1 | A bill to be entitled |
2 | An act relating to energy; amending s. 74.051, F.S.; |
3 | providing that it is the intent of the Legislature for a |
4 | court, when practicable, to conduct a hearing and issue an |
5 | order on a petition for a taking within a specified time; |
6 | amending s. 110.171, F.S.; requiring each state agency to |
7 | complete a telecommuting program by a specified date which |
8 | includes a listing of the job classifications and |
9 | positions that the state agency considers appropriate for |
10 | telecommuting; providing requirements for the |
11 | telecommuting program; requiring each state agency to post |
12 | the telecommuting program on its Internet website; |
13 | amending s. 163.04, F.S.; clarifying that condominium |
14 | declarations may not prohibit renewable energy devices; |
15 | removes three-story height restriction for installation of |
16 | solar collectors on condominiums; amending s. 186.007, |
17 | F.S.; authorizing the Executive Office of the Governor to |
18 | include in the state comprehensive plan goals, objectives, |
19 | and policies related to energy and global climate change; |
20 | amending s. 187.201, F.S.; expanding the air quality, |
21 | energy, and land use goals of the State Comprehensive Plan |
22 | to include the development of low-carbon-emitting electric |
23 | power plants, the reduction of atmospheric carbon dioxide, |
24 | the promotion of the use and development of renewable |
25 | energy resources, and provide for the siting of low carbon |
26 | emitting electric power plants, including nuclear plants; |
27 | amending ss. 196.012 and 196.175, F.S.; deleting outdated, |
28 | obsolete language; removing the expiration date of the |
29 | property tax exemption for real property on which a |
30 | renewable energy source device is installed and revising |
31 | the options for calculating the amount of the exemption; |
32 | amending s. 206.43, F.S.; requiring each terminal |
33 | supplier, importer, blender, and wholesaler to provide in |
34 | a report to the Department of Revenue the number of |
35 | gallons of blended and unblended gasoline sold; amending |
36 | s. 212.08, F.S.; revising the definition of "ethanol"; |
37 | specifying eligible items as limited to one refund; |
38 | requiring a person who receives a refund to notify a |
39 | subsequent purchaser of such refund; transferring certain |
40 | duties and responsibilities from the Department of |
41 | Environmental Protection to the Florida Energy and Climate |
42 | Commission; requiring the Florida Energy and Climate |
43 | Commission to adopt, by rule, an application form for |
44 | claiming a tax exemption; amending s. 220.191, F.S.; |
45 | providing that certain qualifying projects are eligible to |
46 | transfer capital investment tax credits to other |
47 | businesses under certain circumstances; providing |
48 | limitations on the use of such transferred credits; |
49 | specifying requirements for such transfers; amending s. |
50 | 220.192, F.S.; defining terms related to a tax credit; |
51 | allowing the tax credit to be transferred for a specified |
52 | period; providing procedures and requirements; requiring |
53 | the Department of Revenue to adopt rules for |
54 | implementation and administration of the program; |
55 | transferring certain duties and responsibilities from the |
56 | Department of Environmental Protection to the Florida |
57 | Energy and Climate Commission; amending s. 220.193, F.S.; |
58 | defining the terms "sale" or "sold"; defining the term |
59 | "taxpayer"; providing for retroactivity; providing that |
60 | the use of the renewable energy production credit does not |
61 | reduce the alternative minimum tax credit; amending s. |
62 | 253.02, F.S.; authorizing the Board of Trustees of the |
63 | Internal Improvement Trust Fund to delegate authority to |
64 | grant easements across lands owned by the Board of |
65 | Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund to the |
66 | Secretary of Environmental Protection under certain |
67 | conditions; amending s. 255.249, F.S.; requiring state |
68 | agencies to annually provide telecommuting plans to the |
69 | Department of Management Services; amending s. 255.251, |
70 | F.S.; creating the "Florida Energy Conservation and |
71 | Sustainable Buildings Act"; amending s. 255.252, F.S.; |
72 | providing findings and legislative intent; providing that |
73 | it is the policy of the state that buildings constructed |
74 | and financed by the state be designed to meet the United |
75 | States Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy |
76 | and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, the Green |
77 | Building Initiative's Green Globes rating system, the |
78 | Florida Green Building Coalition standards, or a |
79 | nationally recognized green building rating system as |
80 | approved by the department; requiring each state agency |
81 | occupying space owned or managed by the department to |
82 | identify and compile a list of projects suitable for a |
83 | guaranteed energy, water, and wastewater performance |
84 | savings contract; amending s. 255.253, F.S.; defining |
85 | terms relating to energy conservation for buildings; |
86 | amending s. 255.254, F.S.; prohibiting a state agency from |
87 | leasing or constructing a facility without having secured |
88 | from the department a proper evaluation of life-cycle |
89 | costs for the building; amending s. 255.255, F.S.; |
90 | requiring the department to use sustainable building |
91 | ratings for conducting a life-cycle cost analysis; |
92 | amending s. 255.257, F.S.; requiring all state agencies to |
93 | adopt an energy efficiency rating system as approved by |
94 | the department for all new buildings and renovations to |
95 | existing buildings; requiring all county, municipal, |
96 | school district, water management district, state |
97 | university, community college, and Florida state court |
98 | buildings to meet certain energy efficiency standards for |
99 | construction; providing applicability; creating a |
100 | sustainable building training certification program within |
101 | St. Petersburg College; specifying program components; |
102 | creating s. 286.29, F.S.; requiring the Department of |
103 | Management Services to develop the Florida Climate- |
104 | Friendly Preferred Products List; requiring state agencies |
105 | to consult the list and purchase products from the list if |
106 | the price is comparable; requiring state agencies to |
107 | contract for meeting and conference space with facilities |
108 | having the "Green Lodging" designation; authorizing the |
109 | Department of Environmental Protection to adopt rules; |
110 | requiring the department to establish voluntary technical |
111 | assistance programs for various businesses; requiring |
112 | state agencies, state universities, community colleges, |
113 | and local governments that purchase vehicles under a state |
114 | purchasing plan to maintain vehicles according to minimum |
115 | standards and follow certain procedures when procuring new |
116 | vehicles; requiring state agencies to use ethanol and |
117 | biodiesel-blended fuels when available; amending s. |
118 | 287.063, F.S.; prohibiting the payment term for equipment |
119 | from exceeding the useful life of the equipment unless the |
120 | contract provides for the replacement or the extension of |
121 | the useful life of the equipment during the term of the |
122 | loan; amending s. 287.064, F.S.; authorizing an extension |
123 | of the master equipment financing agreement for energy |
124 | conservation equipment; requiring the guaranteed energy, |
