Awesome news for our brethren in Tampa: you’re going to die very soon!!! Tampa Electric’s Big Bend power station was just named one of the Top 50 Dirtiest Power Plants for CO2 and NOx emissions by the Environmental Integrity Project. I know what you’re saying: “but, how can that be? The TECO site says they are using a variety of proven technologies to significantly reduce nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and sulfur dioxide emissions and they claim to have a bunch of useful recycleable byproducts. They wouldn’t lie to us!”

The entire report is available as a huge ass PDF, but I’ll give you a breakdown of where you poor bastards rank:

• Emission Rate (lbs CO2/MWh): 21st
• Tons CO2: 45th
• Emission Rate (lbs NOx/MWh): 10th
• Tons NOx: 11th

Congrats on breaking the top 10 for NOx, that’s awesome news! The rankings are based on both emission rate, which measures the amount of pollution per megawatt-hour of electricity generated, and total annual amount of each pollutant emitted, which measures the gross impact on public health and the environment. In other words, that 11th place finish in tons of NOx is seriously bad news. Once again, hahahaha, sucks to live in Tampa.

Wait a second… we’re really not that far away, are we? Awww, shit… we’re screwed too. I would suggest that you call or write TECO and tell them that they can suck a fat one and you don’t want to be living near a power plant that is grossly polluting your environment. Do it now, slackers.