Strong energy policy makes area more attractive to future growth - The Florida Times-Union

Strong energy policy makes area more attractive to future growth

Letters: JEA doing its part for Northeast Florida’s future with diverse energy strategy

America leads the world in energy security and environmental protection, which is partly the result of strong policies that prioritize both of these goals. But it is critical that all our energy policies are designed to provide consumers with every available energy option to ensure we have affordable, reliable and cleaner energy.

Closer to home, JEA is doing its part to benefit our region as our energy future evolves, while taking the time to listen to the public about their energy needs.

JEA's commitment to a diverse energy strategy that uses all resources, including nuclear and renewables, will prove to be beneficial to its customers in Northeast Florida. At its recent Your YOUtility, Your Future event in Jacksonville, JEA shared plans for their energy mix over the next three decades.

It is particularly important to see nuclear power play a role in JEA’s future planning, as nuclear provides the best, long-term solution to meeting our clean energy goals in a way that reduces the potential for electricity outages caused by intermittent power sources. Strong energy policy is vital for ensuring families, small businesses, manufacturers and seniors have access to reliable, affordable energy, which is also a superfood for strong economic development.

With a strong energy policy, our region becomes more attractive to future business growth. As we witness our political leaders in Washington and other states make bad energy policy choices, the Sunshine State must keep demonstrating strong leadership and community engagement in pursuing energy opportunities that maximize our energy choices — natural gas, oil, nuclear, solar, wind and more. With that, Florida will keep energy affordable and reliable and keep building on its strong record of environmental stewardship.

Kevin Doyle, Florida executive director, Consumer Energy Alliance Jacksonville

Debt ceiling deal will bring difficulties

The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 3:10: “He who does not work shall not eat.” It has also been quoted by Capt. John Smith at Jamestown in 17th-century Virginia and Vladimir Lenin of Russia in 1917.

I write not as a hard-core Republican who (understandably) does not want their well-earned taxes to be wasted. I write as a minister concerned that those who are legitimately poor, aged, have serious mental or physical disabilities or are drug-dependent will not go hungry. I also write for those who will need — considering part of the debt ceiling deal — to show that they are actively working to qualify for SNAP benefits.

I imagine that some agencies in Jacksonville will see that these rules are followed prior to receiving assistance. These agencies should also have a regularly updated list of what work is available. So, all potential employers must provide a list to these agencies. Those looking for assistance may then be able to show proof of work, verified by an authority at that location. Transportation to and from some of these locations might be necessary, too.

Obviously, a great deal of thought and planning will have to go into this matter, especially since it is now illegal in Jacksonville to panhandle. Where will supplies be handled, stored and distributed to these area agencies for feeding the qualified workers? Will a government voucher be the way to go?

I suspect that many may once again resort to crime or keep moving on to survive. This part of the deal will be handing all communities a large "handful" of difficulty to set this up and run it effectively. We may have to learn as we go.

Rev. Dr. James (Jim) Black, Jacksonville

New bathroom law just plain bigotry

I find it appalling when laws and rules are enacted that encourage people to discriminate against girls who don’t fit their particular stereotype of what it means to be a girl.

When I recently met with a Duval County School Board member, she advised me that parents have told her their daughters are uncomfortable being in restrooms with girls who don’t look "girly enough." It feels to me like the days when some white people didn’t want to share a restroom with Black people.

We should not ever cater to bigotry. Choose love over fear. Since recorded history, there have been girls who don’t fit the stereotype of the typical female of their time. Please tell your elected officials this: “Don’t cater to bigots who want to reduce the rights of people who are simply atypical.”

While the school district is building more single-occupancy restrooms to comply with state laws, they should designate some of the restrooms as neutral and allow anyone to use them. Equip those neutral restrooms with single-occupancy stalls that have floor-to-ceiling lockable doors. If you agree, please write to your school board members and ask them to convert some of the restrooms to neutral facilities that anyone can use.

There doesn’t seem to be anything in the new law HB 1521 that forbids girls and boys from washing their hands in the same room.

Susan Aertker, education committee chairwoman, National Organization for Women - Jacksonville

It didn't work under Reagan

Efforts by Republicans to require work in exchange for food stamps didn't work in the 1980s and it won't work today because employers didn't (and still don't) want the potential liability from uninsured, unvetted part-time workers.

Reagan-era courts eventually ruled against the program, but today's Republicans want a second shot, as they have apparently rigged the courts in many places. They also appear to regularly ignore history that is unpleasant.

There's also this: Some of those eligible for food stamps are sure to drop out of the program when faced with the logistics of finding and holding part-time employment in return for a paltry sum of food stamps ― which may be one of the GOP’s unstated goals.

An April story in The Washington Post reported that in Iowa, the cost of enacting the bill could exceed $17 million in the first three years. That’s about seven times what that state now spends annually to administer SNAP, which underscores the inherent contradiction of adding food stamp hurdles — it typically results in more costs to the taxpayers for oversight.

Michael Hoffmann, Jacksonville

Opinion masquerading as news

The article on the front page of the May 28 Metro section titled “If DeSantis wins, Nunez takes over” was clearly an opinion piece, not a news story.

The fourth paragraph states, “Nunez helped DeSantis promote his hard-right policies across this state this year, including slamming diversity, equity and inclusion education in colleges and universities.”

That is clearly an opinion. I have no problem with opinion pieces, and I can tell pretty soon whether I want to read it at all by the tone.

However, this is not marked as an editorial opinion and it does a disservice to your readers.

Dave Berry, Jacksonville