Topic: Energy Conservation

Senators praise Commission Chairman Art Graham and former Rep. Ronald Brisè during a confirmation hearing. After the unanimous votes, a Southern Alliance for Clean Energy representative reiterated her group's disagreements with the PSC on nuclear cost recovery and energy conservation goals for utilities.

The vote largely along party lines followed vigorous debate over the pipeline and HB 281, which urges the president to approve the Keystone XL pipeline. Meanwhile, solar energy supporters released a poll indicating Floridians would oppose allowing utilities to charge a separate fee on solar energy.

The agriculture commissioner outlined his energy proposals before a House subcommittee including cutting a tax on commercial use of energy roughly in half and shifting the remaining $225 million per year in revenue to the Public Education Capital Outlay (PECO) Fund. He also said he doesn't think there is an appetite for renewable energy legislation this year.

Speaking at the Florida Energy Summit in Orlando, Putnam says he will propose a $250 million reduction in sales taxes that businesses pay for energy. And he says revenue from the other half of the tax would go to the Public Education Capital Outlay Fund, which pays for school construction and maintenance programs but has been strapped for revenue in recent years. ... Related Research: Excerpts from Commissioner Adam Putnam's Remarks given at the Florida Energy Summit.

HB 269 would revise a 2008 law to allow state agencies to consider various green certification standards on a project-by-project basis rather than following LEED certification. This week, the group ForestEthics in Seattle filed a Federal Trade Commission complaint contending that the rival Sustainable Forestry Initiative program represents timber industry "greenwashing." ... Related Research: Several articles and editorials about the issue.

Critics say gasoline containing ethanol still will be sold in Florida because of a federal ethanol production requirement. Bill supporters said government should not be mandating what fuels motorists have to buy. ... Related Research: Governor's Transmittal Letter for HB 4001, and April 16, 2013 Florida Biofuels and Bioenergy Association press release.

Three years after the state completed work on LEED-certified Department of Revenue buildings, HB 269 would call on agencies to decide on a project-by-project basis which certification standards are used. Bill supporters point to a lack of Florida forest acreage qualified in the certification program. ... Related Research: Staff analysis of HB 269, amendment and several news releases.

Diaz, who once was on the TV show "The Apprentice" with Donald Trump, said he will meet with subcommittee staff to discuss energy issues including nuclear cost recovery. "This is part of the heartache of this whole process," Diaz said.