Governor’s Action Team on Energy and Climate Change Oct. 5 Meeting Update

Oct 8, 2007

 

21-member panel works to meet first report deadline of November 1 

 

Click here to view the meeting notice.  Click here to view the agenda.

TALLAHASSEE – Governor Charlie Crist addressed his Action Team on Energy and Climate Change at its third meeting on October 5, 2007 in the Capitol. Chaired by Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Michael W. Sole, the 21-member team is developing strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and diversify Florida’s energy resources.

“The Action Team continues to work with state, national and international leaders as well as the public as we carefully consider strategies to help further reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said DEP Secretary Sole, who the Governor appointed as Chairman of the Action Team. “The Team’s November 1 report will provide recommendations related to electric utilities and the transportation sector as well as others to further our state’s long-term climate-friendly efforts. This diverse group of stakeholders is making great progress in our charge to help protect our beautiful state.”

At the meeting, members identified some “consensus concepts” to begin outlining recommendations for the November 1 report to the Governor. Members also heard from three representatives of Florida electrical utilities on their perspectives of the issues within the Action Team charge as well presentations regarding greenhouse gas emissions associated with the transportation sector.

Presentations included:

Perspectives of Florida’s Electric Utilities–Jeff Lyash, President and CEO, Florida Progress Energy, Randall LaBauve, Vice President

Environmental Services, Florida Power & Light–Barry Moline, Executive Director, Florida Municipal Electric Association

Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Florida’s Transportation Sector and Actions Taken to Date to Reduce Emissions–Joe Kahn, Director of Air Resources Management, Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Land Use, and Transportation in Florida–Charlie Gauthier, Director of Community Planning, Department of Community Affairs, Bob Romig, Director of Policy Planning, Department of Transportation

The Action Team received public comment at the meeting about proceedings to date and recommendations for the November 1 report. Further public comment can be provided electronically to actionteam@dep.state.fl.us.

The Governor’s Action Team is one component of a series of initiatives outlined in three Executive Orders Governor Crist signed in July, 2007 at the Serve to Preserve Summit on Global Climate Change. Other activities include developing a carbon scorecard for all state agencies and making state buildings and vehicles more energy efficient.

The Action Team will work to strengthen existing public-private partnerships and voluntary industry participation through programs such as DEP’s Green Lodging Program and Clean Boating Partnership.

To sign up for free email alerts about Florida’s current climate change activities, see the presentations from the meetings, or for more information, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/climatechange.

Background on Energy Action Team

Governor Crist established the Action Team on Energy and Climate Change by signing Executive Order 07-128, “Florida Governor’s Action Team on Energy and Climate Change,” on July 13, 2007. The team consists of 21 members, each appointed to a term beginning August 13, 2007, and ending at the pleasure of the Governor. The team will develop an Action Plan to achieve targets for statewide greenhouse gas reductions, including policy recommendations and changes to existing law. The Florida Energy and Climate Change Action Plan will be completed in two phases:

Phase One – Completion Date: November 1, 2007
The action team will make recommendations regarding Florida’s energy policy, including legislative initiatives to enhance energy and conservation by incorporating greenhouse gas emission strategies as well as strategies to diversify fuels used to generate electricity. Phase one also will establish policies for emission reporting and will create a registry to measure and document emission reductions. The action team will evaluate reducing greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles and will develop a plan for increasing renewable transportation fuels.
 
Phase Two – Completion Date: October 1, 2008
Phase two will focus on mitigating impacts to society, public health, the economy and the environment created by greenhouse gas emissions from new growth. The action team will explore carbon capture and store technologies and will coordinate a long-term public policy focused on reducing greenhouse gases in areas of economic development, university-based research and technology development, energy, environmental protection, natural resource and growth management and transportation.
 

Rulemaking Workshops

In accordance with Executive Order No. 07-127 signed by Governor Crist on July 13, 2007, the department is initiating three rulemaking projects aimed at reducing Florida’s greenhouse gas emissions. The first rulemaking project involves greenhouse gas emissions reductions from electric utilities.

Rule workshops were held August 22 and 23 Tallahassee. The first rulemaking workshop on August 22 involved greenhouse gas emissions reductions from electric utilities. The second rulemaking workshop addressed adopting the California motor vehicle emissions standards, and the third workshop addressed development of a diesel idle reduction standard.

The Department did not offer any rule proposals at these workshops. The purpose of these initial workshops is to provide an opportunity for interested persons to provide comments and recommendations to the department at the outset of the proposed rule development projects. Persons who were unable to attend the workshops are invited to submit written comments to the Division of Air Resource Management. Please submit written comments and recommendations by September 21, 2007, to:

Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Division of Air Resource Management
2600 Blair Stone Road, MS 5500
Tallahassee, FL 32399-2400
For Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction/Electric Utilities, Attention: Larry George  (larry.george@dep.state.fl.us)
 

For California Motor Vehicle Emissions Standards, Attention: Sandy Bowman (sandy.bowman@dep.state.fl.us )
For Diesel Idle Reduction Standard, Attention: Sandy Bowman (sandy.bowman@dep.state.fl.us)

Please copy Lynn Scearce (lynn.scearce@dep.state.fl.us), at the same address above, on comments submitted on any of the three projects.

Additional rule workshops are tentatively scheduled for some time in October to continue taking public comments on the issues related to all three executive orders. When specific workshop times are set, those will be posted on this web site.

For each of the greenhouse gas rulemaking projects, the division has established separate e-mail distribution lists. Please email Lynn Scearce (lynn.scearce@dep.state.fl.us) or call at 850-921-9551 to add, remove or update any e-mail address for future distribution of greenhouse gas rulemaking updates.

Rulemaking Workshops

 

 

Should you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact this office.

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