Florida 2025 Regular Session

Florida House Bill H0621 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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3	3	HB 621 2025
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10	10	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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14	14	A bill to be entitled 1
15	15	An act relating to state renewable energy goals; 2
16	16	amending s. 366.91, F.S.; revising the definition of 3
17	17	the terms "biomass" and "renewable energy"; amending 4
18	18	s. 377.24, F.S.; prohibiting the drilling or 5
19	19	exploration for, or production of, oil, gas, or other 6
20	20	petroleum products; amending s. 377.242, F.S.; 7
21	21	prohibiting permitting and construction of certain 8
22	22	structures intended to drill or explore for, or 9
23	23	produce or transport, oil, gas, or other petroleum 10
24	24	products; amending s. 377.803, F.S.; revising the 11
25	25	definition of the term "renewable energy"; creating s. 12
26	26	377.821, F.S.; requiring that all electricity used in 13
27	27	the state be generated by renewable energy by a 14
28	28	specified date; requiring statewide net zero carbon 15
29	29	emissions by a specified date; directing the Office of 16
30	30	Energy within the Department of Agriculture and 17
31	31	Consumer Services, in consultation with other state 18
32	32	agencies, state colleges and universities, public 19
33	33	utilities, and other private and public entities, to 20
34	34	develop a unified statewide plan to generate the 21
35	35	state's electricity from renewable energy and reduce 22
36	36	the state's carbon emissions by specified dates; 23
37	37	requiring state and public entities to cooperate as 24
38	38	requested; providing plan requirements; requiring the 25
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47	47	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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51	51	office to submit the plan and updates to the Governor 26
52	52	and Legislature; creating s. 377.8225, F.S.; creating 27
53	53	the Renewable Energy Workforce Development Advisory 28
54	54	Committee in the Office of Energy within the 29
55	55	Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; 30
56	56	providing for committee membership and duties; 31
57	57	providing a definition; directing the Commissioner of 32
58	58	Agriculture to prepare and submit a specified annual 33
59	59	report to the Legislature; providing an effective 34
60	60	date. 35
61	61	36
62	62	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 37
63	63	38
64	64	Section 1. Paragraphs (b) and (e) o f subsection (2) of 39
65	65	section 366.91, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 40
66	66	366.91 Renewable energy. — 41
67	67	(2) As used in this section, the term: 42
68	68	(b) "Biomass" means a power source that is comprised of, 43
69	69	but not limited to, combustible residues or gases fro m forest 44
70	70	products manufacturing, waste or coproducts, byproducts, or 45
71	71	products from agricultural and orchard crops, waste or 46
72	72	coproducts from livestock and poultry operations, waste or 47
73	73	byproducts from food processing, urban wood waste, separated 48
74	74	municipal food, yard, or solid waste, or municipal liquid waste 49
75	75	treatment operations , and landfill gas. 50
76	76
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84	84	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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88	88	(e) "Renewable energy" means electrical energy produced 51
89	89	from a method that uses one or more of the following fuels or 52
90	90	energy sources: hydrogen produced or resulti ng from sources 53
91	91	other than fossil fuels, biomass, solar energy, geothermal 54
92	92	energy, wind energy, ocean energy, and hydroelectric power. The 55
93	93	term includes the alternative energy resource, waste heat, from 56
94	94	sulfuric acid manufacturing operations and electrical energy 57
95	95	produced using pipeline -quality synthetic gas produced from 58
96	96	waste petroleum coke with carbon capture and sequestration. 59
97	97	Section 2. Subsection (10) is added to section 377.24, 60
98	98	Florida Statutes, to read: 61
99	99	377.24 Notice of intention to drill well ; permits; 62
100	100	abandoned wells and dry holes. — 63
101	101	(10) Notwithstanding this section, chapter, or other law, 64
102	102	without exception, the drilling or exploration for, or 65
103	103	production of, oil, gas, or other petroleum products are 66
104	104	prohibited on the lands and waters of the state. 67
105	105	Section 3. Section 377.242, Florida Statutes, is amended 68
106	106	to read: 69
107	107	377.242 Permits for drilling or exploring and extracting 70
108	108	through well holes or by other means. —The department is vested 71
109	109	with the power and authority: 72
110	110	(1)(a) To issue permits for the drilling for, exploring 73
111	111	for, or production of oil, gas, or other petroleum products 74
112	112	which are to be extracted from below the surface of the land, 75
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121	121	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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125	125	including submerged land, only through the well hole drilled for 76
126	126	oil, gas, and other petroleum product s. 77
127	127	1. A No structure intended for the drilling for, or 78
128	128	production of, oil, gas, or other petroleum products may not be 79
129	129	permitted or constructed on any submerged land within any bay or 80
130	130	estuary. 81
131	131	2. A No structure intended for the drilling for, or 82
