Climate: Renewable Energy, Sea-Level Impact Projections, Electric Vehicle Charging Stations |
HB 5401, filed by the House Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee, is a budget-conforming bill that transfers the Office of Energy within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services by a type-two transfer to the Department of Environmental Protection.
This bill, among other things, requires DEP to administer the Florida Renewable Energy and Energy-Efficient Technologies Grants Program, develop policy for requiring grantees to provide royalty-sharing or licensing agreements with state government for commercialized products developed under a state grant, administer the Florida Green Government Grants Act, administer information gathering and reporting functions, administer the provisions of the Florida Energy and Climate Protection Act, advocate for energy and climate change issues, and provide educational outreach and technical assistance in cooperation with the state's academic institutions and be a party in the proceedings to adopt goals and submit comments to the Public Service Commission. The House passed this bill on Thursday with a vote of 76-40.
SB 0178, Public Financing of Construction Projects by Senator Rodriguez (D-Miami), took another step forward in the legislative process this week. This bill requires a Sea-Level Impact Projection (SLIP) study to be conducted for any state-financed construction in coastal areas. The bill requires DEP to adopt rules establishing standards for the SLIP studies, and the standards must include certain requirements for how the studies will be conducted and the information they must contain. On Thursday in the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Environment and General Government, Senator Rodriguez introduced an amendment to align the bill with its House companion (HB 0579), removed previous links to other resiliency bills, and amended its effective date. The bill passed the committee with 9 yeas and one nay.
SB 7018, Electric Vehicle Charging Station Infrastructure, by the Infrastructure and Security Committee and Senator Lee (R-Brandon), requires the Public Service Commission, together with the Department of Transportation and the Office of Energy within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, to develop and recommend a plan for the development of electric vehicle charging station infrastructure along the State Highway System. The bill also requires the plan to include recommendations for legislation. Senator Lee introduced the amendment, which generated much discussion in the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Environment and General Government. |
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