TALLAHASSEE – Orlando state Rep. Anna Eskamani wants all of Florida’s energy to come from renewable sources by the year 2050.
Eskamani, a Democrat, says the lofty goal is needed to combat the effects of climate change, which are already hitting Florida, especially along the coast.
“Floridians are already feeling the effects of a warmer world,” Eskamani said. “From mosquitoes and hurricanes to harmful algal blooms and sea level rise — Florida has a lot to lose if climate change goes unchecked, and one of the most important ways to curb the impact of climate change and to build a more resilient state is through transitioning to 100% renewable energy.”
Her legislation, HB 97, also calls for 40 percent renewable energy by 2030 on the part of state agencies, universities and state colleges. The plan to achieve this must be developed by the Office of Energy, housed in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, within two years and submitted to lawmakers.
Democrats on the national political stage have stressed the need to counteract climate change, and those calls have been echoed by Democratic state lawmakers in Florida. But with GOP control of the governor’s mansion and the Legislature for the past 20 years, few measures have been taken.
Yet as the effects of climate change continue to affect parts of the state – sunny day flooding in South Florida, beach erosion along the east coast – conservatives are starting to react to the issue as well.
U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, a former Republican state House member from the Panhandle, recently released his “Green Real Deal” plan as an alternative to Democrats’ “Green New Deal” plan, focusing on reducing regulations and supporting new, cleaner energy alternatives, instead of the 100 percent renewable energy goal and moving toward electric vehicles that the Green New Deal calls for.
Still, Eskamani’s bill is unlikely to get a hearing when the Legislature meets in January. A similar bill she filed this year wasn’t discussed.
“Florida is far too reliant on energy sources that pollute our air and water and our state desperately needs an aggressive plan to change that.” said Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez, D-Miami, who plans to file the Senate version of the bill. “Inaction fails Floridians, hurting our health, our economy and our precious ecosystems; and as ground zero when it comes to sea level rise we also need to take responsibility for tackling not just the effects but our contribution to the CAUSES of climate change. As the Sunshine State, Florida should be a nationwide leader in the push for 100 percent clean, renewable energy.”
grohrer@orlandosentinel.com
