Governor’s Action Team on Energy and Climate Change Holds First Meeting

• Overview of Market-Based Tools & Florida’s experience with other pollutants
  Paul Sotkiewicz, Director of Energy Studies, Public Utility Research Center at the University of Florida
   
• Carbon Markets in Action: Key Lessons and Design Considerations from Other Nations, Regions and States
  Judi Greenwald, Director of Innovative Solutions, Pew Center on Global Climate Change
   
• Broadening Carbon Markets with Carbon Offsets
  Mike Burnett, Executive Director, The Climate Trust

The Governor’s Action Team is one component of a series of initiatives outlined in three Executive Orders Governor Crist signed 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.

Future meetings are tentatively set for September 18, and for days during the first and fourth weeks of October (weeks of October 1 and October 22) – all in Tallahassee. More information will be posted at the web site area as dates are confirmed. Public comment will be taken on September 18, and the public is invited to submit public comment through the Web site at any time.

To sign up for free email alerts about Florida’s current climate change activities and 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.

Secretary Michael W. Sole of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) serves as chairman of the Action Team on Energy and Climate Change, and DEP will provide administrative support. The Department of Community Affairs, Department of Transportation, Public Service Commission and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will also provide assistance at the request of the chairman.