125 | water, and wastewater savings contractor to provide for |
126 | the replacement or the extension of the useful life of the |
127 | energy conservation equipment during the term of the |
128 | contract; amending s. 287.16, F.S.; requiring the |
129 | Department of Management Services to analyze specified |
130 | fuel usage by the Department of Transportation; amending |
131 | s. 288.1089, F.S.; defining the term "alternative and |
132 | renewable energy"; revising provisions relating to |
133 | innovation incentive awards to include alternative and |
134 | renewable energy projects; specifying eligibility |
135 | requirements for such projects; requiring Enterprise |
136 | Florida, Inc., to solicit comments and recommendations |
137 | from the Florida Energy and Climate Commission in |
138 | evaluating such projects; amending s. 316.0741, F.S.; |
139 | requiring all hybrid and other low-emission and energy- |
140 | efficient vehicles that do not meet the minimum occupancy |
141 | requirement and are driven in a high-occupancy-vehicle |
142 | lane to comply with federally mandated minimum fuel |
143 | economy standards; authorizing specified vehicles to use |
144 | certain high-occupancy-vehicle lanes without payment of |
145 | tolls; amending s. 337.401, F.S.; requiring the Department |
146 | of Environmental Protection to adopt rules relating to the |
147 | placement of and access to aerial and underground electric |
148 | transmission lines having certain specifications; defining |
149 | the term "base-load generating facilities"; amending s. |
150 | 339.175, F.S.; requiring each metropolitan planning |
151 | organization to develop a long-range transportation plan |
152 | and an annual project priority list that, among other |
153 | considerations, provide for sustainable growth and reduce |
154 | greenhouse gas emissions; amending s. 350.01, F.S.; |
155 | conforming the beginning of a Public Service Commission |
156 | member's term as chair with the beginning of terms of |
157 | commissioners; correcting cross-references; amending s. |
158 | 350.012, F.S.; renaming the Committee on Public Service |
159 | Commission Oversight, a standing joint committee of the |
160 | Legislature, as the "Committee on Public Counsel |
161 | Oversight"; deleting the committee's authority to |
162 | recommend to the Governor nominees to fill vacancies on |
163 | the Public Service Commission; amending s. 350.03, F.S.; |
164 | clarifying the power of the Governor to remove and fill |
165 | commission vacancies as set forth in the State |
166 | Constitution; amending s. 350.031, F.S.; increasing the |
167 | number of members on the council; requiring the President |
168 | of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of |
169 | Representatives to appoint a chair and vice chair to the |
170 | council in alternating years; removing spending authority |
171 | for the council to advertise vacancies; requiring the |
172 | council to submit recommendations for vacancies on the |
173 | Public Service Commission to the Governor; requiring the |
174 | council to nominate a minimum of three persons for each |
175 | vacancy; revising the date that recommendations for |
176 | vacancies must be submitted; providing that a successor |
177 | Governor may remove an appointee only as provided; |
178 | providing for the council to fill a vacancy on the |
179 | commission if the Governor fails to do so; authorizing a |
180 | successor governor to recall an unconfirmed appointee |
181 | under certain circumstances; amending ss. 350.061 and |
182 | 350.0614, F.S., relating to the appointment, oversight, |
183 | and compensation of the Public Counsel; conforming |
184 | provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 366.04, |
185 | F.S.; requiring an affected municipal electric utility to |
186 | conduct a referendum election of all its retail electric |
187 | customers to determine whether to require the municipal |
188 | electric utility to provide a proposed charter |
189 | transferring the operations of the utility to an electric |
190 | utility authority; amending s. 366.81, F.S.; providing |
191 | legislative intent; amending s. 366.82, F.S.; defining the |
192 | term "demand-side renewable energy"; requiring the Public |
193 | Service Commission to adopt goals for increasing the |
194 | development of demand-side renewable energy systems energy |
195 | resources; providing for cost-effectiveness tests; |
196 | requiring the Florida Energy and Climate Commission to be |
197 | a party in the proceedings to adopt goals; providing for |
198 | an appropriations; providing for cost recovery; |
199 | authorizing the commission to provide financial rewards |
200 | and penalties; authorizing the commission to allow an |
201 | investor-owned utility to earn an additional return on |
202 | equity for exceeding energy efficiency and conservation |
203 | goals; amending s. 366.8255, F.S.; redefining the term |
204 | "environmental compliance costs" to include costs or |
205 | expenses prudently incurred for scientific research and |
206 | geological assessments of carbon capture and storage for |
207 | the purpose of reducing an electric utility's greenhouse |
208 | gas emissions; amending s. 366.91, F.S.; clarifying the |
209 | definition of "biomass" to include waste and byproducts; |
210 | requiring each public utility, and each municipal electric |
211 | utility and rural electric utility cooperative that sells |
212 | electricity at retail, to develop a standardized |
213 | interconnection and net metering program for customer- |
214 | owned renewable generation; authorizing net metering to be |
215 | available when a utility purchases power generated from |
216 | biogas produced by anaerobic digestion under certain |
217 | conditions; amending s. 366.92, F.S.; directing the Public |
218 | Service Commission to adopt a renewable portfolio |
219 | standard; providing definitions; providing for renewable |
220 | energy credits; providing for cost recovery; prohibiting |
221 | the renewable portfolio standard rule from taking effect |
222 | until ratified by the Legislature; amending s. 366.93, |
223 | F.S.; revising the definitions of "cost" and |
224 | "preconstruction"; requiring the Public Service Commission |
225 | to establish rules relating to cost recovery for the |
226 | construction of new, expanded, or relocated electrical |
227 | transmission lines and facilities for a nuclear power |
228 | plant; amending s. 377.601, F.S.; revising legislative |
229 | intent with respect to the need to implement alternative |
230 | energy technologies; providing for the transfer of the |
231 | Florida Energy Commission in the Office of Legislative |
232 | Services to the Florida Energy and Climate Commission in |
233 | the Executive Office of the Governor; creating s. |
234 | 377.6015, F.S.; providing for the membership, meetings, |
235 | duties, and responsibilities of the Florida Energy and |
236 | Climate Commission; providing rulemaking authority; |
237 | amending s. 377.602, F.S.; revising the definition of |
238 | "energy resources"; providing for conforming changes; |
239 | providing for the type two transfer of the state energy |
240 | program in the Department of Environmental Protection to |
241 | the Florida Energy and Climate Commission in the Executive |
242 | Office of the Governor; amending ss. 377.603, 377.604, |
243 | 377.605, 377.606, 377.608, 377.701, 377.703, and 377.705, |
244 | F.S.; providing for conforming changes; amending s. |
245 | 377.801, F.S.; providing a short title; amending s. |
246 | 377.802, F.S.; providing the purpose of the Florida Energy |
247 | and Climate Protection Act; amending s. 377.803, F.S.; |
