Florida Legislature Introduces Bills Adopting 100 Clean Energy Goal by 2050

Democratic State Representative Anna Eskamani and Democratic Senator José Javier Rodríguez have introduced identical bills which direct the Office of Energy within the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to create and implement a plan that would move the state to 100 percent renewable energy by 2050, including an interim goal of at least 40 percent renewables by 2030.

• The plan, which would be submitted by January 1, 2021, would include an assessment of existing and additional renewable energy incentives and programs with an emphasis on solar and distributed energy resources, including energy storage.
• The two lawmakers say that displacing fossil fuel consumption within the state of Florida would provide unique benefits, namely reducing air pollution, improving grid reliability and enhancing economic development and job creation.
• With Republicans holding a so-called trifecta control of Florida state government (Governor, Senate and House) it’s unlikely that these and other ambitious renewable energy mandates will make it through the legislative process.