JEA - Step in the right direction, but where's the beef?

According to the Florida Public Interest Research Group, Jacksonville has the highest levels of mercury emissions in the state. Mercury is a dangerous neurotoxin, especially to women and children, and one of the major reasons we can't eat the fish we catch in our city's waterways. Almost all of our mercury emissions come from JEA.

So JEA's recent move to add a small environmental impact fee, along with charging the largest users of electricity extra, is a step in the right direction. But, like all of JEA's rate increases - what are we going to get for it? Its easy to commit to extra fee after extra fee, its hard to act to change these problems. That's why Mercury Falling is calling for JEA to commit to lowering mercury emissions by the same amount it increases rates. This way, at least we get something for our money. JEA has no competition, this is the only way we'll see some return for our money. And then, maybe, one day, we can actually we can eat the fish we catch.

Read the full story "Revised JEA plan raises rates a little more" from the Florida Times-Union.