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Cleaner, greener future
By
JANET ZINK
Published May 14, 2007
St. Petersburg Times
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/05/14/State/Cleaner__greener_futu.shtml
Florida lawmakers this year passed an ambitious energy bill that
touches everything from construction to alternative fuels to
energy awareness. Among other things, HB 7123 earmarks
$20-million for an experimental ethanol plant at the University
of Florida, sets goals for state fleets to use fuel made from
plant materials and expands a sales tax holiday for
energy-efficient appliances. The bill now awaits Gov. Charlie
Crist's signature. Here's a look at other key pieces of the
legislation.
Green
building
The
bill requires that all city and county buildings be constructed
to national standards for energy efficiency and environmental
impact. That can add to the cost of construction, but supporters
say it saves money overall by reducing operation costs. St.
Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker is skeptical. "We're very supportive
of doing things for the environment, " he says, but "it's one
more thing that's going to cost us more money." But Tampa Mayor
Pam Iorio says such requirements will one day be routine "and we
will wonder why we built buildings any other way."
Biofuel incentives
The
bill includes a 5-cent-per-gallon payment to biofuel producers
and retailers, and proposes study of a loan guarantee program
for certain kinds of ethanol plants. Those could be a big boon
to people like Bradley Krohn, president of U.S. EnviroFuels.
Krohn hopes to build the state's first ethanol production plant
in Hillsborough County. He calls the Florida energy bill "a
catalyst to stimulate production, use and demand for ethanol."
Greenhouse gases and renewable energy
These
provisions require the state to keep track of carbon emissions
and set goals for meeting energy needs through renewable
sources. It means polluters like TECO and Progress Energy will
have to report their carbon emissions to the state. Eventually,
this could lead to limits on emissions and taxes or other
requirements of those who exceed them.
Green
schools
The
bill earmarks $3.5-million in grants for construction of three
green schools. Pasco school officials say they're already
planning to apply for a grant to help build a green elementary
school. The bill also requires that by 2008, at least 20 percent
of total diesel fuel purchases by school districts be biodiesel
from plant sources. Key words in this provision may be "subject
to availability." Tom Callahan, supervisor of transportation
maintenance for Pasco schools, says the district last year tried
to buy biodiesel for its fleet, but vendors said none was
available.
Farm
to fuel initiatives
Last
year, the Legislature appropriated $12.5-million to look for
ways to turn Florida crops into fuel. This year's bill boosts
that amount to $37.5-million. That's good news for Hillsborough
County strawberry farmer Mike Lott, who now grows cantaloupes in
the off-season. If research shows that crops such as sorghum and
grass can be used for ethanol, he might eventually switch.
"Everybody is interested in seeing where this goes, " he says.
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