FOLIO COMMUNITY : NEWS The Sabal Trail Transmission pipeline is cutting through 13 Florida counties – IS ANYONE PAYING ATTENTION?
JAG J AG CITY Jaguars LIMP their way to the off-season AGAIN
FFLUSHING LUSHING AANOTHER NOTTHER
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AS FLORIDA’S DEMAND FOR ENERGY GROWS, Spectra Energy Corporation, NextEra Energy Inc., Duke Energy and the parent company of Florida Power & Light are looking to make big gains — no matter the costs. Construction is well underway on the Sabal Trail Transmission (STT), a gas pipeline carving through Alabama, Georgia and Florida. The $3.2 billion project crosses 13 counties in Florida and more than 700 bodies of water, including the Withlacoochee, Suwannee, and Santa Fe rivers. The EPA approved the project despite its concerns about the pipeline’s path through 177 acres of conservation areas, including the Green Swamp and Rainbow Springs in Florida. The pipeline will run a total of 480 miles. One concern of the environmentalists is the disruption of the habitats of gopher tortoises, which are native to Florida. The species is listed as threatened, primarily due to habitat loss. These creatures are considered a keystone species because their deep burrows can be home to more than 350 other species. But, thanks to the power of eminent domain, Spectra can take over any land it needs for the project. State law requires the company to relocate gopher tortoises and obtain a permit from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission before capturing and releasing. Florida’s rock structures (karst geology) are already prone to sinkholes, and a pipeline through these areas down to the aquifer underneath increases the risk of the ground simply collapsing, advocates say. The Florida Chapter of the Sierra Club and other anti-STT groups also believe that the pipeline could potentially pollute the drinking water of more than 10 million people, increase the amount of greenhouse gasses being released into the atmosphere and increase Florida’s dependence on fracked natural gas. “If methane or other chemicals leak into the aquifer, they won’t just float to the top ... These pipes are 120 feet underground; we may never even know there’s a leak,” Sierra Club representative Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson tells Folio Weekly.
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ROCK The pipeline and its six compression stations are just one part of a larger network of fossil fuel infrastructure. The pipeline will initially carry methane gas, and will eventually be moving fracked gas, as well as the hundreds of toxic chemicals associated with fracking. “Vibrations from the drilling can travel through limestone, causing cracks in Florida’s actual foundation,” said Erin Bassett, an environmental activist with a degree in coastal biology. “Leaks in the pipeline will not only affect our drinking water, but the microorganisms and the natural balance of life as we know it.” Water Is Life Camp, near the Santa Fe River drilling area, is a place for “water protectors” to stay while protesting the pipeline’s construction. The camp has tents and gear to make it easy for anyone to learn about the pipeline and receive training. The Facebook page says the camp anticipates more visitors as people leave the Standing Rock protest site in North Dakota. Spectra Energy has a long, dirty track record of safety violations and is responsible for numerous environmental disasters, according to Spectrabusters, a grassroots organization that opposes the Sabal Trail pipeline. According to Spectra’s website page, “Common misconceptions,” Florida residents
photo by Rachel Jones
Standing Rock protesters make their case for protecting indigenous people’s water supply.
shouldn’t worry because “natural gas systems have a relatively small carbon footprint compared to overall emissions due to their small size and the low carbon content.” Concerned about contamination? The website assures readers that “no toxins are released during the construction or operation of the Sabal Trail facilities that would affect water quality.” Offering little to no scientific evidence for these claims, Spectra hopes the public will focus more on “job creation” and “tax revenue.” Environmentalists complain that, instead of installing more solar panels on rooftops or expanding wind power, energy companies are continuing the old practice of long power grids, which are prone to outages. Energized by what is seen as a victory over big energy at Standing Rock, those who have felt powerless and overwhelmed by huge energy corporations with seemingly endless influence may now be emboldened to fight this pipeline. “Everything adds up,” said Malwitz-Jipson. “Sign petitions, go to demonstrations and write letters to your state and federal representatives.” To that end, Food & Water Watch, a nonprofit with a 97 percent accountability and transparency rating, according to Charity Navigator, has started a petition urging elected officials and the FERC to halt the pipeline. And former Florida congressional candidate Tim Canova also started a Change.org petition urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to stop pipeline construction. Lack of attention from large news organizations, minimal government regulation and blatant disregard for climate change has allowed the four energy companies’ pipeline construction to progress quickly with little pushback. Begun in June, the pipeline is already halfway to completion today. Environmentalists now want people to ask themselves how they feel about private companies monopolizing necessary public utilities at the expense of our precious springs, aquifers and unique wildlife. Jordan Bebout mail@folioweekly.com @jordanbeebs
THIS THIS S WAS AS TTHE HE S SEASON EASO EA SON N OF OF H HOPE, OPEE W OP WHEN HEN HE N TH THEE rebuild would bear fruit, the year to win the division … or so we were led to believe. What fans got was a 3-13 team that ditched its offensive coordinator, fired its coach, questioned its quarterback and finished last in its division. Where does the road to next season lead? And what does it mean for fans? Season ticket surveys and renewals will be going out soon and it’s safe to say the responses won’t be too pleasant. The firing of former head coach Gus Bradley paves the way for some form of hope in the offseason. Ultimately, the next coach will dictate fan enthusiasm. This individual will decide if quarterback Blake Bortles is given another season and which members of the coaching staff will stay — and likely control the fate of general manager Dave Caldwell. This is the second head coach Caldwell has hired in his short time here; another flop would surely sound the end of his era in the Bold City. Flickers of hope sparked the week after Bradley’s release, and into the first half against the Indianapolis Colts. Interim coach Doug Marrone made a compelling case to have his name included on the list of potential head coaches. But a poorly coached and executed second half reminded fans that “New year, new me” resolutions are doomed to fail, even for NFL teams. Sure, there are franchises worse than the Jaguars, but fans are sick of this being the fallback. This is a team that should be bragging about the teams it’s better than. The talent is there, for the most part, and given the many tears players shed at the end of games, the drive must be there, too. Yet here we are. 3-13. Discussing draft picks and head coach prospects. Thinking about all the Sunday afternoons we spent drinking too many beers and yelling at guys dropping passes, missing assignments, getting penalties and throwing interceptions off their teammates’ feet. I’ve said it before: The fans don’t deserve this team. Year after year, they are promised hope and improvement, only to be the laughingstock of fans and experts across the nation. Do you have hope for next year? I’d like to have it, and I wish we all could have it, but why should any Jaguars fan buy into it? We do it for Jacksonville. We do it because one day our team will be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, even if we’re all sitting in nursing homes when it happens. And we can’t wait to talk smack to Titans fans come that fine day. I can’t blame anyone for not wanting to buy season tickets next year, but don’t give up. The Jaguars are a dumpster fire, our dumpster fire, and at least this fan plans to be there until the flames are put out. “Duval ’till we die” isn’t just a phrase meant for the good times; it’s for the dark times, like these, most of all. Get ready for the rebuild, version 2.0. Mark Judson mail@folioweekly.com @MarkfromJax JANUARY 4-10, 2017 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | 9