Date: May 3, 2007   

Author: Stephen Majors

Source: Miami Herald 

High gas prices, national security concerns and urgent scientific reports on humanity's effect on global warming pushed Gov. Charlie Crist and state lawmakers this year to begin changing Florida's lackluster record on energy.

The House and Senate each passed the plan (HB 7123) unanimously Thursday.

Crist is expected to sign the bill, which outlines a plan many other states already follow. Two consumer-oriented facets - a sales-tax break for the purchase of alternative-fuel vehicles and a tax holiday for energy-efficient appliances - didn't make the final product because of budget pressures in a tight fiscal year.

"The only break on the energy rocket was the budget," said Rep. Bob Allen, R-Merritt Island, chairman of the House Energy Committee. "You never want to stop moving forward as a society but the priorities kept cutting into my shopping list."

Renewable energy and environmental groups have largely supported the Legislature's efforts this year, but still said the bill fell short in some areas.

"It would be nice if it had more weight in terms of conservation and promoting solar," said Susie Caplowe, a lobbyist for the Sierra Club. "When are we going to take the really tough steps to really push a solar water heater in each House?"

The bill does have sales tax breaks for the production and distribution of biofuels. It also calls for a greenhouse gas inventory to determine the major pollutants of Florida's air, and establishes a statewide task force to help implement a coherent energy policy.

"This is a huge step forward for the state of Florida," said Rep. Rick Kriseman, D-St. Petersburg.

To boost energy conservation, the bill promotes more stringent "green" building codes, particularly for government buildings.

In a move to spur the individual use of renewable technologies, citizens who purchase solar technology for their homes will be able to get a property tax break for the cost and installation of the product. The bill also creates a $20 million cellulosic ethanol demonstration plant, which will be managed by the University of Florida and will use technology from Florida Crystals Corp.

Experts have said Florida - with its sugarcane and citrus waste - is well-positioned to produce cellulosic ethanol, which is more energy-efficient than its largely Midwestern variant, corn ethanol. Ethanol in small amounts can be blended with gasoline and used in all vehicles, while modified vehicles can run on a high blend or full ethanol content.

The bill directs the state Public Service Commission to recommend an appropriate renewable portfolio standard, which is a requirement that power companies produce a certain amount of electricity using renewable fuels. It also calls for a study on implementing a net-metering policy, which gives electricity consumers an incentive to install renewable energy technologies, such as solar, in their homes and businesses. They would then be credited for any excess energy they send out on the grid with their homemade energy production.

At least 20 states already have a renewable portfolio standard, and 35 states have a statewide net-metering policy.

Allen said the House philosophy was to use incentives instead of mandates at first to increase the production of alternative energies. But he said it's likely the Legislature will implement a portfolio standard and a net-metering policy as early as next year after seeing results from the studies.