Tampa Activists Rally To Urge End To Fossil Fuel Subsidies

TAMPA, FL ? Climate activists representing Food & Water Watch, Sunrise Movement, Tampa Bay Climate Alliance, Physicians for Social Responsibility Florida, Florida Student Power Network and Central Florida Jobs with Justice rallied at the Tampa office of U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa) on Monday, urging her to end fossil fuel subsidies.

American taxpayers currently spend $15 billion each year subsidizing the fossil fuel industry, and the latest bipartisan infrastructure bill includes approximately $25 billion of new subsidies for the industry.

Castor has called for an end to fossil fuel subsidies since taking office in 2007, including most recently in a conversation with Brooke Errett, Florida senior organizer of Food & Water Watch. With weeks left before the House vote on the reconciliation package, advocates rallied to demand Rep. Castor show up to end fossil fuel subsidies.

?The time for climate symbolism is over ? now is our time to act,? said Errett. ?Our actions today to keep fossil fuels in the ground and cut off taxpayer-funded subsidies, ending the fossil fuel industry?s lifeline, will pay dividends for generations to come. Rep. Castor has repeatedly called for an end to fossil fuel subsidies, and it?s time she used her position of influence to show up for the end of these destructive subsidies. We need to end fossil fuel subsidies now, and expect Rep. Castor to lead on making it happen.?

As chairwoman of the Select Committee on Climate Crisis, Castor plays a crucial role in the effort, Errett said.

Activists delivered a sign on letter from 26 Tampa Bay organizations urging her "to cut up the check" to end subsidies to fossil fuels by the House of Representatives? projected Sept. 27 vote.

"Ending fossil fuel subsidies means a livable planet for my generation,? said Mary-Elizabeth Estrada, Florida Student Power Network. ?This industry has spent billions of dollars lobbying for subsidies to actively destroy our planet when they could have been investing in clean, renewable energy for our future."