Florida Legislature passes renewable energy bill
Posted on: May 2nd, 2008 by Emma YoungA sweeping energy bill passed the Florida Senate (39-1) on 30 April 2008, a day after the House passed it unanimously. Gov. Charlie Crist is very likely to sign the bill, HB 7135, into law.
Although even its sponsors acknowledge the implementation of the law will reveal many points where it will need work, the initiative moves Florida’s energy policy in an entirely new direction. Some of the points include:
● The Department of Environmental Protection may set pollution limits for electric utilities and require the companies to buy carbon credits when they exceed those limits, offsetting those emissions. The department also would develop rules that would require new vehicles sold in Florida to pollute less. Both pollution limits have to go back to the Legislature for approval.
● Private electrical utilities must purchase or generate a certain amount of the power they sell from renewable sources like wind and solar power. The state board that regulates private utilities will decide how much that amount must be, which lawmakers would have to approve.
● The law creates a new Florida Energy and Climate Commission, which will take the lead in setting energy policy for the state, bring the functions of existing boards and departments into a single group.
● Green building codes and energy efficiency standards for appliances are strengthened.
● The approval process for nuclear power plants is simplified.
Gov. Charlie Crist made clean energy a priority for the state during a summit on global climate change last summer. He has announced that another summit will be held at the end of June in Miami. It will focus on boosting the state’s economy by attracting companies that use clean energy technologies to Florida.
