Sierra Club Graded Florida Utilities Low on Clean Energy
The Sierra Club released a report evaluating the progress of major electric utilities toward clean energy targets.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Utilities
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The Sierra Club issued a report grading electric utilities on their transition away from fossil fuels. TECO and Duke Energy received scores of 2 and 7 out of 100, respectively.
Why it matters
The report aims to discourage the use of fossil fuels to meet rising electricity demand from data centers. It advocates for replacing coal and gas reliance with renewable energy sources by 2035.
Approximately 90% of TECO's electricity generation currently stems from fossil fuels, while renewables account for 11% of its total output. In contrast, Duke Energy also reports that renewable sources contribute 11% to its total electricity generation.
The players
Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is an environmental organization that advocates for the adoption of renewable energy and the phasing out of fossil fuels.
TECO
TECO is an electric utility company that primarily serves the Tampa Bay area.
Duke Energy
Duke Energy is a major electric utility company that operates across various states, including Florida.
The details
The Sierra Club evaluated utilities based on their progress toward eliminating coal by 2030 and halting new gas plant construction through 2035. TECO currently relies on coal for less than 1% of its fuel mix and aims to reach 17% solar capacity by the end of 2025.
Timeline
TECO established a 17% solar capacity target in 2022.
TECO aims to meet its solar capacity goal by the end of 2025.
The Sierra Club set a target to eliminate coal power by 2030.
The Sierra Club set a deadline of 2035 for ending new gas plant construction.
Market Landscape
The push toward municipal utility models, such as the petition in St. Petersburg, highlights growing tension between public desire for renewables and existing utility structures. Analysts note that such transitions face massive financial hurdles, with city-run conversions estimated to cost billions.
Residents of St. Petersburg face a debate over the costs of a potential city-run utility, with one report projecting a $4.1 billion transition price tag. Consumers should anticipate that efforts to increase renewable capacity may influence future utility rates and service models.
The takeaway
The utility sector faces increasing pressure to balance the immediate power needs of data centers with long-term climate goals. Stakeholders should track how regional utilities adjust their generation mix to meet the rising demand for electricity while facing lower sustainability grades.
Further reading
For more on the current state of regional power, visit Utilities.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WMNF 88.5 FM.
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