Gov. Green vs. Gov. Biotech
Biotech is passe. Biofuels are hip. - Where Jeb Bush staked his legacy on making Florida a hub for the biosciences, Charlie Crist has embraced the environment. - Though it is early in his term, Crist has put his considerable political capital behind the cause of climate change, holding summits, signing international agreements and unveiling alternative energy deals from biomass to solar.
By By Kris Hundley, Times Staff Writer
Published October 15, 2007
Biotech is passe. Biofuels are hip. - Where Jeb Bush staked his legacy on making Florida a hub for the biosciences, Charlie Crist has embraced the environment. - Though it is early in his term, Crist has put his considerable political capital behind the cause of climate change, holding summits, signing international agreements and unveiling alternative energy deals from biomass to solar. - Bush wanted to bring brainpower and ground-breaking scientific medical advances to Florida. Crist wants to save the planet. - While the new governor's gung-ho green campaign might be seen as a way to establish an identity, it also reflects key differences in personality from his predecessor. A Republican, Crist still won't hesitate to criticize the state's powerful insurance and utility industries. He is far more populist than probusiness. - Crist's crusade also takes into account the state's fiscal realities. During Florida's boom years, Bush was able to offer up millions in tax incentives to lure biotech researchers to the state. With state revenues on the skids, Crist needed a cause that would incite enthusiasm without immediately tapping people's pocketbooks. - St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker, who has been involved in both governors' initiatives, say there are more similarities between Crist and Bush than might appear. - "It's not an either/or thing," Baker says. "SRI International, brought here under Gov. Bush, does both biotech and alternative energy programs. And I believe alternative energies and the research and development relating to it are going to be one of the top drivers of our economy for the next 25 to 30 years."
The governor's cause
Crist: Combating global warming.
Bush: Encouraging biotech research and development.
The progress
Crist: Utilities have announced plans to use everything from sunshine to wood waste to meet his mandate to cut carbon dioxide emissions and get 20 percent of energy from renewable sources.
Bush: More than a half-dozen biotech research operations have opened in Florida, starting with Scripps Research Institute in Palm Beach County.
The cost
Crist: The biggest planned investment has been Florida Power & Light's $1.5-billion to build a solar thermal facility in south Florida.
Bush: Public dollars have funded more than $1-billion in incentives to attract research organizations to the state.
The star power
Crist: Championing the environment has led to photo opportunities with A-listers Bill Clinton, Brad Pitt and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Bush: His biotech lobbying had him hobnobbing with Nobel Prize winners and world-renowned scientists.
What they're saying about Gov. Crist
"He's heads and shoulders above his predecessor on the environment. Crist is clearly going to need the cooperation from the legislature for many of his environmental initiatives. What helps is his popularity among Floridians."
Mark Ferrulo, director, Environment Florida
"We have a fear of Florida becoming noncompetitive. We don't want to be like California. The governor's holding up the wrong gold standard. He should pick a place that's done a better job for business and consumers on the cost of energy and energy reliability."
Barney Bishop, president and CEO of Associated Industries of Florida, a statewide trade association
"The momentum in biotech honestly hasn't slowed down. And in fact, our work is not at all disassociated with Crist's energy initiative because the biotech industry is leading the effort in biofuels. But we personally haven't had much direct interaction with the governor."
C. Russell Allen, president and CEO, BioFlorida, a biotech trade group
"I'm excited about Gov. Crist's efforts to promote business development while being very sensitive to the environmental impacts. They are compatible goals and the catalyst to bring them together is Gov. Crist."
Fred Leonhardt, lawyer with Gray Robinson and director of Enterprise Florida
"Crist clearly wants to be known as a more moderate Republican. He has readthe public mood very well. It's the times that shape the politician, rather than the other way around. That's contrary to what most people - and most politicians - believe."
Larry Sabato, director, Center for Politics, University of Virginia
"The potential to integrate greener approaches into the fabric of Florida's economy is unlimited. But we must be willing to embrace the free-market approach - not European-style big government mandates."
Marco Rubio, R-West Miami, House speaker