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Florida to “start the conversation” on developing renewable eneergy

Energy Independence Is Golden Chance to Develop Renewables:   Renewable advocates support Florida energy bills CBS News, (AP)  TALLAHASSEE, Fla.16 Feb 12,  — Advocates of conservation and renewable sources such as solar and biomass are supporting what sponsors are calling “modest” energy legislation in the belief that even a small start would cause those efforts to snowball.

A bill (HB 7117) that cleared the House Finance and Tax Committee on
Wednesday and a similar measure (SB 2094) that’s moving through the
Senate wouldn’t set specific goals such as the 20 percent level for
renewables by 2020 once envisioned by former Gov. Charlie Crist.

Instead, the bills include such provisions as restoring tax exemptions
and credits that expired in 2010, consideration of fuel diversity by
the Public Service Commission when deciding whether to permit new
power plants and a study on the effectiveness of an existing energy
conservation law.

Susan Glickman, a lobbyist for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy,
said her organization would prefer a more aggressive approach such as
the targets 30 other states have adopted, but she said the legislation
nevertheless would “start the conversation.”
“When you get some of these projects on the ground it starts to just
demonstrate that the projects are doable and the costs are feasible
and in fact that energy efficiency and many new renewables cost less
than traditional generation like a new nuclear power plant,” Glickman
said.

Rep. Scott Plakon, a Longwood Republican sponsoring the House bill,
said it was drafted in consultation with Gov. Rick Scott and
Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam…..
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162-57378662/renewable-advocates-support-florida-energy-bills/

February 16, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | renewable, USA