248 | revising definitions; clarifying the definition of |
249 | "renewable energy" to include biomass, as defined in s. |
250 | 366.91, F.S.; amending s. 377.804, F.S., relating to the |
251 | Renewable Energy and Energy-Efficient Technologies Grants |
252 | Program; providing for the program to include matching |
253 | grants for technologies that increase the energy |
254 | efficiency of vehicles and commercial buildings; providing |
255 | for the solicitation of expertise of other entities; |
256 | providing application requirements; amending s. 377.806, |
257 | F.S.; conforming provisions relating to the Solar Energy |
258 | System Incentives Program, to changes made by this act; |
259 | requiring all eligible systems under the program to comply |
260 | with the Florida Building Code; revising rebate |
261 | eligibility requirements for solar thermal systems to |
262 | include the installation of certain products by roofing |
263 | contractors; creating s. 377.808, F.S.; establishing the |
264 | "Florida Green Government Grants Act"; providing for |
265 | grants to be awarded to local governments in the |
266 | development of programs that achieve green standards; |
267 | amending ss. 380.23 and 403.031, F.S.; conforming cross- |
268 | references; creating s. 403.44, F.S.; creating the Florida |
269 | Climate Protection Act; defining terms; requiring the |
270 | Department of Environmental Protection to establish the |
271 | methodologies, reporting periods, and reporting systems |
272 | that must be used when major emitters report to The |
273 | Climate Registry; authorizing the department to adopt |
274 | rules for a cap-and-trade regulatory program to reduce |
275 | greenhouse gas emissions from major emitters; providing |
276 | for the content of the rule; prohibiting the rules from |
277 | being adopted until after January 1, 2010, and from |
278 | becoming effective until ratified by the Legislature; |
279 | amending s. 403.502, F.S.; providing legislative intent; |
280 | amending s. 403.503, F.S.; defining the term "alternate |
281 | corridor" and redefining the term "corridor" for purposes |
282 | of the Florida Electrical Power Plant Siting Act; amending |
283 | s. 403.504, F.S.; requiring the Department of |
284 | Environmental Protection to determine whether a proposed |
285 | alternate corridor is acceptable; amending s. 403.506, |
286 | F.S.; exempting an electric utility from obtaining |
287 | certification under the Florida Electrical Power Plant |
288 | Siting Act before constructing facilities for a power |
289 | plant using nuclear materials as fuel; providing that a |
290 | utility may obtain separate licenses, permits, and |
291 | approvals for such construction under certain |
292 | circumstances; exempting such provisions from review under |
293 | ch. 120, F.S.; amending s. 403.5064, F.S.; requiring an |
294 | applicant to submit a statement to the department if such |
295 | applicant opts for consideration of alternate corridors; |
296 | amending s. 403.5065, F.S.; providing for conforming |
297 | changes; amending s. 403.50663, F.S.; providing for notice |
298 | of meeting to the general public; amending s. 403.50665, |
299 | F.S.; requiring an application to include a statement on |
300 | the consistency of directly associated facilities |
301 | constituting a "development"; requiring the Department of |
302 | Environmental Protection to address at the certification |
303 | hearing the issue of compliance with land use plans and |
304 | zoning ordinances for a proposed substation located in or |
305 | along an alternate corridor; amending s. 403.507, F.S.; |
306 | providing for reports to be submitted to the department no |
307 | later than 100 days after certification application has |
308 | been determined complete; amending s. 403.508, F.S.; |
309 | providing for land use and certification hearings; |
310 | amending s. 403.509, F.S.; requiring the Governor and |
311 | Cabinet sitting as the siting board to certify the |
312 | corridor having the least adverse impact; authorizing the |
313 | board to deny certification or allow a party to amend its |
314 | proposal; amending s. 403.511, F.S.; providing for |
315 | conforming changes; amending s. 403.5112, F.S.; providing |
316 | for filing of notice; amending s. 403.5113, F.S.; |
317 | providing for postcertification amendments and |
318 | postcertification review; amending s. 403.5115, F.S.; |
319 | requiring the applicant proposing the alternate corridor |
320 | to publish all notices relating to the application; |
321 | requiring that such notices comply with certain |
322 | requirements; requiring that notices be published at least |
323 | 45 days before the rescheduled certification hearing; |
324 | requiring applicants to make specified efforts to provide |
325 | notice to certain landowners and to file a list of such |
326 | notification with the Department of Environmental |
327 | Protection's Siting Coordination Office; amending ss. |
328 | 403.516, 403.517, and 403.5175, F.S.; providing conforming |
329 | changes and cross-references; amending s. 403.518, F.S.; |
330 | authorizing the Department of Environmental Protection to |
331 | charge an application fee for an alternate corridor; |
332 | amending ss. 403.519, 403.5252, 403.526, 403.527, |
333 | 403.5271, 403.5272, 403.5312, 403.5363, 403.5365, and |
334 | 403.814, F.S., relating to determinations of need, public |
335 | notice requirements, and general permits; conforming |
336 | provisions to changes made by the act; creating s. |
337 | 403.7055, F.S.; encouraging counties in the state to form |
338 | regional solutions to the capture and reuse or sale of |
339 | methane gas from landfills and wastewater treatment |
340 | facilities; requiring the Department of Environmental |
341 | Protection to provide guidelines and assistance; amending |
342 | s. 489.145, F.S.; creating s. 403.7032, F.S.; providing |
343 | legislative findings regarding recycling; providing for a |
344 | long-term goal of reducing the amount of solid waste |
345 | disposed of in the state by a certain percentage; |
346 | requiring the Department of Environmental Protection to |
347 | develop a comprehensive recycling program and submit such |
348 | program to the Legislature by a specified date; requiring |
349 | the Legislature's approval before implementing such |
350 | program; requiring that such program be developed in |
351 | coordination with other state and local entities, private |
352 | businesses, and the public; requiring that the program |
353 | contain certain components; creating s. 403.7033, F.S., |
354 | requiring a departmental analysis of particular recyclable |
355 | materials; requiring a submission of a report; amending s. |
356 | 403.706, F.S., requiring every county to implement a |
357 | composting plan to attain certain goals by a date certain; |
358 | provides for goal modifications upon demonstrated need to |
359 | the department; amending s. 489.145, F.S.; revising |
360 | provisions of the Guaranteed Energy, Water, and Wastewater |
361 | Performance Savings Contracting Act; requiring that each |
362 | proposed contract or lease contain certain agreements |
363 | concerning operational cost-saving measures; requiring the |
364 | Office of the Chief Financial Officer to review contract |
365 | proposals; redefining terms; requiring that certain |
366 | baseline information, supporting information, and |
367 | documentation be included in contracts; requiring the |
368 | Office of the Chief Financial Officer to review contract |
369 | proposals; providing audit requirements; requiring |
370 | contract approval by the Chief Financial Officer; amending |
371 | s. 526.06, F.S.; revising provisions for the sale of |
372 | gasoline blended with ethanol; providing specifications |
373 | for transitioning to ethanol-blended fuels; creating s. |
374 | 526.201, F.S.; creating the "Florida Renewable Fuel |
375 | Standard Act"; creating s. 526.202, F.S.; establishing |
376 | legislative findings for the act; creating s. 526.203, |
377 | F.S.; providing definitions, fuel standard, exemptions, |
378 | and reporting; creating s. 526.204, F.S.; providing for |
379 | waivers; providing for suspension of standard requirement |
380 | during declared emergencies; creating s. 526.205, F.S.; |
381 | providing for enforcement of the act; providing for |
382 | extensions; creating s. 526.206, F.S.; providing for |
383 | rulemaking authority by the Department of Revenue and the |
384 | Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; creating |
385 | s. 526.207, F.S.; requiring studies and reports by the |
386 | Florida Energy and Climate Commission; amending s. 553.73, |
387 | F.S.; requiring that the Florida Building Commission |
388 | select the most recent International Energy Conservation |
389 | Code as a foundation code; providing for modification of |
390 | the International Energy Conservation Code by the |
391 | commission under certain circumstances; creating s. |
392 | 553.9061, F.S.; requiring the Florida Building Commission |
393 | to establish a schedule of increases in the energy |
394 | performance of buildings subject to the Florida Energy |
395 | Efficiency Code for Building Construction; providing |
396 | energy-efficiency performance options and elements for |
397 | achieving performance goals; requiring the commission to |
398 | adopt rules and implement a cost-effectiveness test; |
399 | amending s. 553.909, F.S.; requiring the Florida Energy |
400 | Efficiency Code for Building Construction to set minimum |
401 | requirements for certain commercial or residential |
402 | appliances; requiring the Agency for Enterprise |
403 | Information Technology to define specified objective |
404 | standards and conduct evaluations relating to energy |
405 | efficiency; requiring the agency to submit a report; |
406 | providing report requirements; requiring the agency to |
407 | submit specified recommendations; providing for the |
408 | inclusion of specifications in certain plans and |
409 | processes; creating s. 1004.648, F.S.; establishing the |
410 | Florida Energy Systems Consortium consisting of all the |
411 | state universities; providing for membership and duties of |
412 | the consortium; providing for a director, an oversight |
413 | board, and a steering committee; requiring the consortium |
414 | to submit an annual report; requiring an economic impact |
415 | analysis on the effects of granting financial incentives |
416 | to energy producers who use woody biomass as fuel; |
417 | providing that certain vehicle emission standards are |
418 | subject to ratification by the Legislature prior to |
419 | implementation or modification by the Department of |
420 | Environmental Protection; requiring the Department of |
421 | Education and the Department of Environmental Protection |
422 | to develop an awards or recognition program for |
423 | outstanding efforts in conservation, energy and water use |
424 | reduction, environmental enhancement, and conservation- |
425 | related educational curriculum development; encouraging |
426 | the departments to seek private sector funding for the |
427 | program; repealing s. 377.901, F.S., relating to the |
428 | Florida Energy Commission; requiring the Public Service |
429 | Commission to provide a report to the Governor and the |
430 | Legislature on utility revenue decoupling; providing |
431 | effective dates. |
432 |
|
433 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
434 |
|
435 | Section 1. Subsection (3) of section 74.051, Florida |
436 | Statutes, is renumbered as subsection (4), and a new subsection |
437 | (3) is added to that section to read: |
438 | 74.051 Hearing on order of taking.-- |
439 | (3) If a defendant requests a hearing pursuant to s. |
440 | 74.041(3) and the petitioner is an electric utility that is |
441 | seeking to appropriate property necessary for an electric |
442 | generation plant, an associated facility of an electric |
443 | generation plant, an electric substation, or a power line, it is |
444 | the intent of the Legislature that the court, when practicable, |
445 | conduct the hearing no more than 120 days after the petition is |
446 | filed and issue its order of taking no more than 30 days after |
447 | the conclusion of the hearing. |
448 | Section 2. Subsection (3) of section 110.171, Florida |
449 | Statutes, is amended, and subsection (4) is added to that |
450 | section, to read: |
451 | 110.171 State employee telecommuting program.-- |
452 | (3) By September 30, 2009 October 1, 1994, each state |
453 | agency shall identify and maintain a current listing of the job |
454 | classifications and positions that the agency considers |
455 | appropriate for telecommuting. Agencies that adopt a state |
456 | employee telecommuting program must: |
457 | (a) Give equal consideration to career service and exempt |
458 | positions in their selection of employees to participate in the |
459 | telecommuting program. |
460 | (b) Provide that an employee's participation in a |
461 | telecommuting program will not adversely affect eligibility for |
462 | advancement or any other employment rights or benefits. |
463 | (c) Provide that participation by an employee in a |
464 | telecommuting program is voluntary, and that the employee may |
465 | elect to cease to participate in a telecommuting program at any |
466 | time. |
467 | (d) Adopt provisions to allow for the termination of an |
468 | employee's participation in the program if the employee's |
469 | continued participation would not be in the best interests of |
470 | the agency. |
471 | (e) Provide that an employee is not currently under a |
472 | performance improvement plan in order to participate in the |
473 | program. |
474 | (f) Ensure that employees participating in the program are |
475 | subject to the same rules regarding attendance, leave, |
476 | performance reviews, and separation action as are other |
477 | employees. |
478 | (g) Establish the reasonable conditions that the agency |
479 | plans to impose in order to ensure the appropriate use and |
480 | maintenance of any equipment or items provided for use at a |
481 | participating employee's home or other place apart from the |
482 | employee's usual place of work, including the installation and |
483 | maintenance of any telephone equipment and ongoing |
484 | communications costs at the telecommuting site which is to be |
485 | used for official use only. |
486 | (h) Prohibit state maintenance of an employee's personal |
487 | equipment used in telecommuting, including any liability for |
488 | personal equipment and costs for personal utility expenses |
489 | associated with telecommuting. |
490 | (i) Describe the security controls that the agency |
491 | considers appropriate. |
492 | (j) Provide that employees are covered by workers' |
493 | compensation under chapter 440, when performing official duties |
494 | at an alternate worksite, such as the home. |
495 | (k) Prohibit employees engaged in a telecommuting program |
496 | from conducting face-to-face state business at the homesite. |
497 | (l) Require a written agreement that specifies the terms |
498 | and conditions of telecommuting, which includes verification by |
499 | the employee that the home office provides work space that is |
500 | free of safety and fire hazards, together with an agreement |