132	132	production of, oil, gas, or other petroleum products may not be 83
133	133	permitted or constructed within 1 mile seaward of the coastline 84
134	134	of the state. 85
135	135	3. A No structure intended for the drilling for, or 86
136	136	production of, oil, gas, or other petroleum products may not be 87
137	137	permitted or constructed within 1 mile of the seaward boundary 88
138	138	of any state, local, or federal park or aquatic or wildlife 89
139	139	preserve or on the surface of a freshwater lake, river, or 90
140	140	stream. 91
141	141	4. A No structure intended for the drilling for, or 92
142	142	production of, oil, gas, or other petroleum products may not be 93
143	143	permitted or constructed within 1 mile inland from the shoreline 94
144	144	of the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean, or any bay or estuary 95
145	145	or within 1 mile of any f reshwater lake, river, or stream unless 96
146	146	the department is satisfied that the natural resources of such 97
147	147	bodies of water and shore areas of the state will be adequately 98
148	148	protected in the event of accident or blowout. 99
149	149	5. Without exception, after July 1, 1989 , a no structure 100
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158	158	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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162	162	intended for the drilling for, or production of, oil, gas, or 101
163	163	other petroleum products may not be permitted or constructed 102
164	164	south of 26°00′00″ north latitude off Florida's west coast and 103
165	165	south of 27°00′00″ north latitude off Florida's east coast, 104
166	166	within the boundaries of Florida's territorial seas as defined 105
167	167	in 43 U.S.C. s. 1301. After July 31, 1990, a no structure 106
168	168	intended for the drilling for, or production of, oil, gas, or 107
169	169	other petroleum products may not be permitted or constructed 108
170	170	north of 26°00′00″ north latitude off Florida's west coast to 109
171	171	the western boundary of the state bordering Alabama as set forth 110
172	172	in s. 1, Art. II of the State Constitution, or located north of 111
173	173	27°00′00″ north latitude off Florida's east coast to the 112
174	174	northern boundary of the state bordering Georgia as set forth in 113
175	175	s. 1, Art. II of the State Constitution, within the boundaries 114
176	176	of Florida's territorial seas as defined in 43 U.S.C. s. 1301. 115
177	177	(b) Subparagraphs (a)1. and 4. do not apply to permitting 116
178	178	or construction of structures intended for the drilling for, or 117
179	179	production of, oil, gas, or other petroleum products pursuant to 118
180	180	an oil, gas, or mineral lease of such lands by the state under 119
181	181	which lease any valid drilling permits are in effect on the 120
182	182	effective date of this act. In the event that such permits 121
183	183	contain conditions or stipulations, such conditions and 122
184	184	stipulations shall govern and supersede subparagraphs (a)1. and 123
185	185	4. 124
186	186	(c) The prohibitions of subparagraphs (a)1. -4. in this 125
187	187
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195	195	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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199	199	subsection do not include "infield gath ering lines," provided no 126
200	200	other placement is reasonably available and all other required 127
201	201	permits have been obtained. 128
202	202	(2) To issue permits to explore for and extract minerals 129
203	203	which are subject to extraction from the land by means other 130
204	204	than through a well hole. 131
205	205	(3) To issue permits to establish natural gas storage 132
206	206	facilities or construct wells for the injection and recovery of 133
207	207	any natural gas for storage in natural gas storage reservoirs. 134
208	208	135
209	209	Each permit shall contain an agreement by the permitholder that 136
210	210	the permitholder will not prevent inspection by division 137
211	211	personnel at any time. The provisions of this section 138
212	212	prohibiting permits for drilling or exploring for oil in coastal 139
213	213	waters do not apply to any leases entered into before June 7, 140
214	214	1991. Notwithstanding this section, chapter, or other law, 141
215	215	without exception, a new structure intended to drill or explore 142
216	216	for, or produce or transport, oil, gas, or other petroleum 143
217	217	products may not be permitted or constructed on the lands or 144
218	218	waters of the state. 145
219	219	Section 4. Subsection (4) of section 377.803, Florida 146
220	220	Statutes, is amended to read: 147
221	221	377.803 Definitions. —As used in ss. 377.801 -377.804, the 148
222	222	term: 149
223	223	(4) "Renewable energy" means electrical, mechanical, or 150
224	224
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232	232	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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236	236	thermal energy produced from a method that uses one or m ore of 151
237	237	the following fuels or energy sources: hydrogen, biomass, as 152
238	238	defined in s. 366.91, solar energy, geothermal energy, wind 153
239	239	energy, ocean energy, tidal energy waste heat, or hydroelectric 154
240	240	power. 155
241	241	Section 5. Section 377.821, Florida Statutes, is crea ted 156
242	242	to read: 157
243	243	377.821 State renewable energy goals. — 158
244	244	(1) By 2050, 100 percent of the electricity used in the 159
245	245	state will be generated from 100 percent renewable energy as 160
246	246	defined in s. 377.803. By 2051, the state will have net zero 161
247	247	carbon emissions state wide. 162
