Clean Energy Portfolios Can Provide Reliable, Affordable Energy for Jacksonville

RMI analysis indicates that Clean Energy Portfolios (CEPs) are more cost-effective and lower risk than the natural gas plant proposed by the Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA). The report finds that JEA's updated capital cost projections for the gas plant are 139% higher than its 2023 estimates, while CEPs—particularly those leveraging high energy efficiency—offer lower net present value (NPV) costs and significant local economic benefits without the negative health externalities associated with gas combustion.

• Clean Energy Portfolios (CEPs) are generally more affordable and less risky than building a new gas plant. When excluding outdated low-cost gas assumptions from 2023, over 80% of analyzed CEP scenarios are less expensive. Specifically, 91% of CEP scenarios are lower cost when compared to high-cost gas plant scenarios that align with JEA's August 2025 projections.
• The projected costs for JEA's proposed gas plant have increased dramatically. JEA's August 2025 capital cost estimates are over 139% higher than its 2023 estimates. Accounting for updated capital costs and higher fuel prices, the gas plant's net present value (NPV) costs could reach $4.8 billion, which is more than double the original 2023 proposal of $2.3 billion.
• The cost of CEPs varies based on reliability assumptions and energy efficiency levels. Portfolios using realistic reliability assumptions cost between $2.7 billion and $3.4 billion NPV. These costs decrease further with higher energy efficiency: Middle Energy Efficiency portfolios cost between $2.4 billion and $3.1 billion, and High Energy Efficiency portfolios cost between $2.1 billion and $2.6 billion.
• JEA significantly underutilizes energy efficiency compared to regional and national benchmarks. In 2021, JEA spent 0.42% of its revenue on energy efficiency, while regional and national averages were 1.64% and 2.58%, respectively. The report notes that Florida is the only state using the ratepayer impact measure (RIM) test, which may penalize utilities for successful energy efficiency installations.
• A new gas plant is projected to have severe negative health impacts due to emissions of PM2.5, SO2, and NOx. These impacts are estimated to cost over $1 billion state-wide in Florida, with approximately $400 million to $500 million of those costs occurring specifically in Duval County. Lifetime impacts include 53 premature deaths and 259 new asthma cases.
• Implementing CEPs would generate substantial local economic benefits, including land lease payments, tax revenues, and wages. These portfolios are estimated to provide between $429 million and $757 million in local economic benefits and support between 3,331 and 5,251 construction jobs, as well as 35 to 66 operations and maintenance jobs.

APA

RMI (2025). Clean Energy Portfolios Can Provide Reliable, Affordable Energy for Jacksonville. https://rmi.org/resources/clean-energy-portfolios-can-provide-reliable-affordable-energy-for-jacksonville/

Chicago

RMI. Clean Energy Portfolios Can Provide Reliable, Affordable Energy for Jacksonville. 2025. https://rmi.org/resources/clean-energy-portfolios-can-provide-reliable-affordable-energy-for-jacksonville/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=Clean Energy Portfolios Can Provide Reliable, Affordable Energy for Jacksonville |date=14 October 2025 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/clean-energy-portfolios-can-provide-reliable-affordable-energy-for-jacksonville/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmi2025clean, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{Clean Energy Portfolios Can Provide Reliable, Affordable Energy for Jacksonville}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2025}, month = oct, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/clean-energy-portfolios-can-provide-reliable-affordable-energy-for-jacksonville/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }