HB 1413

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to energy efficiency; providing
3legislative findings; creating the Energy Policy
4Governance Task Force; providing purpose; providing for
5membership; specifying duties; providing for staff;
6requiring a report to the Governor and Legislature;
7providing for expiration of the task force; directing the
8Florida Building Commission to convene a workgroup to
9develop a model residential energy efficiency ordinance;
10requiring the commission to consult with specified
11entities to review the cost-effectiveness of energy
12efficiency measures in the construction of residential,
13commercial, and government buildings; requiring a report
14to the Legislature; requiring the commission to consult
15with specified entities to develop and implement a public
16awareness campaign; providing a declaration of important
17state interest; requiring all county, municipal, and
18public community college buildings to meet certain energy
19efficiency standards for construction; providing
20applicability; establishing a schedule for the required
21purchase of biodiesel fuel for use by state-owned diesel
22vehicles and equipment; establishing a schedule for the
23required purchase of ethanol for use by state-owned flex-
24fuel vehicles; requiring administration, enforcement, and
25annual reporting by the Department of Management Services;
26requiring a percentage of total diesel fuel purchases by
27school district transportation services to be biodiesel
28fuel purchases; providing applicability to certain
29contracts; creating s. 206.665, F.S.; providing for
30refunds on fuel used for the transportation of products
31used to produce a renewable energy source; providing an
32effective date.
33
34Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
35
36     Section 1.  The Legislature finds that it is in the public
37interest to promote alternative and renewable energy
38technologies in this state, including alternative fuels and
39technologies for electric power plants and motor vehicles,
40energy conservation, distributed generation, advanced
41transmission methods, and pollution and greenhouse gas control.
42Both Florida and the United States in general are overly
43dependent on foreign oil to meet the energy needs of buildings
44and motor vehicles. Alternative and renewable energy and energy
45conservation technologies have the potential to decrease this
46dependency, minimize volatility of fuel cost, and improve
47environmental conditions. In-state research, development,
48deployment, and use of these technologies can make the state a
49leader in new and innovative technologies and encourage
50investment and economic development in this state.
51     (1)  The Energy Policy Governance Task Force is created to
52recommend a unified approach to state energy policy including
53energy conservation, research, and development and the
54deployment of alternative and renewable energy technology. The
55task force shall review the programs and policies of the
56Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Department
57of Environmental Protection, the State University System, the
58Public Service Commission, and other relevant public and
59private-sector entities in preparing its recommendations.
60     (2)  The task force shall be composed of the following
61members:
62     (a)  Two members appointed by the President of the Senate.
63     (b)  Two members appointed by the Speaker of the House of
64Representatives.
65     (c)  Two members appointed by the Governor.
66     (d)  The Commissioner of Agriculture or a designee.
67     (e)  The Secretary of Environmental Protection or a
68designee.
69     (f)  A vice president for research designated by the
70Council of Vice Presidents for State University Research.
71     (g)  The chair of the Florida Energy Commission or a
72designee.
73     (h)  The chair of the Florida Public Service Commission or
74a designee.
75     (i)  The Public Counsel.
76     (3)  Task force members shall be appointed no later than
77August 1, 2008. Members shall elect a chair and vice chair from
78the membership of the task force.
79     (4)  In developing its recommendations, the task force
80shall determine the appropriate approach toward providing a
81coordinated statewide effort to:
82     (a)  Promote the state as a leader in new and innovative
83technologies and, in cooperation with Enterprise Florida, Inc.,
84as a location for businesses having operations related to
85alternative and renewable energy technologies.
86     (b)  Promote alternative and renewable energy technologies,
87including alternative fuels and technologies for electric power
88plants and motor vehicles, energy conservation, distributed
89generation, advanced transmission methods, and pollution and
90greenhouse gas control.
91     (c)  Administer funding of matching grants for
92demonstration, commercialization, research, and development of
93projects relating to bioenergy and renewable energy
94technologies.
95     (d)  Assist state universities and the private sector in
96determining the areas on which to focus research in alternative
97and renewable energy technologies and assist in coordinating
98research projects among universities and relevant private-sector
99entities.
100     (e)  Assist universities, other state entities, and
101private-sector entities in raising funds from all available
102public or private-sector sources for projects concerning
103research, development, or deployment of alternative and
104renewable energy technologies, including projects that involve
105the production of, improvements in, or use of alternative and
106renewable energy technologies in this state.
107     (5)  The task force shall be jointly staffed by personnel
108appointed by the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the
109Speaker of the House of Representatives.
110     (6)  No later than February 1, 2009, the task force shall
111submit its recommendations to the Governor, the President of the
112Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
113     (7)  The task force shall expire on June 30, 2009.
