Florida Unveils State Plan For Climate Action Now

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The Florida Action Team on Energy and Climate Change has
released a Phase 2 report
outlining 50 specific policy recommendations aimed at combating climate change
in the state.

According to the report’s Executive
Summary, “Now is the time for strategic investment in Florida’s low-carbon
energy infrastructure if we are to be successful in diversifying the state’s
economy, creating new job opportunities, and positioning Florida’s ‘green tech’
sector as an economic engine for growth.”

The 50 recommendations released by Florida’s
Action Team could reduce emissions 64 percent and save $28 billion by 2025.
According to Grist.org,
the recommendations include expanding the state’s sources of energy and
reducing overall demand, founding a cap-and-trade system, and adapting
strategies to address existing effects of global warming.

In July 2007, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist
signed a set of Executive
Orders that represent Florida’s commitment to address the threats posed by
climate change, reduce greenhouse gases, and increase energy efficiency and use
of renewable energy sources.

“From the business perspective, we’re setting the stage for
Florida to take a leadership role, creating energy policies that really create
incentives and market mechanisms to lead the way in the development of clean
and renewable technologies,” said Armando Olivera, president and CEO of Florida
Power & Light and a member of the Action Team. “As with any technologies,
the first movers have an advantage.”