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

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Today, local advocacy and climate groups delivered costly, polluting coal back to Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA) Headquarters just in time for the holidays. Sierra Club Florida, CLEO Institute, NAACP, St. John's Riverkeepers, and other groups dropped off coal, a coalition letter, and holiday cards in protest of the utility's continued operations of the Northside Generating Station coal plant and increasingly unaffordable rate hikes.

Earlier this year, JEA's 541,000 customersfaced a 3.7 percent increasein their overall utility bill. Anotherfive percentbill increase is already scheduled to take effect later in 2026. Participants in the coal delivery sent a clear message: Jacksonville deserves cleaner air, lower bills, and a real commitment to renewable energy - not more coal.

Choosing to retire the coal units at the Northside Generating Station would save JEA customers at least $15 million every year, possibly $60 million per year or more if fossil fuel prices remain high. The change will also improve public health by drastically lowering health-harming emissions and preventing 112 asthma attacks annually. In 2026, JEA is scheduled to release an updated Integrated Resource Plan (IRP.) This plan will determine the best combination of energy sources for the utility's customers.

In addition to dropping off coal and holiday cards, local advocacy groups also delivered a coalition lettersigned by eight organizations in support of retiring the Northside coal units and pursuing renewable energy in the 2026 IRP.

"For decades, JEA has owned and operated the Northside Generating Station, a costly coal plant that has worsened air quality and increased energy bills right here in Jacksonville," said Suzanne Sapp, Sierra Club Senior Campaign Organizer. "As local families endure a significant housing crisis, added bill costs and missed work days due to preventable health challenges are compounding financial stress and resulting in devastating trade-offs between food, medicine, and lights that turn on. High costs that raise our bills and air that makes us sick. That's the consequence of JEA's coal. It's nothing anyone would ask for this season or ever."

"We are in an energy affordability crisis and JEA's decision to build an expensive, polluting gas plant will only worsen this," said Leah Farrell, Solar Access and Affordability Associate ATL SE."Fortunately, we know that solar is the clearest alternative. Whether utility scale or rooftop, solar saves both ratepayers and the city money by providing us all safe, affordable, and clean energy. Paired with a full and fair reinstatement of net metering, use of the available federal solar tax credit, and a sorely needed commitment to transparency by JEA, the ways in which our beloved city of Jacksonville will benefit from this critical reconsideration are innumerable."

"We have a positive and valued relationship with JEA and have worked with JEA staff to help residents use energy and water more efficiently to save money," said Kelly Frazier, President of the Northside Coalition of Jacksonville. "That said, we are very concerned about the health impacts of JEA's continued use of fossil fuels on Northside residents as well as the impact on prices residents have to pay for electricity. Now is the time for JEA to prioritize a transition to a cost-effective and cleaner renewable energy source."

"A moral society sees its future through its children's wellbeing," said the Rev. Dr. Russell Meyer, Executive Director, Florida Council of Churches. "After all, they inherit what we do. The future energy of Jacksonville should be non-toxic, Earth-friendly, and affordable. We have the power to get away from the toxic fuels of today's energy so that we don't burden our children and grandchildren with unnecessary debt and disease. We should do it without a second thought. JEA should transition to solar power with all deliberate speed. Let's use Florida sunshine rather than pay for Louisiana gas."

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit https://www.sierraclub.org.