Board postpones vote on energy solutions

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published October 20, 2007

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ORLANDO - The Florida Energy Commission on Friday delayed key votes on greenhouse gas reduction, renewable energy and car pollution standards - halted by outcries from utility companies and disagreement among its own members.

The commission must advise the Legislature by January on several energy solutions, from green standards for new buildings to mandating climate and energy science classes in Florida schools.

Most controversial was a proposal identical to Gov. Charlie Crist's mandate this summer to slash greenhouse gas emissions. The proposal would return pollution to 2000 levels by the year 2017, to 1990 levels by 2025 and 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. The orders do not require approval from the Energy Commission, but were included as a measure of support.

Bud Para, a spokesman for Jacksonville Electric Authority, said the 2017 goal was unobtainable. He said more nuclear power plants and renewable sources are already needed just to accommodate the state's influx of 1,000 people a day.

Commissioner John O'Brien, head of an energy consulting company, said the state would begin to see warming signs by the time the standards took place, and the debate would be different then.

Utilities also opposed a measure requiring them to allow all Florida residents interconnection to the electricity grid, enabling people to produce their own energy and sell it back or get price breaks.

Vehicle emission standards also met opposition, though it was virtually all from Commissioner Bill Cramer, a Panama City auto dealer. The proposed standards on cars and light-duty trucks aim to reduce global warming pollution from new vehicles almost 30 percent by 2016.