248	248	(2) The Office of Energy within the Department of 163
249	249	Agriculture and Consumer Services, in consultation with other 164
250	250	state agencies, state colleges and universities, public 165
251	251	utilities, and other private and public entities, is directed to 166
252	252	develop a unified statewide plan to generate 100 percent of the 167
253	253	state's electricity from renewable energy by 2050 and reduce the 168
254	254	state's carbon emissions to net zero by 2051. All public 169
255	255	agencies, state colleges and universities, and public utilities 170
256	256	must cooperate with the office as requested. 171
257	257	(3) The plan must: 172
258	258	(a) Include interim goals to reach 50 percent renewable 173
259	259	energy statewide by 2040, 40 percent reduction in carbon 174
260	260	emissions statewide by 2030, and 80 percent reduction in carbon 175
261	261
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269	269	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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273	273	emissions statewide by 2041 . 176
274	274	(b) Require: 177
275	275	1. All private coal -fired and oil-fired electric 178
276	276	generating units to reach zero emissions by 2030. 179
277	277	2. All private natural gas -fired units to reach zero 180
278	278	emissions by 2045, prioritizing reductions by those with higher 181
279	279	rates of emissions and those in and near environmental justice 182
280	280	communities. 183
281	281	3. All municipal natural gas -fired units to reach zero 184
282	282	emissions by 2045, unless the units are converted to green 185
283	283	hydrogen or similar technology that can achieve zero carbon 186
284	284	emissions. 187
285	285	4. All units that use combined heat and power or 188
286	286	cogeneration technology to reach zero emissions by 2045, unless 189
287	287	the units are converted to green hydrogen or similar technology 190
288	288	that can achieve zero carbon emissions. 191
289	289	(c) Provide recommendations for creating: 192
290	290	1. A coal to solar program to support the transition of 193
291	291	coal plants to renewable energy facilities. 194
292	292	2. A commission on market -based carbon pricing solutions. 195
293	293	3. An electric generation task force to investigate carbon 196
294	294	capture and sequestration. 197
295	295	(4) Achieving 100 percent renewable energy generation is 198
296	296	intended to provide unique benefits to the state, including all 199
297	297	of the following: 200
298	298
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306	306	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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310	310	(a) Displacing fossil fuel consumption within the state. 201
311	311	(b) Adding new electrical generating facilities in the 202
312	312	transmission network. 203
313	313	(c) Reducing air pollution, particularly criteria 204
314	314	pollutant emissions and toxic air contaminants. 205
315	315	(d) Contributing to the safe and reliable operation of the 206
316	316	electrical grid, including providing predictable electrical 207
317	317	supply, voltage support, lower line losses, and congestion 208
318	318	relief. 209
319	319	(e) Enhancing economic development and job creation in the 210
320	320	clean energy industry. 211
321	321	(5) The plan must consider the potential impact of 212
322	322	existing and additional renewable energy incentives and programs 213
323	323	with an emphasis on solar and distributed resources, including 214
324	324	energy storage. The plan must also consider the impact of power 215
325	325	purchase agreements on attaining 100 percent renewable energy 216
326	326	generation. The office must submit a statewide plan outlining 217
327	327	potential strategies to reach the goals of this section to the 218
328	328	Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the 219
329	329	House of Representatives by January 1, 2025, and must provide 220
330	330	updates on the progress of achieving the state's renewable 221
331	331	energy goals each January 1 thereafter. 222
332	332	Section 6. Section 377.8225, Florida Statutes, is created 223
333	333	to read: 224
334	334	377.8225 Renewable Energy Workforce Development Advisory 225
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343	343	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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347	347	Committee.— 226
348	348	(1)(a) The Renewable Energy Workforce Development Advisory 227
349	349	Committee is created in the Office of Energy within the 228
350	350	Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and consists of 229
351	351	13 members, all of whom are appointed by the Commissioner of 230
352	352	Agriculture. The appointees shall include one representative of 231
353	353	the Department of Agriculture and Consu mer Services and one 232
354	354	representative of the Department of Economic Opportunity, who 233
355	355	shall serve as co-chairs of the committee, one representative of 234
356	356	the Department of Environmental Protection, one representative 235
357	357	of the Department of Education, two represent atives of state 236
358	358	universities or colleges with programs or research focused on 237
359	359	renewable energy, and one representative from each of the 238
360	360	following: 239
361	361	1. The Florida AFL-CIO. 240
362	362	2. The Florida Building and Construction Trades Council. 241
363	363	3. An organization ser ving environmental justice 242
364	364	communities. For purposes of this section, the term 243
365	365	"environmental justice" means the fair treatment and meaningful 244
366	366	involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national 245
