Victory! Florida Power & Light’s Proposed Frack-Fueled Power Plant Blocked by Judge

by Rabbit / Earth First! Newswire

South Florida residents have reason to celebrate today as Florida Power and Light’s (FPL) plans for a new solar- and gas-powered power plant were blocked by a circuit judge. The power plant, which would have been one of the largest in the country, was set to be built on endangered Florida panther habitat in the Everglades, bordering the Big Cypress Seminole Reservation.

For months the Seminole Tribe of Florida has been fighting Florida Power and Light, Hendry County and McDaniel Reserve Realty Holdings in court, stating that the project “will bring disastrous consequences to the environmentally sensitive land and end the delicate balance of nature, history and culture for the Seminoles.” After a long legal battle, Judge Donald Mason blocked the project, stating that it violated zoning laws in the area.

Last Earth Day, April 22, 2014, over 75 protesters, including Seminole and Miccosukee residents from Tampa, Big Cypress, Hollywood, Trail and Immokalee, as well as members of Everglades Earth First! and other environmental organizations gathered at the Hendry County courthouse to voice their opposition to the power plant.

Earlier this year, members of Everglades Earth First! made headlines when they locked down to block a driveway to FPL’s Juno Beach headquarters to bring attention to the new power plant project. The action followed the Earth First! Organizer’s Conference in February, and over 80 protesters attended the rally, which, thanks to police and fire crews, blocked four of five entrances to the headquarters, and shut down the street until those who locked down were extracted.

Three of the five who were arrested at FPL headquarters are still facing charges. You can support them by donating to their legal fund.

FPL still has a chance to appeal Judge Donald Mason’s decision, but for now it seems that the environmentally racist, panther-killing, water-poisoning project is dead in the water. Stay tuned to the Seminole Tribune and Everglades Earth First!’s website for updates and news.