Despite the upbeat tone of the just-ended first Florida Energy Summit in Orlando, many of the event's 550 participants admitted they hold out little hope of the state Legislature cobbling together strong renewable energy policy in 2012.
"It's clear from what we've observed here this week, the folks in the corridors of power aren't in any hurry to push renewable energy in Florida," said now-retired Miami attorney Dunston Heard. Heard served in the U.S. Navy as an oil and gas attorney for 12 years.
"Even Mary Bane (adviser to Gov. Rick Scott on energy policy), was dancing around renewable policy," he said.
"We're coming up to an election year. Legislators who want to be re-elected -- and they all do -- aren't going to risk backing something like this. Renewable energy costs a lot to develop, it's going to mean imposing new taxes and fees and it ain't going to happen."
Heard said this ought to be a good time to be running a small solar, biomass or wind energy company. But it's not. New-energy technology has ramped up considerably in the last decade, he said, but it will take significant investment to make any real difference. Investment no lawmaker would go to the wall for.
State Rep. Seth McKeel, R-Lakeland, who serves on the House State Affairs Committee, longed for a reconsideration of clean coal. He said the Public Service Commission's 2007 decision under Gov. Charlie Crist to reject new coal plants was a huge mistake. He claims it was just as absurd as the nation's decision 30 years ago to stop building new nuclear power plants.
"The decision to remove clean coal from the table wasn't the right one," McKeel said.
Participants showed how diverse their backgrounds and interests are when Sunshine State News asked them to identify the single largest stumbling block to creating sound renewable energy policy in Florida.
Here are a few of their answers:
Gregory Knowles, strategic energy analyst for the Defense Logistics Agency in the Middle East: "The biggest problem I see is moving from the defense logistics testing and decertification phase into the supply chain." It means, he says, a company can have a good product, it can be proved workable, but there's a logjam getting it put to use.
David R. Mica, executive director, Florida Petroleum Council, Tallahassee: "Stability is the real problem I see. For example, you can't promise people giant energy rebates unless you've got the money to pay for them."
Susan T. Schleith, education coordinator, Florida Solar Energy Center, Cocoa: "We don't have the rebates and incentives other states have to encourage the expansion of renewable energy like solar."
Scott Osbourn, environmental engineer for the consulting firm Golder Associates, Tampa: "Cost is the biggest stumbling block. Look at Orlando Utilities. The majority of their customers are low-end. They can't afford the bill they're getting now. If they did more with renewables, it would cost ratepayers even more."
Nicholas C. Gladding, attorney, Adams and Reese LLP, Sarasota: "Without a doubt the problem is lack of a renewable portfolio standard. It's a policy failure on the part of the Legislature."
(Below is the speech delivered by Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Adam Putnam, opening the Florida Energy Summit.)
Reach Nancy Smith at nsmith@sunshinestatenews or at (850) 727-0859.
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