Miami, Florida – On Wednesday, June 29th at 10 am, Moms Clean Air Force hosted a press conference with local community leaders at the City of Miami City Hall to discuss the importance of transitioning toward clean, renewable energy sources like solar and away from dirty fossil fuels and the health benefits of doing so.According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Florida is ranked 3rd in the country for rooftop solar capacity, but the state’s energy portfolio is comprised of less than 1% of solar energy. Florida has the most solar energy potential east of the Mississippi, yet isn’t a leader on solar power. In addition to offsetting millions of metric tons of carbon dioxide, advancing the use of solar energy in Florida will help protect our families from the public health impacts of carbon pollution.
A group of public health, community and environmental advocates and key policy figures gathered in front of City of Miami’s City Hall to highlight how clean energy improves our state’s air quality and improves children’s health. The speakers included City of Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado, Raina Russo, a solar industry professional and solar advocate for Women4Solar, Alissa Jean Schafer, Solar Communications and Policy Manager for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Dr. Rosalyn Baker, an asthma and allergy physician from Physicians for Social Responsibility Florida Chapter, and Karina Castillo, Florida Field Organizer for Moms Clean Air Force.
“Energy derived from dirty fossil fuels pose tremendous health hazards to our children and families. Now is the perfect time for solar energy to really take off in South Florida since the cost of solar energy has dramatically decreased in recent years. South Florida has to the potential to become a major hub of solar energy production and of solar energy jobs, “ said Karina Castillo, leader of the Moms Clean Air Force Florida chapter based in Miami.
Alissa Jean Schaffer, another speaker at the press conference expressed: “For the sake of our families and the future of our beautiful state, Florida must live up to it’s name ‘the Sunshine State’ and embrace clean solar energy. We must come together as citizens, elected officials, and families, and rise above the bad solar policies currently holding solar back in Florida. As an expectant mother living in South Florida, the stakes have never been higher to me; the time for solar energy is now.”
All press conference speakers are available for interviews. To reach a speaker for an interview, contact Karina Castillo, (305) 586-6354, kcastillo@momscleanairforce.org
