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Popular Utilities and Energy Bills
HB 0579 Natural Gas Motor Fuel
SB 1472 Nuclear and Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle Power Plants
SB 0948 Water Supply
SB 0560 Natural Gas Motor Fuel
HB 4001 Florida Renewable Fuel Standard Act
SB 0364 Consumptive Use Permits for Development of Alternative Water Supplies
SB 0244 Water Management Districts
HB 0109 Consumptive Use Permits for Development of Alternative Water Supplies
HB 0375 Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems
HB 1083 Underground Natural Gas Storage
Utilities and Energy Bills On The Move
HB 0855 South Indian River Water Control District, Palm Beach County
HOUSE Enrolled Text (ER) Filed
SB 1594 Guaranteed Energy, Water, and Wastewater Performance Savings Contracting Act
SENATE Enrolled Text (ER) Filed
HB 0633 Biodiesel Fuel
HOUSE Enrolled Text (ER) Filed
HB 0979 Fort Pierce Farms Water Control District, St. Lucie County
HOUSE Enrolled Text (ER) Filed
SB 0364 Consumptive Use Permits for Development of Alternative Water Supplies
SENATE Enrolled Text (ER) Filed
SB 0934 Stormwater Management Permits
SENATE Enrolled Text (ER) Filed
HB 0147 Governing Board of Southwest Florida Water Management District
HOUSE Withdrawn prior to introduction
HB 0309 Renewable Energy Producers
HOUSE Died in Energy & Utilities Subcommittee
HB 0579 Natural Gas Motor Fuel
HOUSE Enrolled Text (ER) Filed
HB 0733 Government-Owned Utilities
HOUSE Died in Energy & Utilities Subcommittee

Utilities and Energy

Water projects left off Florida TaxWatch's "turkey" list this year

 
by Bruce Ritchie - 1 week ago - +
The Legislature's 2013-14 state budget includes 88 water projects totaling $59.4 million. Last year, Florida TaxWatch labeled as turkeys 23 local water projects totaling $19 million and asked Gov. Rick Scott to veto them. The governor eventually vetoed $12.6 million in water projects. Other items were targeted as turkeys including appropriations for wildlife and state parks groups.

2013 Session Summary: Utilities and Energy

by LobbyTools - 2 weeks ago - +
Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam set the stage for low expectations by not offering recommendations for energy legislation. But debate was expected on the 2006 nuclear cost recovery law after Progress Energy Florida, now Duke Energy, decided to shut down its crippled Crystal River nuclear plant. And who would have expected debate over "fracking" in Florida?

Legislature adjourns 2013 session

by Bill Cotterell - 3 weeks ago - +
A festive crowd packs the rotunda of the Capitol Friday evening anticipating the moment when House Sergeant-at-Arms Earnie Sumner, back, and Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Donald Severance drop handkerchiefs to signal the end of the 2013 legislative session
Sixty days of debate, argument, agreement and compromise end with the drop of two handkerchiefs in the Capitol rotunda to signal the completion of the 2013 legislative session.

Senate, House agree on permitting legislation despite groups' sustained opposition

by Bruce Ritchie - 3 weeks ago - +
Photographers on the House floor gather and focus on Rep. Jimmy Patronis, R-Panama City, as he explains the Senate action on his HB 999 permitting bill before the House voted to concur. Disparaged by environmentalists even though "the worst sect
The Florida Chamber of Commerce says HB 999 is among the bills that will make Florida more competitive economically. But environmentalists still didn't like it after getting fertilizer and wetlands language removed. "It's still a collection of bad ideas," said Eric Draper, executive director of Audubon Florida.

PSC's Lisa Edgar runs into rough patch in Senate before winning confirmation

by Bruce Ritchie - 3 weeks ago - +
Sen. Jack Latvala, chairman of the Committee on Ethics and Elections, said he didn't support her because she sides with utilities and because questions had been raised about her eight-year tenure on the commission. But other senators pointed out that she made it through two committee votes without opposition and without personal issues being raised.

Senate sends nuclear bill to governor as Florida Supreme Court rejects challenge to 2006 law

by Bruce Ritchie - 3 weeks ago - +
Senate votes 40-0 to send SB 1472 revising the 2006 nuclear cost recovery law to the governor. The Florida Supreme Court unanimously rejected a challenge by the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy to the law. The group had argued that the law was too vague and that the Legislature turned over its authority to the Public Service Commission.

LobbyTools is seeking talent

by LobbyTools - 3 weeks ago - +
We're looking for smart, energetic, team-players who excel in the areas of policy analysis, research, writing, data journalism, sales, marketing and account management; who have a passion for politics and policy; who want to work with Florida's legislative information market leader. Full, part-time, contract, intern and residency opportunities available. Send resumes to careers@lobbytools.com.

