Florida votes unanimously for 20% renewables by 2020

Posted by Gwen  

05:30 PM Jan 09, 2009

The Florida Public Service Commission voted to approve a draft RPS rule that would require utillities obtain 20% of their electricity from renewable energy, with 25% coming from solar and wind resources. Now the draft rule goes to the Legislature for ratification.

Good elements of the draft rule:

- 20 percent by 2020 goal
- Solar and wind will provide 1/4 of the 20% goal
- Solar and wind projects may get up to $300 Million each year to meet the goals
- The goals are mandatory, not aspirational
- The rule will remain a Renewable Portfolio Standard and not be expanded to include clean coal and nuclear...for now (see caveat below)

What could be better:

- The cost of the RPS is capped at 2 percent of utility revenues, which we feel is too low (we have asked for 4%)
- The commission has left room for the Legislature to consider changing the rule to a Clean Energy Portfolio Standard, which could then allow nuclear to participate
- The recommendation lacks clear provisions for long-term contracts
- Additional provisions will be needed to ensure that small solar electric and solar hot water customers can participate in the market  

Now the fight moves to the Legislature, and like everything in Florida, we don't expect this will be an easy one. Stayed tuned.

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Join the Pickens Plan for even more clout

OnLineThinkTank — 11:51 PM Feb 02, 2009

Yes the fight moves on and it is taking place right in our own neighborhoods. How's that? The utilities here in Florida have the same game plan as California. They will not give up a single cent from their energy monopoly in support of individual energy independence, so you can bet your next kW that they are lobbying to insure their business will not have to accept anyone who is generating their own power, especially at the residential level. It is large businesses like oil companies, auto manufacturers and utilities who helped us experience the 70's oil embargo, helping their collective profits to soar from gasoline that sold from 19 to 26 cents a gallon in the 1960's up to well over a dollar. It wasn't until they managed to scare us into accepting almost a dollar gas by making us feel better that it dropped back to a range we still could afford but begrudgingly. How gracious of them! For the past four years wehave once agian seen them manupulating the prices ever higher, no different than utility rates. If you don't choose energy independence your bill paying will be tied to them forever. In order to actively get involved locally in the 24th Florida Congressional District and learn more about the Pickens Plan to free us from foreign oil dependence, watch this video to begin your journey here: http://push.pickensplan.com/video/video/show?id=2187034%3AVideo%3A1486774
If you are like me, I am concerned about the high percentage of our oil that comes from foreign countries. Even in December, as the economy was contracting, we imported nearly 70 percent of the oil we used and paid over $19 billion for it.
President Obama and the 111th Congress need to enact an energy plan that reduces our foreign oil dependence by at least 30% within ten years.
This plan must include proven American technology and resources; the development of new energy sources; and the expansion and modernization of the national electrical grid to transport renewable energy to homes and businesses.
I urge you to join me and T. Boone Pickens' army of supporters in calling for a true Energy Independence Plan to be enacted within the first 100 days of the Obama Administration. You can join our local group at this link: http://push.pickensplan.com/group/DistrictGroupFL24
Thank you in advance for your support and involvement.
The 24th Florida Congressional District leader.
http://push.pickensplan.com/profile/MarkHedtke