501 | which holds the state harmless against any and all claims, |
502 | excluding workers' compensation claims, resulting from an |
503 | employee working in the home office, and which must be signed |
504 | and agreed to by the telecommuter and the supervisor. |
505 | (m) Provide measureable financial benefits associated with |
506 | reduced office space requirements, reductions in energy |
507 | consumption, and reductions in associated emissions of |
508 | greenhouse gases resulting from telecommuting. State agencies |
509 | operating in office space owned or managed by the department |
510 | shall consult the facilities program to ensure its consistency |
511 | with the strategic leasing plan required under s. 255.249(3)(b). |
512 | (4) The telecommuting program for each state agency and |
513 | pertinent supporting documents shall be posted on the agency's |
514 | Internet website to allow access by employees and the public. |
515 | Section 3. Subsection (2) of section 163.04, Florida |
516 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
517 | 163.04 Energy devices based on renewable resources.-- |
518 |
|
519 | (2) A deed restriction, covenant, declaration, or similar |
520 | binding agreement may not No deed restrictions, covenants, or |
521 | similar binding agreements running with the land shall prohibit |
522 | or have the effect of prohibiting solar collectors, |
523 | clotheslines, or other energy devices based on renewable |
524 | resources from being installed on buildings erected on the lots |
525 | or parcels covered by the deed restriction, covenant, |
526 | declaration, or binding agreement restrictions, covenants, or |
527 | binding agreements. A property owner may not be denied |
528 | permission to install solar collectors or other energy devices |
529 | based on renewable resources by any entity granted the power or |
530 | right in any deed restriction, covenant, or similar binding |
531 | agreement to approve, forbid, control, or direct alteration of |
532 | property with respect to residential dwellings and within the |
533 | boundaries of a condominium unit. not exceeding three stories in |
534 | height. For purposes of this subsection, Such entity may |
535 | determine the specific location where solar collectors may be |
536 | installed on the roof within an orientation to the south or |
537 | within 45° east or west of due south if provided that such |
538 | determination does not impair the effective operation of the |
539 | solar collectors. |
540 | Section 4. Subsection (3) of section 186.007, Florida |
541 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
542 | 186.007 State comprehensive plan; preparation; revision.-- |
543 | (3) In the state comprehensive plan, the Executive Office |
544 | of the Governor may include goals, objectives, and policies |
545 | related to the following program areas: economic opportunities; |
546 | agriculture; employment; public safety; education; health |
547 | concerns; social welfare concerns; housing and community |
548 | development; natural resources and environmental management; |
549 | energy; global climate change; recreational and cultural |
550 | opportunities; historic preservation; transportation; and |
551 | governmental direction and support services. |
552 | Section 5. Subsections (10), (11), and (15) of section |
553 | 187.201, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
554 | 187.201 State Comprehensive Plan adopted.--The Legislature |
555 | hereby adopts as the State Comprehensive Plan the following |
556 | specific goals and policies: |
557 | (10) AIR QUALITY.-- |
558 | (a) Goal.--Florida shall comply with all national air |
559 | quality standards by 1987, and by 1992 meet standards which are |
560 | more stringent than 1985 state standards. |
561 | (b) Policies.-- |
562 | 1. Improve air quality and maintain the improved level to |
563 | safeguard human health and prevent damage to the natural |
564 | environment. |
565 | 2. Ensure that developments and transportation systems are |
566 | consistent with the maintenance of optimum air quality. |
567 | 3. Reduce sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions and |
568 | mitigate their effects on the natural and human environment. |
569 | 4. Encourage the use of alternative energy resources that |
570 | do not degrade air quality. |
571 | 5. Ensure, at a minimum, that power plant fuel conversion |
572 | does not result in higher levels of air pollution. |
573 | 6. Encourage the development of low-carbon-emitting |
574 | electric power plants. |
575 | (11) ENERGY.-- |
576 | (a) Goal.--Florida shall reduce its energy requirements |
577 | through enhanced conservation and efficiency measures in all |
578 | end-use sectors and shall reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide by, |
579 | while at the same time promoting an increased use of renewable |
580 | energy resources and low-carbon-emitting electric power plants. |
581 | (b) Policies.-- |
582 | 1. Continue to reduce per capita energy consumption. |
583 | 2. Encourage and provide incentives for consumer and |
584 | producer energy conservation and establish acceptable energy |
585 | performance standards for buildings and energy consuming items. |
586 | 3. Improve the efficiency of traffic flow on existing |
587 | roads. |
588 | 4. Ensure energy efficiency in transportation design and |
589 | planning and increase the availability of more efficient modes |
590 | of transportation. |
591 | 5. Reduce the need for new power plants by encouraging |
592 | end-use efficiency, reducing peak demand, and using cost- |
593 | effective alternatives. |
594 | 6. Increase the efficient use of energy in design and |
595 | operation of buildings, public utility systems, and other |
596 | infrastructure and related equipment. |
597 | 7. Promote the development and application of solar energy |
598 | technologies and passive solar design techniques. |
599 | 8. Provide information on energy conservation through |
600 | active media campaigns. |
601 | 9. Promote the use and development of renewable energy |
602 | resources and low-carbon-emitting electric power plants. |
603 | 10. Develop and maintain energy preparedness plans that |
604 | will be both practical and effective under circumstances of |
605 | disrupted energy supplies or unexpected price surges. |
606 | (15) LAND USE.-- |
607 | (a) Goal.--In recognition of the importance of preserving |
608 | the natural resources and enhancing the quality of life of the |
609 | state, development shall be directed to those areas which have |
610 | in place, or have agreements to provide, the land and water |
611 | resources, fiscal abilities, and service capacity to accommodate |
612 | growth in an environmentally acceptable manner. |
613 | (b) Policies.-- |
614 | 1. Promote state programs, investments, and development |
615 | and redevelopment activities which encourage efficient |
616 | development and occur in areas which will have the capacity to |
617 | service new population and commerce. |
618 | 2. Develop a system of incentives and disincentives which |
619 | encourages a separation of urban and rural land uses while |
620 | protecting water supplies, resource development, and fish and |
621 | wildlife habitats. |
622 | 3. Enhance the livability and character of urban areas |
623 | through the encouragement of an attractive and functional mix of |
624 | living, working, shopping, and recreational activities. |
625 | 4. Develop a system of intergovernmental negotiation for |
626 | siting locally unpopular public and private land uses which |
627 | considers the area of population served, the impact on land |
628 | development patterns or important natural resources, and the |
