GOOD NEWS FIRST – RECYCLING BILL ON HOUSE COMMITTEE AGENDA!

Sent in by Steve Urse/Sierra Club

Please call today to SUPPORT 
Rep. Rehwinkle-Vasilinda’s Recyling HB 1559!

This bill will be conformed with the Senate bill down the road, but we need to get it passed in the House.  This is the last week for regularly scheduled committee meetings in the House so it is great that the bill is on the agenda for Agriculture and Natural Resources on Thursday afternoon.  The Chair is Rep. Trudi Williams.  Please be sure to thank her for agendaing the bill and for supporting it.

We have recycling bills in both the House and Senate this year, so let’s help them along.  The bill calls for Enterprise Florida to work with DEP to create a Recycling Business Assistance Center (RBAC).  The RBAC is essential because collecting recyclables and stockpiling them does not do the job.  The materials have to be processed and used to make new goods that can be sold.  In this way, we will reduce the impact on our natural resources and save a great in deal of energy.  After all, with recycled materials the paper, aluminum, glass, etc has already been obtained from virgin stock, processed, and transported to Florida’s communities.  The RBAC will help develop recycling related businesses that will process the materials, remanufacture them, and sell the newly manufactured goods. All of this activity will create JOBS! 

The bill also calls for reducing the amount of solid waste disposed of in landfills by 50% in 2012, 55% in 2014, 60% in 2016, 70% in 2018, and 75% in 2020.

If at all possible, please call instead of emailing because telephone calls are more personal and are harder to skip over or delete.  But email if you can’t call.  Thank You!

House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee 2010

Name       District   District City      Local Phone     Email

Leonard Bembry           10         Madison          (850) 488-7870 leonard.bembry@myfloridahouse.gov

Debbie Boyd                 11         High Springs    (850) 488-9835 debbie.boyd@myfloridahouse.gov

Mary Brandenburg        89         Lake Worth      (850) 488-0260  mary.brandenburg@myfloridahouse.gov

Dwight M. Bullard (D)    118       Miami              (850) 488-5430  dwight.bullard@myfloridahouse.gov 

Rachel Burgin               56         Tampa             (850) 488-9910  rachel.burgin@myfloridahouse.gov

Steve Crisafulli             32         Merritt Island    (850) 488-4669  steve.crisafulli@myfloridahouse.gov

Greg Evers                     1          Milton              (850) 488-8188  greg.evers@myfloridahouse.gov

Rich Glorioso                62         Plant City         (850) 488-0807  rich.glorioso@myfloridahouse.gov

Bill Heller                       52       St. Petersburg   (850) 488-5719  bill.heller@myfloridahouse.gov

Paige Kreegel                  72     Punta Gorda     (850) 488-9175  paige.kreegel@myfloridahouse.gov

V. Ch.Debbie Mayfield    0        Vero Beach      (850) 488-0952  debbie.mayfield@myfloridahouse.gov

Jimmy T. Patronis           6        Panama City    (850) 488-9696  jimmy.patronis@myfloridahouse.gov

Chair Trudi Williams (T)  75      Ft. Myers         (850) 488-2047  trudi.williams@myfloridahouse.gov

Clean Energy Advocates & Offshore Drilling Opponents We Need You!

Jump-Start Florida's Economy and Stop the Threat of Risky Offshore Drilling 

Help Pass Clean Energy Jobs Legislation this Session

March 22nd and 23rd 2010 - Florida State Capitol, Tallahassee - This session, the Florida Legislature will decide Florida’s energy future.  Will our elected officials choose to unleash innovation and investment in a clean energy economy in our state, or will they fail to act? 

Renewable energy in Florida is poised to expand the state’s economic base, benefit electricity customers, and create good jobs while reducing global warming pollution.  Last year, the Florida Public Service Commission delivered a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) rule to the Legislature for ratification that adopted Governor Crist’s goal of 20% renewable energy by 2020 – 29 states have already enacted a RPS to capture economic and environmental benefit of renewable resources for their residents. Yet, the Florida Legislature – specifically the House of Representatives failed to act last year.

This year, it’s more critical than ever to expand our economic base by putting Florida squarely on the path to a clean energy economy. Please join us in Tallahassee March 22nd and 23rd for a Lobby Day to deliver a message to our state legislative leaders that it’s time to act to promote a sustainable energy future. 

Event Itinerary

Monday, March 22nd
6:00 pm – Meet and Greet Reception with special guests (details TBD)

Tuesday, March 23rd
8:00 am – Breakfast provided at The Tennyson (Room – TBD)
8:30 am – 9:30 am – Lobbying 101 Training (Tennyson Meeting Room)
9:30 am on – *Lobbying on the Hill (Lunch on your own)

Wednesday, March 24th
The House Energy and Utilities Policy Committee typically meets on Wednesdays; however the schedules have not yet been released.  As soon as the committee times are known we will let you know of the opportunity to attend.

