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July 2007
Unless Florida acts now to avert
climate change, the state and its economy will suffer ever more severe
drought, destructive fires, endangered agriculture, violent storms, and
rising sea levels, warned Governor Charlie Crist Thursday addressing
participants at the Serve to Preserve Florida Summit on Global Climate
Change.
Today, Governor Crist, a Republican, concluded the summit by signing three
executive orders directing cuts in Florida's greenhouse gas emissions and
increases in energy efficiency. Under the new policy, Florida will pursue
renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, as well as alternative
energy such as ethanol and hydrogen.
The governor also signed partnership agreements with Germany and the
United Kingdom to discuss and promote initiatives that broaden the Kyoto
Protocol and reduce the emission of greenhouse gases beyond 2012 when the
protocol expires.
Germany's State Secretary of the Ministry of the Environment, Nature
Conservancy and Nuclear Safety Matthias Machnig signed on behalf of his
government.
The UK's Special Representative for Climate Change within the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office Dr. John Ashton signed the agreement for his
government.
"Germany and the United Kingdom are recognized as worldwide leaders in
actively addressing global climate change," said Governor Crist. "Florida
is honored to join these great nations in calling for a post-Kyoto
Protocol that protects the planet's climate systems by reducing emissions
of greenhouse gases beyond 2012."
The state will exchange delegations with Germany and with the UK to share
public policy experiences and exchange science and technology concerning
energy efficiency and renewable energy sources.
At home, Florida is "taking immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions," said the governor.
First, state agencies will measure greenhouse gas emissions and develop a
Governmental Carbon Scorecard. Then, the state government will work to
reduce emissions 10 percent by 2012, 25 percent by 2017, and 40 percent by
2025.
To achieve that goal, new state buildings will be energy efficient and
include solar panels whenever possible. Office space leased in the future
must be in energy efficient buildings.
Any purchased state vehicles must be fuel efficient and use ethanol and
biodiesel fuels when available. State government will also seek an energy
efficient rental car company for the 2009 contract.
For electric utilities, Governor Crist directed the adoption of maximum
emission levels of greenhouse gases.
The standard will require a reduction of emissions to 2000 levels by 2017,
to 1990 levels by 2025, and by 80 percent of 1990 levels by 2050.
Florida will adopt the California motor vehicle emission standards,
pending approval of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, waiver.
The standard is a 22 percent reduction in vehicle emissions by 2012 and a
30 percent reduction by 2016.
Florida will require consumer appliances to increase energy efficiency by
15 percent over current standards.
The governor also requested that the Public Service Commission adopt a 20
percent Renewable Portfolio Standard by 2020, with a strong focus on solar
and wind energy.
The summit brought together policy makers, academics, scientists,
environmentalists and the business community to discuss the impact of
climate change in Florida.
Robert Kennedy Jr., Theodore Roosevelt IV, venture capitalist Vinod
Khosla, and Earthjustice Executive Director Buck Parker, met with Governor
Crist, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and other policy leaders
in a roundtable to discuss future legislation and agency standards for
Florida.
Parker said, "Earlier this summer, Earthjustice played a pivotal role in
stopping the nation's largest coal-fired power plant from being built
right here in Florida. The state Public Service Commission denied a
request for approval by Florida Power and Light, effectively ending the
company's hope to deepen Florida's dependence on dirty fossil fuels."
The utility planned a large new coal-fired power plant in Glades County,
between Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades. The commission 's denial was
based on evidence presented by environmentalists concerning global
warming, the lack of conservation measures that could reduce electricity
consumption, and the impact on consumers of future taxes on carbon
emissions.
"This victory sent a strong message to Wall Street investors that
financing new coal plants is a risky investment," Parker said.
In his keynote address to the delegates, Governor Schwarzenegger pointed
out the similarities between the two states. "California and Florida are
great partners in the fight against climate change. I am very proud to see
another governor wanting to join California and the growing number of
states who are not waiting for Washington to lead on this issue," said
Governor Schwarzenegger, a Republican.
"I know Governor Crist intends to roll back greenhouse gas emissions just
as we are doing in California," said Schwarzenegger. "And he will build
great momentum with his neighboring states just as we have done in
California with great partnerships between us and states in the Northeast
and West and with provinces in Canada and with Great Britain."
"Today's action by Governor Crist helps California tremendously as we send
a strong message to the federal government to approve our auto emissions
waiver," he said.
The EPA has been dragging its heels on approval of the required waiver.
Last month, Governor Schwarzenegger notified the federal agency that, if
they do not act on California's waiver request, the state will file a
lawsuit to force action.
To offset the energy used for the summit, the state of Florida has worked
with the non-profit CarbonFund.org to estimate the carbon emissions
created by summit participants through their use of transportation, and
operations and food preparation at the Intercontinental Miami Hotel.
The state of Florida's financial support of renewable wind energy in New
Mexico will counterbalance the carbon emissions generated by the summit.
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