629 | cost-effectiveness of service delivery. |
630 | 5. Encourage and assist local governments in establishing |
631 | comprehensive impact-review procedures to evaluate the effects |
632 | of significant development activities in their jurisdictions. |
633 | 6. Consider, in land use planning and regulation, the |
634 | impact of land use on water quality and quantity; the |
635 | availability of land, water, and other natural resources to meet |
636 | demands; and the potential for flooding. |
637 | 7. Provide educational programs and research to meet |
638 | state, regional, and local planning and growth-management needs. |
639 | 8. Provide for the siting of low-carbon-emitting electric |
640 | power plants, including nuclear power plants, to meet the |
641 | state's determined need for electric power generation. |
642 | Section 6. Subsection (14) of section 196.012, Florida |
643 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
644 | 196.012 Definitions.--For the purpose of this chapter, the |
645 | following terms are defined as follows, except where the context |
646 | clearly indicates otherwise: |
647 | (14) "Renewable energy source device" or "device" means |
648 | any of the following equipment which, when installed in |
649 | connection with a dwelling unit or other structure, collects, |
650 | transmits, stores, or uses solar energy, wind energy, or energy |
651 | derived from geothermal deposits: |
652 | (a) Solar energy collectors. |
653 | (b) Storage tanks and other storage systems, excluding |
654 | swimming pools used as storage tanks. |
655 | (c) Rockbeds. |
656 | (d) Thermostats and other control devices. |
657 | (e) Heat exchange devices. |
658 | (f) Pumps and fans. |
659 | (g) Roof ponds. |
660 | (h) Freestanding thermal containers. |
661 | (i) Pipes, ducts, refrigerant handling systems, and other |
662 | equipment used to interconnect such systems; however, |
663 | conventional backup systems of any type are not included in this |
664 | definition. |
665 | (j) Windmills. |
666 | (k) Wind-driven generators. |
667 | (l) Power conditioning and storage devices that use wind |
668 | energy to generate electricity or mechanical forms of energy. |
669 | (m) Pipes and other equipment used to transmit hot |
670 | geothermal water to a dwelling or structure from a geothermal |
671 | deposit. |
672 |
|
673 | "Renewable energy source device" or "device" also means any heat |
674 | pump with an energy efficiency ratio (EER) or a seasonal energy |
675 | efficiency ratio (SEER) exceeding 8.5 and a coefficient of |
676 | performance (COP), exceeding 2.8; waste heat recovery system; or |
677 | water heating system the primary heat source of which is a |
678 | dedicated heat pump or the otherwise unused capacity of a heat |
679 | pump heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning system, provided |
680 | such device is installed in a structure substantially complete |
681 | before January 1, 1985, and whether or not solar energy, wind |
682 | energy, or energy derived from geothermal deposits is collected, |
683 | transmitted, stored, or used by such device. |
684 | Section 7. Section 196.175, Florida Statutes, is amended |
685 | to read: |
686 | 196.175 Renewable energy source exemption.-- |
687 | (1) Improved real property upon which a renewable energy |
688 | source device is installed and operated shall be entitled to an |
689 | exemption in the amount of not greater than the lesser of: |
690 | (a) The assessed value of such real property less any |
691 | other exemptions applicable under this chapter; |
692 | (b) the original cost of the device, including the |
693 | installation cost thereof, but excluding the cost of replacing |
694 | previously existing property removed or improved in the course |
695 | of such installation; or |
696 | (c) Eight percent of the assessed value of such property |
697 | immediately following installation. |
698 | (2) The exempt amount authorized under subsection (1) |
699 | shall apply in full if the device was installed and operative |
700 | throughout the 12-month period preceding January 1 of the year |
701 | of application for this exemption. If the device was operative |
702 | for a portion of that period, the exempt amount authorized under |
703 | this section shall be reduced proportionally. |
704 | (3) It shall be the responsibility of the applicant for an |
705 | exemption pursuant to this section to demonstrate affirmatively |
706 | to the satisfaction of the property appraiser that he or she |
707 | meets the requirements for exemption under this section and that |
708 | the original cost pursuant to paragraph (1)(b) and the period |
709 | for which the device was operative, as indicated on the |
710 | exemption application, are correct. |
711 | (4) No exemption authorized pursuant to this section shall |
712 | be granted for a period of more than 10 years. No exemption |
713 | shall be granted with respect to renewable energy source devices |
714 | installed before January 1, 2009 1980, or after December 31, |
715 | 1990. |
716 | Section 8. Subsection (2) of section 206.43, Florida |
717 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
718 | 206.43 Terminal supplier, importer, exporter, blender, and |
719 | wholesaler to report to department monthly; deduction.--The |
720 | taxes levied and assessed as provided in this part shall be paid |
721 | to the department monthly in the following manner: |
722 | (2)(a) Such report may show in detail the number of |
723 | gallons so sold and delivered by the terminal supplier, |
724 | importer, exporter, blender, or wholesaler in the state, and the |
725 | destination as to the county in the state to which the motor |
726 | fuel was delivered for resale at retail or use shall be |
727 | specified in the report. The total taxable gallons sold shall |
728 | agree with the total gallons reported to the county destinations |
729 | for resale at retail or use. All gallons of motor fuel sold |
730 | shall be invoiced and shall name the county of destination for |
731 | resale at retail or use. |
732 | (b) Each terminal supplier, importer, blender, and |
733 | wholesaler shall also include in the report to the department |
734 | the number of gallons of blended and unblended gasoline, as |
735 | defined in s. 526.203, sold. |
736 | Section 9. Paragraph (ccc) of subsection (7) of section |
737 | 212.08, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
738 | 212.08 Sales, rental, use, consumption, distribution, and |
739 | storage tax; specified exemptions.--The sale at retail, the |
740 | rental, the use, the consumption, the distribution, and the |
741 | storage to be used or consumed in this state of the following |
742 | are hereby specifically exempt from the tax imposed by this |
743 | chapter. |
744 | (7) MISCELLANEOUS EXEMPTIONS.--Exemptions provided to any |
745 | entity by this chapter do not inure to any transaction that is |
746 | otherwise taxable under this chapter when payment is made by a |
747 | representative or employee of the entity by any means, |
748 | including, but not limited to, cash, check, or credit card, even |
749 | when that representative or employee is subsequently reimbursed |
750 | by the entity. In addition, exemptions provided to any entity by |
751 | this subsection do not inure to any transaction that is |
752 | otherwise taxable under this chapter unless the entity has |
753 | obtained a sales tax exemption certificate from the department |
754 | or the entity obtains or provides other documentation as |
755 | required by the department. Eligible purchases or leases made |
756 | with such a certificate must be in strict compliance with this |
