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Taylor Energy Center--Health Impacts Health effect (positive, neutral, or negative) Magnitude of Impact Recommendation Long-term Evaluation of TEC's Impact
Mercury emissions Negative-- potent neurotoxin consumed in fish Less than 60 pounds of mercury will be emitted per year according to Environmental Consulting & Technology Inc. and they state, "It is anticipated that deposition modeling will demonstrate that mercury deposition due to Taylor Energy Center emissions will be insignificant compared to current mercury deposition rates for North Florida." Establish baseline mercury levels in the county through hair or blood sampling. The Taylor County Health Department should report mercury levels to the public. Residents should know and meet the fish consumption advisories for fish caught locally. Florida Department of Health fish consumption advisories should resemble previous years or improve over time even with TEC.
Particulate matter emissions Negative -- linked to acute and chronic morbidity and mortality Based on peer-reviewed science and this HIA's calculations, the health impact from particulate matter will be minimal and undetectable over time.
Ground level ozone (a secondary pollutant from emissions) Negative -- linked to acute morbidity and mortality Based on peer-reviewed science and the similarity in the magnitude of risk between ozone exposure and particulate matter exposure, in this HIA's finding the ground level ozone impact will be a similar in magnitude to particulate matter. The impact will likely be minimal and undetectable over time.

 

 

 

 

 
Taylor Energy Center--Health Impacts Health effect (positive, neutral, or negative) Magnitude of Impact Recommendation Long-term Evaluation of TEC's Impact
Carbon dioxide emissions Negative -- global burden of disease estimates predict overall increase in mortality About 7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide will be emitted per year. This is the most significant negative impact from TEC. Although the health effects from global warming are still an emerging area of health research, this HIA's assessment of negative impact is based on the precautionary principal. Preliminary estimates of global warming from the World Health Organization's global burden of disease project predict overall increases in cardiovascular disease deaths, foodborne and waterborne diseases that cause diarrhea episodes, vectorborne disease such as malaria and dengue fever, natural disasters and fatal unintentional injuries, population displacement and malnutrition. The health impact of global warming could affect billions of people. This HIA recommends a regular assessment of the County's carbon footprint, as well as a policy to remain carbon negative. Sarasota County may serve as a model for Taylor. A rough estimate of Taylor County's existing forest cover suggests that it sequesters 13 million metric tons of CO2. After the carbon footprint is calculated, pursue selling existing carbon credits on established carbon markets. Adhere to EPAs smart growth principals in future residential and commercial developments to keep carbon dioxide emissions low. Taylor County should remain carbon negative over time even with TEC.

 

 

 

 

 
Taylor Energy Center--Health Impacts Health effect (positive, neutral, or negative) Magnitude of Impact Recommendation Long-term Evaluation of TEC's Impact
Income from minimum salary jobs Positive -- increases in income linked with decreases in mortality rates Based on peer-reviewed science and this HIA's estimations, the impact from the minimum salary income from TEC could substantially reduce the risk of mortality for black employees and their families. The minimum salary would not likely improve the risk of mortality of white employees and their families. The income from TEC could address the significant racial disparities in income and mortality between black and white residents in the county. Target TEC job recruitment toward a representative or greater proportion of black residents to be trained for technical level jobs at TEC. TEC will be considered an enhancement to population health and economic development if race-specific mortality rates decline over time.
Income from median salary jobs Positive -- increases in income linked with decreases in mortality rates Based on peer-reviewed science and this HIAs estimations, the impact from the median salary income from TEC could substantially reduce the risk of mortality for both black and white employees and their families. A diverse population of Taylor County residents should be recruited and trained for professional jobs at TEC. TEC will be considered an enhancement to population health and economic development if race-specific mortality rates decline over time.

 

 

 

 

 
Taylor Energy Center--Health Impacts Health effect (positive, neutral, or negative) Magnitude of Impact Recommendation Long-term Evaluation of TEC's Impact
Over $175 million in "community contribution" over 40 years Positive -- if community contribution is spent on fundamental infrastructure linked to improved health. Based on peer-reviewed science and this HIA's findings, the increase in revenue to the county could improve fundamental services and infrastructure such as schools, health care, recreation, transportation and planning for future development. If these investments were made with a goal of improving population health, reducing economic disparities and enhancing economic development, the health impact could be significant. According to the Congressional Budget Office, to improve economic growth, governments should enhance labor productivity by improving the knowledge and skills of workers and by investing in materials and equipment available to those workers. This HIA recommends that some portion of the "community contribution" be invested in (1) accessible high quality preschool, (2) improving K-12 school quality (Taylor County's High School has been graded a "D" for the past 3 years), (3) investing in information technology infrastructure and (4) instituting a small business, especially entrepreneurial, incubator program with the help of regional universities. TEC's presence will be considered an enhancement to population health and economic development if enrollment in high quality preschool increases, school grades improve, local access to information technology improves and small business growth occurs.
Taylor County Baseline Status     Recommendation  
Smoking attributable mortality 22% of the deaths in Taylor County (2003), compared to 18% in the State of Florida overall (2001), are attributable to tobacco use. The economic impact to county residents is around $28.5 million dollars in medical and productivity costs annually. Implement additional smoking cessation programs and provide health prevention and education programs to improve health with funds mandated by the passage of Amendment 4 in November, 2006.