The Florida Energy and Climate Commission met for the last time before being dismantled Monday, reviewing grants funded by federal stimulus money and state grant programs.
Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill earlier this month that eliminates the three-year-old energy panel, placing part of its functions under Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and keeping some in his office. The bill takes effect Friday.
Some commissioners bemoaned the breakup of the panel. Under the reorganization, a new energy panel will be set up under Putnams office, with statewide energy policy set by Scotts office. Climate considerations wont be as prominent.
Were taking the word climate out of our deliberations, and thats a mistake, said Commissioner Kathy McLeod. We can take the word 'climate' out of our name, but it doesnt change the fact that climate change is happening, she added.
McLeod warned of the dire consequences of not assuming the validity of global warming and climate change.
Although most Republicans and conservatives vehemently deny the truth of human activity-induced climate change, and most Democrats and progressives push for greater environmental protections to mitigate its effects, she said the issue shouldnt be partisan and noted that Republican presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman both recognize global warming as fact.
The pope -- the popemobile is being rebuilt as a hybrid. If the Vatican is getting engaged, shouldnt we? McLeod said.
Other commissioners on the panel applauded the work of their colleagues and staff, but hoped some of their efforts would continue under the reorganization.
Commissioner Christian Poindexter, who acted as a liaison for the Energy and Climate Commission to the Clean Energy Investment Program, wanted to ensure that role would continue to be filled by Putnams office. He said it would help businesses pull down grants for investing in renewable or clean energy technologies by streamlining the application process.
One of the issues has been the timeliness of the applications of these funds before the grants become live, Poindexter said.
Meanwhile, Scott is working on developing his energy policy.
During the last legislative session, his energy plan was largely unformed, as the new administration focused solely on job creation. Scott has recently appointed Mary Bane, a former Public Service Commission director, as his energy policy coordinator, but an official statewide energy policy is yet to be announced.
Before disbanding, the Energy and Climate Commission took one last look at the energy-related grants Florida pulled down as part of the $787 billion federal stimulus package signed by President Barack Obama in February 2009.
As of Friday, Florida has spent $22.72 million of the $49.87 million stimulus funds allotted for grants designed to help businesses, state agencies and local governments develop and use clean or renewable energies or promote energy conservation programs.
Nonstimulus energy-related state grants totaled $20.4 million, of which, $11.7 million has been spent as of June 20.
Reach Gray Rohrer at grohrer@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
