Group Says Renewable Energy Could Produce 95,000 Florida Jobs

The Florida Alliance for Renewable Energy says alternative power sources hold the key for employment in the state.

"In the November TaxWatch Survey, 80 percent of Floridians agreed that it is time for our Legislature to take action on renewable energy, and 70 percent of Floridians agreed that they would be willing to pay $1 or more per month in order to achieve renewable energy," said Mike Antheil, head of FARE.

"With 1,096,000 out of 9,233,000 workersunemployed in the state of Florida, our citizens, our businesses and our elected officials have all embraced the job creating power that achieving renewable energy can bring. An estimated 95,000 jobs could be createdwith the development of 1.5 GW of solar projects."

Though FARE cites solar power, other renewable sources -- including homegrown biomass, wind and even ocean currents -- are in the mix.

Antheil urges the 2011 Legislature to "carefully considerthe methods of renewable energy development that create the most long-term jobs, keep the most amount of money reinvested in local communities, attract the most widespread private investments,create the mostdistributed and secure energy grid, andare most cost-effective to the ratepayers."