757 | subsection and departmental rules, and any person who makes an |
758 | exempt purchase with a certificate that is not in strict |
759 | compliance with this subsection and the rules is liable for and |
760 | shall pay the tax. The department may adopt rules to administer |
761 | this subsection. |
762 | (ccc) Equipment, machinery, and other materials for |
763 | renewable energy technologies.-- |
764 | 1. As used in this paragraph, the term: |
765 | a. "Biodiesel" means the mono-alkyl esters of long-chain |
766 | fatty acids derived from plant or animal matter for use as a |
767 | source of energy and meeting the specifications for biodiesel |
768 | and biodiesel blends with petroleum products as adopted by the |
769 | Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Biodiesel may |
770 | refer to biodiesel blends designated BXX, where XX represents |
771 | the volume percentage of biodiesel fuel in the blend. |
772 | b. "Ethanol" means an nominally anhydrous denatured |
773 | alcohol produced by the conversion of carbohydrates fermentation |
774 | of plant sugars meeting the specifications for fuel ethanol and |
775 | fuel ethanol blends with petroleum products as adopted by the |
776 | Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Ethanol may |
777 | refer to fuel ethanol blends designated EXX, where XX represents |
778 | the volume percentage of fuel ethanol in the blend. |
779 | c. "Hydrogen fuel cells" means equipment using hydrogen or |
780 | a hydrogen-rich fuel in an electrochemical process to generate |
781 | energy, electricity, or the transfer of heat. |
782 | 2. The sale or use of the following in the state is exempt |
783 | from the tax imposed by this chapter: |
784 | a. Hydrogen-powered vehicles, materials incorporated into |
785 | hydrogen-powered vehicles, and hydrogen-fueling stations, up to |
786 | a limit of $2 million in tax each state fiscal year for all |
787 | taxpayers. |
788 | b. Commercial stationary hydrogen fuel cells, up to a |
789 | limit of $1 million in tax each state fiscal year for all |
790 | taxpayers. |
791 | c. Materials used in the distribution of biodiesel (B10- |
792 | B100) and ethanol (E10-E100), including fueling infrastructure, |
793 | transportation, and storage, up to a limit of $1 million in tax |
794 | each state fiscal year for all taxpayers. Gasoline fueling |
795 | station pump retrofits for ethanol (E10-E100) distribution |
796 | qualify for the exemption provided in this sub-subparagraph. |
797 | 3. The Florida Energy and Climate Commission Department of |
798 | Environmental Protection shall provide to the department a list |
799 | of items eligible for the exemption provided in this paragraph. |
800 | 4.a. The exemption provided in this paragraph shall be |
801 | available to a purchaser only through a refund of previously |
802 | paid taxes. An eligible item is subject to refund one time. A |
803 | person who has received a refund on an eligible item shall |
804 | notify the next purchaser of the item that such item is no |
805 | longer eligible for a refund of paid taxes. This notification |
806 | shall be provided to each subsequent purchaser on the sales |
807 | invoice or other proof of purchase. |
808 | b. To be eligible to receive the exemption provided in |
809 | this paragraph, a purchaser shall file an application with the |
810 | Florida Energy and Climate Commission Department of |
811 | Environmental Protection. The application shall be developed by |
812 | the Florida Energy and Climate Commission Department of |
813 | Environmental Protection, in consultation with the department, |
814 | and shall require: |
815 | (I) The name and address of the person claiming the |
816 | refund. |
817 | (II) A specific description of the purchase for which a |
818 | refund is sought, including, when applicable, a serial number or |
819 | other permanent identification number. |
820 | (III) The sales invoice or other proof of purchase showing |
821 | the amount of sales tax paid, the date of purchase, and the name |
822 | and address of the sales tax dealer from whom the property was |
823 | purchased. |
824 | (IV) A sworn statement that the information provided is |
825 | accurate and that the requirements of this paragraph have been |
826 | met. |
827 | c. Within 30 days after receipt of an application, the |
828 | Florida Energy and Climate Commission Department of |
829 | Environmental Protection shall review the application and shall |
830 | notify the applicant of any deficiencies. Upon receipt of a |
831 | completed application, the Florida Energy and Climate Commission |
832 | Department of Environmental Protection shall evaluate the |
833 | application for exemption and issue a written certification that |
834 | the applicant is eligible for a refund or issue a written denial |
835 | of such certification within 60 days after receipt of the |
836 | application. The Florida Energy and Climate Commission |
837 | Department of Environmental Protection shall provide the |
838 | department with a copy of each certification issued upon |
839 | approval of an application. |
840 | d. Each certified applicant shall be responsible for |
841 | forwarding a certified copy of the application and copies of all |
842 | required documentation to the department within 6 months after |
843 | certification by the Florida Energy and Climate Commission |
844 | Department of Environmental Protection. |
845 | e. The provisions of s. 212.095 do not apply to any refund |
846 | application made pursuant to this paragraph. A refund approved |
847 | pursuant to this paragraph shall be made within 30 days after |
848 | formal approval by the department. |
849 | f. The Florida Energy and Climate Commission may adopt the |
850 | form for the application for a certificate, requirements for the |
851 | content and format of information submitted to the Florida |
852 | Energy and Climate Commission in support of the application, |
853 | other procedural requirements, and criteria by which the |
854 | application will be determined by rule. The department may adopt |
855 | all other rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to |
856 | administer this paragraph, including rules establishing |
857 | additional forms and procedures for claiming this exemption. |
858 | g. The Florida Energy and Climate Commission Department of |
859 | Environmental Protection shall be responsible for ensuring that |
860 | the total amounts of the exemptions authorized do not exceed the |
861 | limits as specified in subparagraph 2. |
862 | 5. The Florida Energy and Climate Commission Department of |
863 | Environmental Protection shall determine and publish on a |
864 | regular basis the amount of sales tax funds remaining in each |
865 | fiscal year. |
866 | 6. This paragraph expires July 1, 2010. |
867 | Section 10. Subsection (2) of section 220.191, Florida |
868 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
869 | 220.191 Capital investment tax credit.-- |
870 | (2)(a) An annual credit against the tax imposed by this |
871 | chapter shall be granted to any qualifying business in an amount |
872 | equal to 5 percent of the eligible capital costs generated by a |
873 | qualifying project, for a period not to exceed 20 years |
874 | beginning with the commencement of operations of the project. |
875 | Unless assigned as described in this subsection, the tax credit |
876 | shall be granted against only the corporate income tax liability |
877 | or the premium tax liability generated by or arising out of the |
878 | qualifying project, and the sum of all tax credits provided |
879 | pursuant to this section shall not exceed 100 percent of the |
