By Jyoti Parmar and Logan Cross, Sierra Club
Amid all the festivities of the holiday season, Jacksonville residents are facing a tough reality: rising utility bills. A recent survey by the Renew Jacksonville Campaign (RenewJax) reveals that almost 3 in 4 (73%) of local residents have seen their energy bills rise over the past year, and many fear even higher costs in the months to come.
Rising prices are fueling growing frustration, underscoring the urgent need for change. Transitioning to solar energy offers a viable solution, helping to lower costs and stabilize expenses for families. This shift not only lowers costs, but also enhances domestic security and provides a buffer against international geopolitical impacts.
The survey also reveals overwhelming support for renewable energy investments. Near-unanimous 97% of residents agree the Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA) should prioritize renewable energy to achieve three major goals: lowering utility bills, strengthening the energy grid and reducing our reliance on dirty fossil fuels.
The survey results suggest this isn’t just an environmental issue — it’s also a financial one. Jacksonville residents want and deserve affordable, reliable energy, and they see clean energy as a way to make that happen.
More than half of those surveyed support increasing investments in renewable energy, and 7 in 10 believe JEA should focus on lowering utility bills through these investments. In addition, 92% support building a more resilient energy grid, one that can withstand the storms and outages that have become all too common for Jacksonville. Thus, JEA should take steps to create community microgrids with their own energy storage and utilization systems giving them independence from the larger energy grid.
The benefits of renewable energy go beyond just reducing costs. They also create local jobs and free customers from unpredictable, costly fossil fuels.
Despite its customers’ clear desire for change, JEA currently plans to spend over $1 billion on a new gas plant (also known as a methane gas plant or fossil gas-fired power plant) and extend the life of its aging, inefficient coal plants. This approach could prove to be a financial boondoggle, as in 10 or 20 years, this gas plant can become a stranded asset, costing JEA for the next 50 years. Given the rapid growth of solar power in Florida, JEA should consider cleaner solutions instead of locking the city into higher bills and continued reliance on fossil fuels.
It’s time for Jacksonville to step up. The undeniable, overwhelming support for renewable energy revealed by the survey is a wake-up call for local leaders. Residents are demanding a future where energy is affordable, reliable and sustainable. The survey results show that Jacksonville has the opportunity to lead in renewable energy, but this change won’t happen if we continue down the misguided path of dependence on fossil fuels.
Jacksonville deserves better than more of the same. It’s time for JEA to invest in the clean energy solutions that will lower bills, create jobs and ensure a reliable energy future for all Jacksonville residents. By committing to 100% renewable energy by 2050, we can make Jacksonville a leader in sustainability while improving the lives of everyone who calls this city home.
To learn more about the survey results and how Jacksonville can embrace clean energy, visit RenewJax.org.
Jyoti Parmar is the Sierra Club Florida clean energy organizing representative. Logan Cross is chairman of the Sierra Club of Northeast Florida Executive Committee and leads the RenewJax campaign. Banner photo: A roadside view of solar panels in Florida (iStock image).
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