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Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy and the Lake Area Economic Development (LEAD) co-hosted an update summarizing the clean energy, resilience, and sustainability outcomes from the recent Florida Legislative Session. The recap featured State Senator Jason Brodeur, chair, Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government. Key highlights from the discussion, include:
SB 284: Senator Brodeur discussed this bill that he sponsored and was passed that amends the way the state evaluates the total cost of ownership (TCO) when buying fleet vehicles. Today the metric is miles/gallon of gasoline, which does not address vehicles running on LNG or electricity. Electric vehicles, in particular, are much more available now and already often have a lower total cost of ownership over the lifetime of the vehicle, therefore the state needed to update its purchasing metrics.
- A portion of SB 284 originally included a revision to the way in which solar and charging projects are permitted. Specifically, Senator Brodeur, sought to have solar and EV charger installers treated similarly to other contractors performing a single function, such as installing a roof, to be eligible for an expedited permitting process. In order to achieve the larger TCO goal of the bill, this provision was eliminated when agreement on the details was not possible. The senator will continue to advocate for this change in the future.
Wildlife Corridor: A major milestone for the Florida Legislature and the senator was the passage of the Wildlife Corridor running from Naples to Orlando. There will be walking and bike trails (no cars) connecting this now protected area. This will also create significant opportunities for chambers of commerce/member businesses in terms of increased tourism dollars, and will reduce carbon emissions via preservation of the land and flora.
Sustainable waters: The Florida Legislature also passed new rules with respect to failing septic systems and pollution of waterways. In conjunction with these rules, Florida is also introducing oyster and clam fishing as tools to remediate contaminated waters. These measures will address numerous issues and help protect the manatee population.
The senator touched on additional issues, including prescription drugs and homeowners insurance. View the full 30-minute session here. For a recap on the wide array of electrified cars and trucks available today, check out the video of EV Day at the Capitol.
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