Demanding times: Tampa Bay

Demanding times:

Tampa Bay is battling to strengthen its water and electricity services in the face of old obstacles

Tampa Bay’s population is growing, but there are questions over the current infrastructure’s ability to keep up and adapt to the new demand. Issues with energy deregulation, obsolete pipelines and a failed fiber network installation characterized 2019 for Tampa Bay.

The citizens of Florida this year suffered a setback in electricity generation, as the Supreme Court tossed out a petition that would allow “several rights, such as the right to purchase electricity from a provider of one’s choice, the right to purchase electricity in competitive wholesale and retail markets, the right to generate electricity oneself or in combination with others,” which the petitioners say will create greater competition in terms of energy rates.

But the court ruling disagreed, calling the initiative “very damaging financial impact on state and local governments of more than $1.2 billion per year in increased costs and reduced revenues.” The state’s utilities argued that Florida’s customers already paid lower rates than the national average and that the deregulation of electricity would make costs more expensive for consumers.

Tampa’s main energy utilities are Tampa Electric, TECO, People’s Gas, Duke Energy Florida and the City of Tampa. But in Florida, it is not just energy that generates employment, it is also energy efficiency. In fact, 118,400 out of 174,100 jobs in alternative energy were related to energy savings. And in Florida in particular, there is now a growing emphasis on switching to cleaner forms of energy generation, such as solar and wind power from the big utilities.

Ecosystem and climate change Florida’s state budget is $91.4 billion, yet the minimum amount required for protection against rising sea levels in the short term is $75.9 billion, according to the Center for Climate Integrity. Tampa alone requires $938.4 million, and with seas in the region expected to rise 8.5 feet before 2100, this does not even begin to cover damage to property, infrastructure, lives and livelihoods.

In July, St Petersburg responded to this issue by exploring how to grow sustainably while protecting lives and property in low-lying areas. Although commissioners cannot rezone the county due to current regulations, they have implemented Coastal High Hazard Areas. This creates its own problem, whereby greater population density is required outside of these areas as the population swells.