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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida, perhaps the state hardest hit by sea level rise and extreme weather, is poised to repeal the remnants of a 16-year-old law that makes climate change a priority in energy policy decisions. Instead, the state would make energy affordability and availability its primary focus.
A bill awaiting signature by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis would remove the term “climate change” from much of state law, reversing a policy of then-Gov. Charlie Crist campaigned to earn a reputation as one of the rare Republicans committed to promoting green energy over fossil fuels.
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While Florida stands out for having a vast coastline and being flat – Miami averages about 6 to 7 feet (2 meters) above sea level – the chairman of the House Infrastructure Strategies Committee said it also presents unique challenges and The legal formulation of climate change makes it more difficult to meet them.
“We protect consumers, we protect consumer prices, we protect them with great reliability and we protect to ensure that our state does not lack energy security. That’s where we’re moving with our policies,” said Republican Rep. Bobby Payne.
But critics say now is not the time to back down on climate policy, including Crist, who is now a Democrat and most recently served in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“It is disappointing to see a sustained downturn in the wrong direction, especially when Florida, with its coastline, is likely the most vulnerable to sea level rise. I mean, if we don’t take care of it, who will?” Crist said. “This breaks my heart.”
In 2008, the bill to combat climate change and promote renewable energy passed unanimously in both legislative chambers. Crist signed the bill with great fanfare at an international climate conference he hosted with guests including then-California Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
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But Payne said the Crist-era law makes it harder for the state to meet its energy needs more flexibly.
“When he invited Arnold Schwarzenegger to the environmental summit in Miami, it was a good sign that his ideologies on reliability and costs clashed with those of the public,” Payne said.
After Crist left office in 2011, Gov. Rick Scott, now a U.S. senator, undid much of what Crist had enacted. This year’s bill repeals the remainder. The bill passed the legislature with support from Republicans and opposition from Democrats. It still hasn’t reached DeSantis, whose office hasn’t responded to multiple emails asking for his position on it.
Payne, who worked in the energy industry for nearly four decades before retiring, said he is not convinced that humanity’s energy consumption is destroying the planet. He also points out that three-quarters of the state’s energy is provided by natural gas, making it vulnerable to market fluctuations.
The massive energy legislation he has shepherded through the Legislature prevents local governments from enacting some energy policy restrictions and deemphasizes clean energy by allowing wind turbines or installations outside or within a mile (less than 2 kilometers) of the coast will be banned.
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Eliminates the requirement that government agencies hold conferences and meetings in hotels certified by the state environmental agency as “environmentally friendly accommodations” and that government agencies make fuel efficiency a top priority when purchasing new vehicles.
Brooke Alexander-Gross of the Sierra Club’s Florida chapter said removing climate change from state law won’t solve the problem, but she’s not optimistic DeSantis will veto the bill.
“Having that language there really encourages a lot of people to take a look at what climate change actually is, and it’s disappointing to see a governor in a state like ours removing that language, which is bad for him and his administration.” “Actually, the only option is to ignore everything that’s going on,” she said.
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