1970–1989 Ken Ksionek (left), Director of SEC Construction, and Gerald Hardage, Managing Director of the Stanton Energy Center project.
benefitted both OUC and Orange County.
claimed that OUC was trying to slip
Up until then, the disposition of sewage
ecologically disastrous design changes past
effluent was a costly environmental problem
the Florida Department of Environmental
for Orange County, and the use of sewage
Regulation and plant opponents. In addition,
effluent by Stanton was an important part
cities along the most “practical route” for
of the solution. In addition, the Orange
trains hauling coal to Stanton (DeLand,
County landfill next door to the plant had
Sanford, Longwood, Altamonte Springs,
the potential for utilizing landfill gas or
Maitland and Winter Park) sent telegrams
refuse for future power generation purposes.
and passed resolutions protesting the
Innovative M/WBE Participation Program The project also was notable at the time for its considerable participation of Minority/
trains coming through their towns. Officials said they were worried about coal dust and traffic jams (Orlando Sentinel, December 12, 1982). But the protests were silenced in 1984,
Woman-Owned Business Enterprises that
as Orlando voters showed strong support for
doubled the rate of any similar construction
the coal-fired power plant, overwhelmingly
project in Florida. The record participation
rejecting (13,838 to
was the result of meeting an aggressive
7,557) a court-ordered
minority hiring policy that had been
referendum that
established when the project began.
opponents claimed
Through a Minority Participation Board
could have stopped
and the addition of a minority employment
the project. In what
coordinator, special recruitment and skills
was referred to as the “Vote No to Vote Yes”
training courses were established — the first of their kind in Florida.
Overcoming Consumer Concerns
campaign, the wording on the ballot required a “no” vote to indicate support for the plant.
Of course, the proposed power plant was not without its detractors. In March 1982, the Sierra Club, an environmental group,
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