Florida should adopt rules to require 100% alternative fuels

Natalia Brown and Delaney Reynolds
·3 min read

Early this year, over 200 young people sent a letter to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services urging our state to set goals for achieving 100% renewable energy by 2050.

The fossil fuel based energy system harms both public health and security. The effects of pollution, including planet-warming greenhouse gases, are disproportionately borne by low-wealth communities, communities of color and youth.

These groups contribute little to the causes of climate change. Meanwhile, they lack the resources to adapt to rising temperatures, more frequent and less predictable storms, and sea level rise.

Solar panels at Florida Power and Light's renewable energy plant in Parrish.
Solar panels at Florida Power and Light's renewable energy plant in Parrish.

These disparities will grow if our leaders fail to address the dangers of the fossil fuel-based energy system. Florida leadership is past due in setting enforceable renewable energy goals that create opportunities and minimize harm.

Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried embraced the youth petition and proposed rules for electric utilities to reach 100% renewable energy by 2050. These new rules would require utilities to submit their 10-year plans to the agriculture department, so that it can evaluate the utilities’ progress in meeting the goals. It would then require the department to report the utilities’ progress to the Florida Public Service Commission, the governor, and the legislature each year.

Yale University and George Mason University found that a majority of Floridians support policies that require:

  • Utilities to produce more electricity from renewable sources.

  • State lawmakers to address the causes and impacts of climate change.

  • The private sector and large corporations to address climate change.

The department's proposed rules would guide utility companies and public officials to comply with Florida law that requires an increase in the use of renewable energy at an achievable and scientifically supported pace. Now, it is incumbent upon the Florida Public Service Commission to ensure that the rule is enforced and benefits everybody fairly.

Solar panels on a home in Lakeland
Solar panels on a home in Lakeland

We urge the commission to initiate its own rulemaking and establish an equitable standard that ensures:

  • At least 66% of renewable energy comes from distributed energy resources, such as rooftop solar and community solar.

  • At least 25% of renewable energy generation is community-governed, such as through public power or cooperative utilities.

  • Residents of rural, minority, low-income and underserved neighborhoods are involved in the planning and evaluation for energy development.

  • Generation sources are prioritized based on least environmental impacts.

The Public Service Commission must ensure that the proposed goals and transparent reporting are achieved. So, the agriculture department's Office of Energy must make sure that appropriate resources and shared understanding are established so that the commission can implement and enforce the new rules.

Natalia Brown
Natalia Brown
Delaney Reynolds
Delaney Reynolds

Florida should take advantage of its renewable energy potential to protect the health and security of Floridians — now and for generations to come. It is only becoming more affordable for consumers and producers to embrace renewable energy.

We can no longer enable the fossil fuel-based system to profit off those who have contributed the least to climate change. Now is the time for everybody to benefit.

Natalia Brown is climate justice program manager at Catalyst Miami and serves on the steering committee of the Miami Climate Alliance. Delaney Reynolds is lead petitioner for the Department of Agriculture's 100% renewable energy rulemaking. This essay is part of “The Invading Sea” series of the Florida Climate Reporting Network, a collaborative of news organizations across the state focused on the threats posed by the warming climate.

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This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Natalia Brown, Delaney Reynolds: Florida should phase out fossil fuels