*Once we’re on the Hill visiting lawmakers, we will not reconvene as a group and departure times will depend on your individual appointments with legislators. You should plan for lunch on your own in The Capitol Cafeteria or one of the nearby downtown restaurants.

Monday, March 29th
Lobby Day Debriefing Conference Call – time TBD

Deadline to register is Wednesday, March 17th.

Register Here

BRADENTON HERALD | GUEST COLUMNIST Solar energy bills vital for jobs - Opinions - Wire - BradentonHerald.com

BRADENTON HERALD | GUEST COLUMNIST Solar energy bills vital for jobs - Opinions - Wire - BradentonHerald.com

By Bill Johnson

Commentary

Manatee and Sarasota counties have displayed long-standing leadership on clean energy, clean air and clean energy job creation.

In Manatee County these efforts began in the 1990s due to air pollution concerns from Tampa and a planned, highly polluting oil-fired power plant at Port Manatee.

Today, Port Manatee has an opportunity to be a hub for renewable energy.

The Manatee County Commission recently approved plans by Florida Power & Light to construct a 75-megawatt solar thermal plant. This plant will be similar to the one under construction in Martin County, which has created a thousand construction jobs.

It must be satisfying for county leaders like Commissioner Joe McClash, who successfully fought the oil-fired plant at Port Manatee, to now be part of approving a state-of-the-art renewable energy plant at the same site.

However, this wonderful opportunity is contingent upon the Florida Legislature passing meaningful renewable energy legislation during the 2010 legislative session. Last year the Legislature failed this test.

The good news is there are two bills filed in Tallahassee that would allow the Port Manatee solar thermal project as well as projects such as a 75-megawatt solar photovoltaic plant at Babcock Ranch. The even better news is these bills are sponsored by our local delegation of Sens. Mike Bennett and Nancy Detert.

Both senators are actively seeking ways to develop the clean energy economy our region is poised to lead, creating economic diversification and the next generation of jobs and profits.

Sen. Detert has introduced SB 596, which mirrors the “Clean Energy” bill that passed overwhelmingly in the Florida Senate but did not pass the House. This bill would require utilities to generate 20 percent of their power from nuclear and renewable energy sources by the year 2020.

Sen. Detert’s bill would create thousands of local jobs across the state; it is a jobs bill first and an environmental bill second.

Wisely understanding that one of the impediments to the passage of last year’s legislation was the 20 percent mandate, Sen. Bennett has crafted legislation designed to bridge that political divide and position Florida to maintain its national leadership in clean energy.

SB 1186 would not force anyone to do anything, but it would allow the Public Service Commission to authorize 735 megawatts of renewable energy over the next three years. This would represent a game-changing investment in renewable energy.

One of the smart elements of Sen. Bennett’s bill is that the legislation advances distributed solar power in an unprecedented manner.

As part of the 735 megawatts, Bennett’s bill authorizes 35 megawatts of distributed rooftop or ground-mounted solar projects.

In the realm of distributed solar, 35 megawatts represents a rapid expansion of small-scale solar, the likes of which Florida has never experienced.

To provide a clear picture of what 35 megawatts represents, imagine 180 20,000-square-foot roofs in our local cities being covered with solar panels in a mere three short years.

For a local solar contractor like me, this is a huge opportunity to create jobs and provide energy security for the communities in which we live and work.

Florida cannot afford delay. Renewable energy is a proven job creator, but this opportunity rests with Florida legislators and their ability to work together for the people of Florida.

Entrepreneurs like myself stand ready all across Florida to be a pivotal part of Florida’s economic resurgence.

Bill Johnson, is president of Brilliant Harvest, a solar energy company based in Lakewood Ranch.

"Florida's Next Decade of Renewable Energy" - FARE 2010 Annual Conference

Friday March 26th, 27th, 28th, 2010 - at the Gaylord Palms, Orlando, Florida

This event is will serve as the most important opportunity for active participants in the renewable energy industry to come together, show our unity and speak as one collective voice during the 2010 Legislative Session.
Discussions will feature renewable energy experts and speakers from around the State, the country and the globe. Topics will cover technologies including biomass, solar, wind & more as well as policy and legislative topics, and renewable energy relevent to agricultural, retail, commercial, industrial and government applications.

TOPICS:
Florida's Energy Portfolio
Energy Security
Innovations in Industry
Municipal Approach to Renewables
Trickle Down Economics of Renewable Energy
Renewable Energy Finance
Pending Legislation
Florida's Natural Clean Energy Source
Attendees will include our coalition partners from the agricultural community, renewable energy advocates & activists, businesses from across the state and the region, industry value chain and service providers, real estate and investment professionals, legislators and local government officials.

