State Senate Committee Approves Clean Energy Bill

A state Senate committee today approved a bill that would require Florida's electric utilities to get 20 percent of their power from "clean" energy, including nuclear and coal, by 2020.

Under the bill, which was approved in a 6-3 vote, 5 percent of that 20-percent goal can be met with nuclear or new coal-burning technology.

A bill previously introduced in the Senate dealt solely with renewable power did not include coal or nuclear technology. Sen. Jim King, R-Jacksonville, crafted the compromise bill in hopes of appeasing utilities, renewable energy advocates and environmental groups.

But several renewable energy advocates, who support the bill, would have preferred a "renewable" energy standard that excludes nuclear and coal.

"We had hoped that the policy would be solely focused on renewable energy," said George Cavros of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. "When you start redefining the standard, you open the door to some unintended consequences."

Eric Draper, policy director for Audubon of Florida, suggested that the definition of "clean energy" should be revisited.

"On the coal-burning issue, I don't know if you could call that clean," Draper told the committee. "But I don't want to make a big issue of those things because I think this is an important piece of legislation that should move forward."

Jim Walker, a Florida utility customer, told the committee the legislation is a crime against common sense.

"I can't get my head around how nuclear energy is clean," Walker said. "The (nuclear) waste itself speaks for itself. You have to dig uranium out of the ground and I don't know of many clean mining operations."

The bill would cap the amount a utility could spend to meet the clean energy goals to 2 percent of their annual revenues. Consumer groups such as AARP said spending should be capped at 1 percent because of the recession.

"Each percentage increase equals $185 million that your constituents have to pay," said AARP's Laura Cantwell.

The bill also would raise the state's gasoline tax by a penny, a provision that could derail the legislation.

The penny gas tax is needed to cover the cost of implementing the new requirements, King said.

Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, voted against the bill, saying higher gas prices would reduce the Department of Transportation's trust fund, which is used to fund road projects. Sens. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, and Mike Haridopolos, R-Melbourne, also voted against the measure.

King said he is willing to amend the bill to use federal stimulus dollars instead of a gas tax to fund implementation.

King said he is not sure what level of support, if any, the bill would receive from lawmakers in the House.

"I have no idea whether this bill will live one nanosecond in the House," he said.

There is no bill similar to King's in the House, although the House is considering legislation similar to the original Senate bill requiring that all 20 percent come from renewable energy.