Secretary Colleen
M. Castille’s Letter to Governor Bush
Governor Jeb Bush
The Capitol
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
Dear Governor Bush:
Since your issuance of Executive
Order #05-241 on November 10, 2005, the Department of
Environmental Protection has worked diligently to gather
information toward a comprehensive energy plan for the
State of Florida. As directed in your Order, the Department
explored options for diversifying Florida’s electric
generation capacity, increasing and diversifying transportation
fuel supply and increasing the State’s conservation
and efficiency initiatives.
Nationwide, demand for energy
and transportation fuel is outpacing supply. At times
over the last 18 months the margin of spare capacity
in the oil market has fallen from the historic norms.
In addition, the storms and hurricanes of 2004 and 2005
impacted lives and properties in a way we have never
experienced before, severely disrupting petroleum and
oil production and the nation’s fuel supply systems.
Production platforms in the Gulf of Mexico were shut
down, pipelines were inoperable, and refining systems
were off line for months – exposing our vulnerability
and reliance on natural gas.
By evaluating Florida’s
current and future energy supply and demand, the Department
has developed a suite of recommendations, built on the
principals of conservation and efficiency, which provide
the foundation for a far-reaching energy plan. In developing
its proposals, the Department adopted two guiding principles:
reliance on markets and no new taxes. Instead of mandates,
recommendations rely on the power of the marketplace,
using targeted incentives and government’s purchasing
power to stimulate the free market. Consumers have already
been impacted with rising fuel costs – government should
not add to that burden.
The Department is recommending
that legislation be introduced during the 2006 Regular
Legislative Session to increase capacity and diversify
Florida’s electric generation and transportation fuel
supply by:
-
Amending Chapter
403.519, Florida Statues, to allow the Florida
Public Service Commission to consider fuel diversity
and fuel reliability as factors when determining
the need for new electric generation.
Administratively, the Department
will immediately begin working with other state agencies
and entities to improve energy diversity, sustainability,
efficiency and conservation statewide by:
-
Facilitating redundant
and diverse petroleum supply and distribution
mechanisms into and within Florida.
-
Encouraging fueling
stations to adopt a generator sharing program
before the upcoming hurricane season as a cooperative
method for allocating generators and reestablishing
temporary power service after storm events.
-
Fostering a state-level
partnership with local planning boards to encourage
well-designed transportation and transit systems
within new community development.
An adequate, reliable, diverse,
efficient and affordable energy supply, coupled with
a long-term commitment to energy conservation, is vital
for maintaining Florida’s growing economy and quality
of life. Florida must act now to respond to growing
demand and to overcome the vulnerabilities highlighted
by the hurricanes. We look forward to finalizing a comprehensive
energy plan that will provide long-term energy security
for the State of Florida.
Sincerely,
Secretary Colleen M Castille
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Florida's Energy Plan
|
Recommendation
|
Responsible
Party
|
Legislation
|
Administrative
|
Policy
|
|
ELECTRICITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
DIVERSITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
Streamline and expedite the siting and
permitting of generation resources by revising
the provisions of the Florida Electrical
Power Plant Siting Act. By 2006, reduce
the average processing time for new power
plants by three months while maintaining
opportunities for public input and protecting
Florida’s environment.
|
DEP, SITING
BOARD
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
| 2
|
Streamline and expedite the siting and
permitting of electric transmission and
distribution resources by revising the provisions
of the Florida Electrical Transmission Line
Siting Act. By 2006, reduce the average
processing time for new transmission resources
by three months while maintaining opportunities
for public input and protecting Florida’s
environment.
|
DEP, SITING
BOARD
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
|
3
|
Promote fuel diversity, fuel supply reliability
and energy security.
|
PSC
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
| 4
|
Facilitate additional fuel delivery mechanisms
in Florida for power generation. Expedite
all State permits required for redundancies
and increased capacity.
|
DEP, TRUSTEES
|
|
|
Y
|
|
5
|
Adopt updated interconnection standards
to include all distributed generation technologies.
|
PSC
|
|
Y
|
|
|
6
|
By September 1, 2006, establish an energy
council of diverse stakeholders to provide
policy advice and counsel to the Governor,
Speaker of the House and Senate President.
