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