Adam Putnam-Supported Energy Plan Passes House in Landslide
Submitted by Anonymous on March 5, 2012 - 4:47pm
By an overwhelming vote Monday, the Florida House of Representatives approved an energy plan championed by Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and designed to reduce the state's dependence on natural gas for its energy needs.
Putnam hailed the passage of the bill, HB 7117, which is designed to expand renewable-energy production tax credits, allows local governments to use discretionary sales tax revenue to assist homeowners who make energy-efficiency improvements, and diversify the state's sources of energy. Energy now comes almost exclusively from natural gas pumped in along two pipelines from the Gulf Coast.
Floridas House of Representatives sent a clear message today that Florida is ready to diversify its energy portfolio, expand energy production and create much-needed jobs for Floridians, Putnam stated in a release.
The 113-1 vote on the plan included one political oddity. Though Stephen Precourt, R-Orlando, cast the lone dissenting vote, Eric Eisnaugle, R-Orlando, who is running against Precourt in a new district that pits them head to head, changed his vote later from yea to nay.
The plan still requires approval in the Senate.
The plan is less ambitious thanefforts in past years that have failed to advance through the Legislature or have seen little implementation because of unrealistic goals. The last energy plan to be approved by the Legislature was one championed by Gov. Charlie Crist in 2007.
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