Nuclear bill passes House, returns to Senate as critic says legislation was "hijacked"

by Bruce Ritchie - 3 weeks ago - +
Rep. Jose Felix Diaz, R-Miami and chairman of the House Energy & Utilities Subcommittee, explains SB 1472 revising the state's nuclear cost recovery law during debate on the bill Wednesday. Photo by Bruce Ritchie.
Rep. Mike Fasano says the former Progress Energy Florida gained by a bill amendment approved Tuesday. But Rep. Jose Felix Diaz says it "goes a lot further than anybody thought we could." The bill passed 104-12 and now goes back to the Senate.

Senate nuclear bill ready for a vote in House

by Bruce Ritchie - 3 weeks ago - +
Bill was amended in House under an agreement to send SB 1472 back to the Senate, Rep. Jose Felix Diaz said.

'We're very comfortable with where we are,' Weatherford says

by Bruce Ritchie - 3 weeks ago - +
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, right, talks with Sens. Joe Abruzzo, D-West Palm Beach, and Oscar Braynon, D-Miami Gardens, after the Senate passed SB 306 dealing with tax breaks for the Miami Dolphins stadium. House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesle
The Florida House on Monday dealt with more than 80 noncontroversial bills before finishing up work at 1:10 p.m. With medical malpractice, nuclear cost recovery and stadium legislation not being heard, Weatherford says some issues are still being worked out off the House floor or are awaiting Senate action.

Senate passes bill revising 2006 nuclear cost recovery law

by Bruce Ritchie - 4 weeks ago - +
Differences remain between SB 1472 and the House bill, HB 7167. The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy says it favors the Senate bill while Florida Power & Light Co. and Progress Energy Florida are opposed to any changes in the law.

Week in Review for April 26

by Florida Current Staff - 4 weeks ago - +
This week we learned that House Speaker Will Weatherford says if state employee pension changes aren't approved this year, they will come back again, and that Gov. Rick Scott is on the lookout for lawmakers' special projects as he advocates for his priorities.

'Fracking' bills hit and miss, while ethanol repeal heads to Scott

by Bruce Ritchie - 4 weeks ago - +
Rep. Ray Rodrigues, R-Estero, waits to be recognized Wednesday during questioning on his HB 745 just before he asked that the bill involving public records for hydraulic fracturing be temporarily postponed. Photo by Bruce Ritchie.
A bill that requires disclosure to the state of chemicals used in fracking has gained opposition as it moved through the House. It passed 92-19 but a companion bill exempting trade secrets from the public records law was temporarily passed. HB 4001 repealing the state ethanol requirement passed 33-1 without debate after being hotly contested in the House.

DEO bill would re-route oil spill fine dollars from 8 Gulf counties

by Bruce Ritchie - 4 weeks ago - +
A 100-page delete-everything amendment to SB 1024 would create Triumph Gulf Coast Inc. to distribute money for the disproportionately affected counties, according to an analysis by the Gulf Consortium. "It's a major concern to Franklin County," County Commissioner Pinki Jackel told The Florida Current.

The Week in Review for April 19

by Florida Current Staff - 5 weeks ago - +

Renewable energy bill passes House, heads to Senate's rocky ground

by Bruce Ritchie - 5 weeks ago - +

Senate amends ethanol bill to match House bill's repealing requirement

by Bruce Ritchie - 5 weeks ago - +

House, Senate nuclear cost recovery bills clear final committee stops

by Bruce Ritchie - 5 weeks ago - +

Bill repealing ethanol requirement clears House; differences remain with Senate version

by Bruce Ritchie - 6 weeks ago - +

House subcommittee answers Senate with its own bill revising nuclear cost recovery

by Bruce Ritchie - 6 weeks ago - +
2013 Session Summaries

Budget & Taxes

Economic Development

Education

Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture

Ethics and Elections

Gaming

Health Care

Insurance

Law Enforcement and Justice

Real Estate and Growth Management

State and Local Administration

Utilities and Energy

Popular Utilities and Energy News
Oil industry eyes South Florida again
(Miami Herald)
Legislator asks Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam to study costs of nuclear vs. natural gas
(Tampa Bay Times)
Florida House rejects attempts to repeal nuclear fees
(Miami Herald)
Duke Energy rolls out new logo in Florida
(Tampa Bay Business Journal)
Legislators In The News
Rep Will W. Weatherford
Rep Will W. Weatherford
(R Wesley Chapel)
Sen Alan Hays
Sen Alan Hays
(R Umatilla)
Sen Don Gaetz (D)
Sen Don Gaetz (D)
(R Niceville)
Rep Karen Castor Dentel
Rep Karen Castor Dentel
(D Maitland)
Sen Aaron Bean
Sen Aaron Bean
(R )
Sen Geraldine F. Thompson
Sen Geraldine F. Thompson
(D )
Rep Elaine Schwartz
Rep Elaine Schwartz
(D Hollywood)
Rep Lori Berman
Rep Lori Berman
(D Lantana)
Rep Jimmie T. Smith (J)
Rep Jimmie T. Smith (J)
(R Inverness)
Rep Ben Albritton
Rep Ben Albritton
(R Wauchula)