367	367	origin, or income, with respect to the development, 246
368	368	implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, 247
369	369	regulations, and policies. 248
370	370	4. A renewable energy business. 249
371	371	5. An occupational training organization. 250
372	372
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380	380	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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384	384	6. An economic development organization. 251
385	385	7. A community development organization. 252
386	386	253
387	387	In making these appointments, the commissioner shall consider 254
388	388	the places of residence of the members to ensure statewide 255
389	389	representation. 256
390	390	(b) The term of office of each member of the advisory 257
391	391	committee is 2 years and shall be staggered. 258
392	392	(c) In case of a vacancy on the advisory committee, the 259
393	393	commissioner shall appoint a successor member for the unexpired 260
394	394	portion of the term. 261
395	395	(d) The members of the advisory committee shall serve 262
396	396	without compensation while in the performance of their official 263
397	397	duties. 264
398	398	(2) The advisory committee shall: 265
399	399	(a) Develop, in consultation with the Department of 266
400	400	Economic Opportunity, recommendations for a displaced energy 267
401	401	workers bill of rights to provide state support to transitioning 268
402	402	energy sector workers. Once the advisory committee is satisfied 269
403	403	with the recommendations for developing the program, the 270
404	404	committee shall submit the recommendations to the commissioner 271
405	405	for inclusion in the annual report under subsection (4). 272
406	406	(b) Develop, in consultation with the Department of 273
407	407	Corrections, recommendations for a returning residents clean 274
408	408	jobs training program to provide training for careers in the 275
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417	417	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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421	421	clean energy sector to individuals who are currently 276
422	422	incarcerated. Once the committee is satisfied with the 277
423	423	recommendations for developing the pro gram, the committee shall 278
424	424	submit the recommendations to the commissioner for inclusion in 279
425	425	the annual report under subsection (4). 280
426	426	(c) Develop, in consultation with the Department of 281
427	427	Education, recommendations for an energy transition navigators 282
428	428	program to provide education, outreach, and recruitment to 283
429	429	equity-focused populations to promote awareness of workforce 284
430	430	development programs. Once the advisory committee is satisfied 285
431	431	with the recommendations for developing the program, the 286
432	432	committee shall submit th e recommendations to the commissioner 287
433	433	for inclusion in the annual report under subsection (4). 288
434	434	(d)1. Identify those workers currently working in the 289
435	435	energy sector and their current training requirements. The 290
436	436	committee shall identify the employment potent ial of the energy 291
437	437	efficiency and renewable energy industry and the skills and 292
438	438	training needed for workers in those fields, and make 293
439	439	recommendations to the commissioner for policies to promote 294
440	440	employment growth and access to jobs in those fields. 295
441	441	Recommendations of the committee may not reduce the training 296
442	442	required for renewable energy jobs. The committee shall 297
443	443	prioritize maximizing employment opportunities for residents of 298
444	444	environmental justice communities, minorities, women, and 299
445	445	workers displaced in the tr ansition to renewable energy. 300
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454	454	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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458	458	2. By January 1, 2025, the advisory committee shall 301
459	459	establish a target for the number of residents working in the 302
460	460	renewable energy industry by 2028. The committee shall also 303
461	461	establish a target for the number of those jobs he ld by 304
462	462	residents of environmental justice communities, proportional to 305
463	463	the percentage of residents who live in environmental justice 306
464	464	communities, and the number of those jobs held by workers 307
465	465	displaced in the transition to renewable energy. The committee 308
466	466	shall create similar targets for each subsequent 5 -year period. 309
467	467	3. The advisory committee shall submit an annual report to 310
468	468	the commissioner recommending changes to existing state policies 311
469	469	and programs to meet the targets set forth in subparagraph 2. 312
470	470	(3) The advisory committee shall meet at least three times 313
471	471	annually to review progress in expanding renewable energy 314
472	472	employment. These meetings shall be open to members of the 315
473	473	public and shall provide opportunities for public comment. At 316
474	474	least one of these meet ings shall be held in an environmental 317
475	475	justice community each year. 318
476	476	(4) The commissioner shall prepare a report on the 319
477	477	findings and recommendations of the advisory committee and 320
478	478	submit the report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker 321
479	479	of the House of Representatives by January 1, 2026, and each 322
480	480	January 1 thereafter. 323
481	481	Section 7. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025. 324