition. The organization has initiated a petition, urging city officials to reconsider the project due to potential financial burdens on ratepayers.
The site in question is the former coal plant on New Berlin Road, which ceased operations in 2018. The area now stands as a relic of the past, marked by overgrown weeds and deteriorating structures. JEA, however, is pressing forward with plans to convert this location into a state-of-the-art facility that would generate electricity using a combination of natural gas and steam.
Concerns from AARP Florida stem from the recent rate hike that Jacksonville residents have already experienced this month, partly to fund Plant Vogtle. The organization fears that the addition of a new natural gas plant could further strain residents’ finances. In response, JEA assures that it is committed to minimizing the financial impact on its customers throughout this transition.
The coal plant off New Berlin Road shut down in 2018, which now shows weeds creeping in on the old sign and decaying buildings.
Now JEA is full steam ahead on a natural gas plant that would use gas and steam to generate electricity.
But folks have probably already noticed a rate hike that took effect this month to help pay for Plant Vogtle, which is fueling AARP’s concerns about what another new plant would mean for your wallet.
Florida AARP’s petition includes a prewritten message for its members to sign, that includes the line “This project represents a significant and growing cost burden on ratepayers like me.”
AARP mentioned rate payers are already dealing with a 5% rate hike that took effect this month. So in the petition, AARP asked JEA to consider more affordable and sustainable options, saying: “Clean energy alternatives are not only cheaper, but they also protect customers from future fuel price spikes and deliver long-term savings.”
First Coast News reached out to JEA for a response to AARP’s petition, and in a statement, the agency said: “We disagree with AARP FL’s assertions on the impacts of JEA’s plans for a combined cycle natural gas plant and the organization’s proposed alternatives to meet our generation needs.”
JEA went on to add the plant would replace the nearly 50-year-old Northside Generating Station due to its age, costly repairs and potential need for more investment due to environmental regulations.
By replacing the old plant, JEA says the new one would have lower carbon emissions, a cleaner energy mix and could be adapted to run on hydrogen in the future.
Jacksonville City Councilmember Matt Carlucci weighed in on the petition, saying in part in a statement the new plant would be “cleaner, more efficient and should not impact customer rates.”
As for the recent rate increase, JEA said in its statement that was because of Plant Vogtle and other capital projects.
The agency concluded with saying “We are doing everything we can to keep impacts on customers to a minimum.”
The JEA Board voted unanimously to approve the plans for the new plant back in August, setting the price tag at $1.6 billion.
It’s expected to open and replace the old plant by 2031.
AARP’s full pre-written message for members to sign in petition:
I am an AARP member and Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA) customer, and I’m writing you to ask that you work with the Jacksonville City Council to revisit the decision allowing JEA to move forward with the development of a 675-MW combined cycle gas plant. This project represents a significant and growing cost burden on ratepayers like me.
JEA’s own numbers estimate the plant will cost $2.3 billion over its lifetime. With rising fuel prices and updated construction costs, that number could climb to $4.8 billion, costs that will be passed directly to customers, including many who are on fixed incomes.
There are smarter, more affordable options. We are asking JEA to be accountable and to update their outdated projected numbers and seriously consider more affordable and sustainable options. Clean energy alternatives are not only cheaper, but they also protect customers from future fuel price spikes and deliver long-term savings.
Please use your leadership to urge the City Council to demand that JEA reconsider this project and pursue a path that is more affordable, sustainable, and in the best interest of JEA customers.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
JEA’s full statement on the petition:
It is JEA’s goal to continue providing essential energy to our customers reliably, cost-effectively, and sustainably.
We disagree with AARP FL’s assertions on the impacts of JEA’s plans for a combined cycle natural gas plant and the organization’s proposed alternatives to meet our generation needs. We have conducted extensive planning to ensure the resources we acquire are the most cost effective, reliable generation sources for our community. The new combined cycle plant is targeted to come online in 2031 and is planned to replace and/or augment the electricity currently being produced by the 48-year-old Northside Generation Station (NGS) Unit 3, a natural gas & oil unit. This infrastructure investment will allow JEA to strengthen system reliability and meet future energy demands along with the following benefits:
Lower Carbon Emissions: A combined cycle plant uses both a gas turbine and a steam turbine, capturing and reusing waste heat, which makes them far more efficient than traditional plants.
Cleaner Energy Mix: By displacing an older, less efficient plant, a new combined cycle plant will help cut overall CO2 emissions.
Energy Efficiency: The new combined cycle plant is up to 64% more efficient as compared to the older technologies.
Economic Value: By delivering reliable power, the plant helps attract sustainable businesses and investments to the region.
Future-Proofing: The new combined cycle plant is capable to be adapted in the future to run on hydrogen, ensuring long-term environmental benefits.
JEA’s FY26 rate adjustments are due to MEAG Power Plant Vogtle power purchase agreement payments and various capital projects. Going forward, we will continue to evaluate the impact of our investment in a combined cycle generating unit. We are doing everything we can to keep impacts on customers to a minimum.
City Council Member Matt Carlucci’s full statement on the petition:
Claims that JEA’s new natural gas plant will raise electric bills are simply not accurate. The new plant replaces older, less efficient units and will generate more electricity while burning less gas. It’s cleaner, more efficient, and should not impact customer rates.