|
DEP
|
|
|
Y
|
|
CONSERVATION
|
|
|
|
|
|
7
|
Expedite State performance contracting
with Energy Service Companies. By 2006,
State government should generate energy
savings of over $1 million or 3.5 million
kilowatt hours annually as a result of these
contracts.
|
DMS, DFS,
OTHER
|
|
|
Y
|
| 8
|
Promote awareness of energy conservation
and alternative energy technologies.
|
DEP
|
|
|
Y
|
|
9
|
Use discretionary enforcement authority
to allow approved alternative energy projects
that provide a greater public benefit in
lieu of civil monetary penalties.
|
DEP
|
|
Y
|
|
|
10
|
Require all new State government building
construction to meet the U.S. Green Building
Council’s Leadership in Environmental Design
standards. Encourage local governments and
community developers to adopt high performance
green building practices.
|
DMS, DCA
|
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
ECONOMIC INCENTIVES
|
|
|
|
|
|
11
|
Provide grant funding for research and
demonstration projects associated with the
development and implementation of renewable
energy systems. Expand solar, hydrogen,
biomass, wind, ocean current and other emerging
technologies. By 2007, the grant
portfolio should realize an aggregate return
on investment greater than two to one.
|
DEP
|
Y
|
|
|
|
12
|
Identify alternative energy production
and distribution industries as Qualified
Target Industries.
|
OTTED, ENTERPRISE
FL, DOR
|
|
Y
|
|
|
13
|
Provide consumer and commercial rebates
to assist with initial cost of photovoltaic
and solar thermal technology installations
on residential and commercial buildings.
By 2007, achieve at least 725 new solar
installations in Florida.
|
DEP, FSEC
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
|
14
|
Provide consumer rebates for purchases
of energy efficient ENERGY STAR appliances.
By 2007, achieve an energy savings of 20
million kilowatt hours per year.
|
DEP, FSEC
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
15
|
Provide sales and corporate tax incentives
for the manufacture, purchase and use of
fuel cells for supplemental and backup power.
Grow demand for hydrogen energy technologies
by 100 percent over the next two years.
|
DEP, DOR
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
|
TRANSPORTATION
|
|
|
|
|
|
DIVERSITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
Facilitate additional and diverse petroleum
supply and distribution mechanisms into
and within Florida. Expedite all State
permits required for redundancies and increased
capacity.
|
DEP, TRUSTEES
|
|
|
Y
|
|
2
|
Encourage fueling stations to cooperatively
use the Florida Warn System to facilitate
the relocation and use of generators to
reestablish service. By June 1, 2006,
register 10 percent of Florida’s fueling
stations as participants in the network.
Double participation by June 1, 2007.
|
DEP, FL Petroleum
Industry
|
|
|
Y
|
|
CONSERVATION
|
|
|
|
|
|
3
|
Foster state-local partnerships to encourage
well-designed transportation and transit
systems between established communities
and within new community development.
|
DEP, DCA
|
|
|
Y
|
|
4
|
Raise public awareness for alternative
fuel vehicles through public programs. Encourage
public entities, including school districts
and local governments, to use biofuels in
fleets.
|
DEP
|
|
|
Y
|
|
ECONOMIC INCENTIVES
|
|
|
|
|
|
5
|
Provide grant funding for applied research
and demonstration projects associated with
the development and implementation of alternative
fuel vehicles and other emerging technologies.
By 2007, the grant portfolio should realize
an aggregate return on investment greater
than two to one.
|
DEP
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
|
6
|
Provide sales and corporate income tax
credits for hydrogen vehicles and fueling
infrastructure. By 2007, increase
demand for mobile hydrogen technologies
by 50 percent.
|
DEP, DOR
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
|
7
|
Provide corporate sales and income tax
incentives to improve production, develop
distribution infrastructure and increase
availability of clean fuels, including biodiesel
and ethanol. By 2007, spur growth in the
supply of alternative fuels in Florida by
50 percent.
|
DEP, DOR
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
|
2012 State of Florida