114     Section 2.  (1)  The Florida Building Commission shall
115convene a workgroup comprised of representatives from the
116Florida Energy Commission, the Department of Community Affairs,
117the Building Officials Association of Florida, the Florida
118Energy Office, the Florida Home Builders Association, the
119Florida Association of Counties, the Florida League of Cities,
120and other stakeholders to develop a model residential energy
121efficiency ordinance that provides incentives to meet energy
122efficiency standards. The commission shall submit such model
123ordinance to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the
124House of Representatives no later than March 1, 2009.
125     (2)  The Florida Building Commission, in consultation with
126the Florida Energy Commission, the Building Officials
127Association of Florida, the Florida Energy Office, the Florida
128Home Builders Association, the Florida Association of Counties,
129the Florida League of Cities, and other stakeholders, shall
130review the Florida Energy Code for Building Construction.
131Specifically, the commission shall revisit the analysis of cost-
132effectiveness that serves as the basis for energy efficiency
133levels for residential buildings, identify cost-effective means
134to improve energy efficiency in commercial buildings, and
135compare the code to the International Energy Conservation Code
136and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-
137Conditioning Engineers Standards 90.1 and 90.2. The commission
138shall provide a report to the President of the Senate and the
139Speaker of the House of Representatives no later than March 1,
1402009, proposing a standard that may be adopted for the
141construction of all new residential, commercial, and government
142buildings.
143     (3)  The Florida Building Commission, in consultation with
144the Florida Solar Energy Center, the Florida Energy Commission,
145the Florida Energy Office, the United States Department of
146Energy, and the Florida Home Builders Association, shall develop
147and implement a public awareness campaign that promotes energy
148efficiency and the benefits of green building practices by
149January 1, 2009. The campaign shall include enhancement of an
150existing Internet website from which all citizens may obtain
151information pertaining to green building practices, calculate
152anticipated savings from incorporation of those practices, and
153learn about energy efficiency strategies that may be used in
154their existing homes or when building homes. The campaign shall
155focus on the benefits of promoting energy efficiency to the
156purchasers of new homes, the various green building ratings
157available, and the promotion of various energy-efficient
158products through existing trade shows. The campaign shall also
159include strategies for using print advertising, press releases,
160and television advertising to promote voluntary incorporation of
161green building practices.
162     Section 3.  (1)  The Legislature declares that there is an
163important state interest in promoting the construction of
164energy-efficient and sustainable buildings. Government
165leadership in promoting these standards is vital to
166demonstrating the state's commitment to energy conservation,
167saving taxpayers money, and raising public awareness of energy-
168rating systems.
169     (2)  All county, municipal, and public community college
170buildings shall be constructed to meet the United States Green
171Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental
172Design (LEED) rating system, the Green Building Initiative's
173Green Globes rating system, or a nationally recognized, high-
174performance green building rating system as approved by the
175Department of Management Services. This section shall apply to
176all county, municipal, and public community college buildings
177the architectural plans of which are commenced after July 1,
1782009.
179     Section 4.  State fleet biodiesel usage.--
180     (1)  By July 1, 2009, a minimum of 5 percent, by January 1,
1812010, a minimum of 10 percent, and by January 1, 2011, a minimum
182of 20 percent of total purchases of diesel fuel for use by
183state-owned diesel vehicles and equipment shall be biodiesel
184fuel (B20) purchases, subject to availability.
185     (2)  By July 1, 2009, a minimum of 5 percent, by January 1,
1862010, a minimum of 10 percent, and by January 1, 2011, a minimum
187of 20 percent of total purchases of fuel for use by state-owned
188flex-fuel vehicles shall be ethanol purchases, subject to
189availability.
190     (3)  The Department of Management Services shall provide
191for the proper administration, implementation, and enforcement
192of this section.
193     (4)  The Department of Management Services shall report to
194the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
195Representatives on or before March 1, 2009, and annually
196thereafter, the extent of biodiesel and ethanol use in the state
197fleet. The report shall contain the number of gallons purchased
198since July 1, 2008, the average price of biodiesel and ethanol,
199and a description of fleet performance.
200     Section 5.  School district biodiesel usage.--
201     (1)  By January 1, 2009, a minimum of 20 percent of total
202purchases of diesel fuel for use by school district
203transportation services shall be biodiesel fuel (B20) purchases,
204subject to availability.
205     (2)  If a school district contracts with another government
206entity or private entity to provide transportation services for
207any of its pupils, the biodiesel fuel requirement provided in  
208subsection (1) shall be part of that contract. However, this
209subsection shall apply only to contracts entered into on or
210after July 1, 2008.
211     Section 6.  Section 206.665, Florida Statutes, is created
212to read:
213     206.665  Refunds on fuel used for the transportation of
214products used to produce a renewable energy source.--Any person
215who uses any motor fuel for the transportation of products used
216to produce a renewable energy source on which the tax, as
217imposed by this part, has been paid shall be entitled to a
218refund of the municipal fuel tax imposed by s. 206.41(1)(c)
219according to the administrative procedures in s. 206.41.
220     Section 7.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.