By Timothy Charles Holmseth
Biodiesel Magazine
05/09/08

An energy bill set to come before Florida Gov. Charles Crist would bring a wealth of renewable fuels standards and changes to the state, including a statewide carbon cap-and-trade system, an E10 mandate by 2010, and a $6.5 million in annual investment tax breaks for biofuels.

Sterling Ivey, press secretary for Florida Gov. Crist, said the bill is not on the governor’s desk yet, but he is planning to sign it. Ivey added, Crist is hoping to sign it at the 2008 Serve to Preserve Florida Summit on Global Climate Change June 25-26 in Miami, Fla.

In April, Crist applauded the Florida Legislature for passing the bill which will increase energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy throughout Florida, while adopting a strategy for businesses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. House Bill 7135, has been approved by the Florida Senate and the Florida House of Representative. Governor Crist must also sign it before it becomes law.

“I want to thank Senate President Ken Pruitt, House Speaker Marco Rubio, Senator Burt Saunders and Representative Stan Mayfield for their leadership in securing Florida’s green energy future,” Crist said, in a press release.

The legislation authorizes the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to develop a cap-and-trade regulatory program, which gives businesses flexibility in meeting standards to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It also creates a renewable fuel standard and a renewable portfolio standard that gives added weight to wind and solar energy over other forms of renewable energy. Building codes for newly constructed buildings and appliances for new commercial and residential buildings will also be more energy efficient.

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