Renewable Energy Bill Passes Senate Committee

A bill allowing electric utilities to increase bills as much as 2 percent each year in order to invest in creating renewable, alternative sources of energy, passed the Senate Energy and Public Utilities.

An amendment offered by Sen. Thad Altman, R-Viera, would have required 20 percent of the renewable energy created to be bought from smaller producers, but it failed in an 11-3 vote.

Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, also offered an amendment that would have prevented utilities from imposing cost recovery fees on nuclear power plants and projects that are in limbo. That amendment failed in a 9-5 vote.

"Now, with what's happening in Japan, who knows when we'll see another nuclear power plant being built in the country, not even the state," Fasano said.

Fasano voted against the overall bill, which received overwhelming support.

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