Speakers:

Keynote Speaker: Rhone Resch, President, Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA)
Live Video Address from: R. James Woolsey Former CIA Director
Friday Keynote Speaker: Paul Gipe, Alliance for Renewable Energy (ARE)

Also: 
Jay Levenstein - Deputy Commissioner, Florida Department of Agriculture
Ed Regan - Gainesville Regional Utilities
Deb Doncaster - Canada Power Fund
Andrew Walmsley - Florida Farm Bureau
Richard Pinsky - Governmental Policy Expert
John Joshi - Capital Fusion Partners
Jamie Schlinkman - Inerjy
Scott Pogue - Eglin Air Force Base
Michael Goldstein - Florida Brownfields Association

For Event Information and Registration:

FARE 2010 Annual Conference & Golf Tournament 

"We need something like this for Florida" - Energy Co-ops seems to be picking up steam.

An article that I wrote in November, 2009 about President Obama's visit to FPL's solar field in DeSoto County, FL -has created an ongoing conversation amongst my readers. The history can be found here:


 President Obama, FPL Solar Array, and Me.
 "FPL's token solar project" - a response from a reader.
 FPL's response to a reader on the DeSota solar project

We took a group from Charlotte NC to Gainesville FL where they are DOING what you talk about in your remarks....and making it work really fast (less than a year!)  I met with Gainesville Regional Utility Strategic Analyst, John Crider, and he spent a couple hours explaining how it works using local distributed solar from small business/resident sources.  A group of us from Charlotte later met with the Utility, their Mayor (Copenhagen attendee), a local business and his solar installer/financier for several hours.  Their municipal owned electric company has eliminated the need for a new coal plant PLUS brought all sorts of green JOBS and prosperity to their City!  Their Mayor, Pegeen Hanrahan, and City Council, as well as the Chamber of Commerce and everyone in town were part of their rapid success! 

Last week, Joel Olsen of o2energies, as a Director of NC Sustainable Energy Alliance, presented a panel to Charlotte area business/legislative/energy people.  Gainesville Mayor, Mecklenburg County Commissioner and the head of Duke Energy's Charlotte Operation were on the panel (had been to Germany to study their use of feed-in-tariffs being employed there also).  The event went well, EXCEPT that the Duke people made the same tired comments about it being too expensive and not feasible because the sun doesn't always shine, the price is way too high, etc.  Notably, they kept comparing the costs of such a plan against OLD prices for existing coal and nukes.  As Joel points out, even the newspaper article bought into it although the TRUE COSTS must be compared with NEW construction....and then solar WINS.  ( I understand from GRU's Strategic Analyst, that solar will achieve grid parity within 5 years using this financing tool versus 15 years without it).  

We need something like this for Florida.  ( Do you )Know of other electric coops or municipal power companies in FL?  As I recall, Seminole Electric is a group of Coops in Northern Florida.  We should start working on them first.    

I am excited about my Peedee Electric Coop in Wadesboro, NC because we can easily do this with our own power lines!  

Even Duke, FPL and Progress need to be required to commit to a simple program that uses local distributed energy.  They can charge enough to make it profitable with administrative costs, Smart Grid, etc.  To me, the real stumbling block is these insane subsidies both NC and FL have (and now Obama) for nuke plants that will evaporate millions of gallons of fresh water per reactor per day in times of drought!  Not to mention the Weapons, Waste and Wall Street-won't-touch-the-risk issues being foisted on an unsuspecting public.

On a level playing field, solar and wind would quickly overtake fossil fuels and new nukes.  When I get back to NC in April, I have lined up a few members of my electric coop and some state officials to push for a feed-in-rate plan that will empower my local area. 

This is one sure path to solving not only energy problems, but many of the economic, political, environmental and social issues we face.  It works because it is simple, honest and sustainable.

Deb Arnason, Wadesboro, NC   

-Member of Greenroots Community Group formed at Energy Efficiency Community Block Grant public meetings in November 2009, met with Charlotte Mayor Foxx in December, 2009. We traveled to Gainesville Florida Jan 29, 2010 to bring back information on their successful Rooftop Revolution model similar to Germany using Feed-In-Rates. http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2009/0903.blake.html

Articles in the Gainesville Sun on the day of our visit:
Vision of the Future - Innovative Gainesville Economic Development Plan Unveiled
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20100129/ARTICLES/1291014
Jobs Created in 2009 Highlighted at Chamber of Commerce Event http://www.gainesville.com/article/20100129/ARTICLES/1291012