Duke Energy Proposes New System to Protect Marine Life at Bartow Plant
Duke Energy is proposing a new system at its Bartow power plant near Weedon Island along Old Tampa Bay to reduce the number of marine animals caught in its water intake and return them to the bay alive.
Tampa St. Petersburg, FL, October 6, 2026 — Duke Energy has put forth a proposal for a new system at its Bartow power plant, located near Weedon Island along the shores of Old Tampa Bay. The initiative aims to significantly reduce the number of marine animals that are inadvertently captured by the plant’s water intake systems.
The proposed system is designed to not only minimize the capture of marine life but also to ensure that any animals that do come into contact with the intake are safely returned to the bay alive. Specific details regarding the technology or methodology of this new system were not provided in the summary.
The Bartow power plant’s operations involve drawing water from Old Tampa Bay, a process that can pose risks to the local aquatic ecosystem. This proposal by Duke Energy indicates a commitment to mitigating these environmental impacts and enhancing the protection of marine species in the vicinity. Further information on the project’s timeline, scope, and the exact nature of the proposed system is not available at this time.
Story summarized from the original created by Matthew Reed on stpetecatalyst.com, see more information here.
