Energy plan taking shape in Florida Legislature

A wide-ranging energy bill passed Monday by the Senate will be vetoed by Gov. Jeb Bush if it reaches his desk with a provision that calls for an independent energy commission.

The governor shouldn't lose the authority to appoint advisory commissions, Bush said.

"Not going to happen," he said. "If it's in the bill, it will kill the bill. Let me be clear. I am very cautious about doing that. I'm respectful of the legislative process, and all I ask is that members of the Legislature with the best intentions do the same."

Under the measure, consumers could get sales tax rebates on purchases of energy efficient appliances. The bill would also cut red tape for utilities seeking sites for new power plants and lines, provide grants for renewable energy development and offer limited tax incentives for solar energy devices, hydrogen powered vehicles and a pair of alternative fuels, biodiesel and ethanol.

Consumers would be able to get rebates by mail when they buy energy efficient appliances any time during the year, and the bill also would declare a "tax holiday" on such purchases from Oct. 5 through Oct. 11.

A House version of the bill (HB 1473) includes the tax holiday - which came as a suggestion from Bush - but lacks the year-round rebates. It also creates the Florida Energy Council, to be housed within the Department of Environmental Protection.

Despite Bush's comments, the Senate version (SB 888) passed unanimously. Its sponsor, Sen. Lee Constantine, R-Altamonte Springs, advocated for his proposal before the vote.

"This is our ... attempt to get ourselves ahead of the curve when it comes to energy policy whether it be incentives, whether it be in siting, whether it be as a commission that will look at the long term policies available to us so that we can stop and reduce our dependency on foreign and other oil," he said.

Dan Hendrickson, a lobbyist for the Sierra Club, said Constantine's bill shows too much support for nuclear plants, coal companies that release harmful carbon into the air and waste burning factories that release dioxin, another harmful chemical. Meanwhile, solar and wind energy outlets receive too little money, he said.

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