880 | eligible capital costs of the project. In no event may any |
881 | credit granted under this section be carried forward or backward |
882 | by any qualifying business with respect to a subsequent or prior |
883 | year. The annual tax credit granted under this section shall not |
884 | exceed the following percentages of the annual corporate income |
885 | tax liability or the premium tax liability generated by or |
886 | arising out of a qualifying project: |
887 | 1.(a) One hundred percent for a qualifying project which |
888 | results in a cumulative capital investment of at least $100 |
889 | million. |
890 | 2.(b) Seventy-five percent for a qualifying project which |
891 | results in a cumulative capital investment of at least $50 |
892 | million but less than $100 million. |
893 | 3.(c) Fifty percent for a qualifying project which results |
894 | in a cumulative capital investment of at least $25 million but |
895 | less than $50 million. |
896 | (b) A qualifying project which results in a cumulative |
897 | capital investment of less than $25 million is not eligible for |
898 | the capital investment tax credit. An insurance company claiming |
899 | a credit against premium tax liability under this program shall |
900 | not be required to pay any additional retaliatory tax levied |
901 | pursuant to s. 624.5091 as a result of claiming such credit. |
902 | Because credits under this section are available to an insurance |
903 | company, s. 624.5091 does not limit such credit in any manner. |
904 | (c) A qualifying business that establishes a qualifying |
905 | project that includes locating a new solar panel manufacturing |
906 | facility in this state that generates a minimum of 400 jobs |
907 | within 6 months after commencement of operations with an average |
908 | salary of at least $50,000 may assign or transfer the annual |
909 | credit, or any portion thereof, granted under this section to |
910 | any other business. However, the amount of the tax credit that |
911 | may be transferred in any year shall be the lesser of the |
912 | qualifying business's state corporate income tax liability for |
913 | that year, as limited by the percentages applicable under |
914 | paragraph (a) and as calculated prior to taking any credit |
915 | pursuant to this section, or the credit amount granted for that |
916 | year. A business receiving the transferred or assigned credits |
917 | may use the credits only in the year received, and the credits |
918 | may not be carried forward or backward. To perfect the transfer, |
919 | the transferor shall provide the department with a written |
920 | transfer statement notifying the department of the transferor's |
921 | intent to transfer the tax credits to the transferee; the date |
922 | the transfer is effective; the transferee's name, address, and |
923 | federal taxpayer identification number; the tax period; and the |
924 | amount of tax credits to be transferred. The department shall, |
925 | upon receipt of a transfer statement conforming to the |
926 | requirements of this paragraph, provide the transferee with a |
927 | certificate reflecting the tax credit amounts transferred. A |
928 | copy of the certificate must be attached to each tax return for |
929 | which the transferee seeks to apply such tax credits. |
930 | Section 11. Present subsections (1), (3), (6), and (7) of |
931 | section 220.192, Florida Statutes, are amended, and a new |
932 | subsection (6) is added to that section, to read: |
933 | 220.192 Renewable energy technologies investment tax |
934 | credit.-- |
935 | (1) DEFINITIONS.--For purposes of this section, the term: |
936 | (a) "Biodiesel" means biodiesel as defined in s. |
937 | 212.08(7)(ccc). |
938 | (b) "Corporation" includes a general partnership, limited |
939 | partnership, limited liability company, unincorporated business, |
940 | or other business entity, including entities taxed as |
941 | partnerships for federal income tax purposes. |
942 | (c)(b) "Eligible costs" means: |
943 | 1. Seventy-five percent of all capital costs, operation |
944 | and maintenance costs, and research and development costs |
945 | incurred between July 1, 2006, and June 30, 2010, up to a limit |
946 | of $3 million per state fiscal year for all taxpayers, in |
947 | connection with an investment in hydrogen-powered vehicles and |
948 | hydrogen vehicle fueling stations in the state, including, but |
949 | not limited to, the costs of constructing, installing, and |
950 | equipping such technologies in the state. |
951 | 2. Seventy-five percent of all capital costs, operation |
952 | and maintenance costs, and research and development costs |
953 | incurred between July 1, 2006, and June 30, 2010, up to a limit |
954 | of $1.5 million per state fiscal year for all taxpayers, and |
955 | limited to a maximum of $12,000 per fuel cell, in connection |
956 | with an investment in commercial stationary hydrogen fuel cells |
957 | in the state, including, but not limited to, the costs of |
958 | constructing, installing, and equipping such technologies in the |
959 | state. |
960 | 3. Seventy-five percent of all capital costs, operation |
961 | and maintenance costs, and research and development costs |
962 | incurred between July 1, 2006, and June 30, 2010, up to a limit |
963 | of $6.5 million per state fiscal year for all taxpayers, in |
964 | connection with an investment in the production, storage, and |
965 | distribution of biodiesel (B10-B100) and ethanol (E10-E100) in |
966 | the state, including the costs of constructing, installing, and |
967 | equipping such technologies in the state. Gasoline fueling |
968 | station pump retrofits for ethanol (E10-E100) distribution |
969 | qualify as an eligible cost under this subparagraph. |
970 | (d)(c) "Ethanol" means ethanol as defined in s. |
971 | 212.08(7)(ccc). |
972 | (e)(d) "Hydrogen fuel cell" means hydrogen fuel cell as |
973 | defined in s. 212.08(7)(ccc). |
974 | (f) "Taxpayer" includes a corporation as defined in |
975 | paragraph (b) or s. 220.03. |
976 | (3) CORPORATE APPLICATION PROCESS.--Any corporation |
977 | wishing to obtain tax credits available under this section must |
978 | submit to the Florida Energy and Climate Commission Department |
979 | of Environmental Protection an application for tax credit that |
980 | includes a complete description of all eligible costs for which |
981 | the corporation is seeking a credit and a description of the |
982 | total amount of credits sought. The Florida Energy and Climate |
983 | Commission Department of Environmental Protection shall make a |
984 | determination on the eligibility of the applicant for the |
985 | credits sought and certify the determination to the applicant |
986 | and the Department of Revenue. The corporation must attach the |
987 | Florida Energy and Climate Commission's Department of |
988 | Environmental Protection's certification to the tax return on |
989 | which the credit is claimed. The Florida Energy and Climate |
990 | Commission Department of Environmental Protection shall be |
991 | responsible for ensuring that the corporate income tax credits |
992 | granted in each fiscal year do not exceed the limits provided |
993 | for in this section. The Florida Energy and Climate Commission |
994 | Department of Environmental Protection is authorized to adopt |
995 | the necessary rules, guidelines, and application materials for |
996 | the application process. |
997 | (6) TRANSFERABILITY OF CREDIT.-- |
998 | (a) For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2009, |
999 | any corporation or subsequent transferee allowed a tax credit |
1000 | under this section may transfer the credit, in whole or in part, |
1001 | to any taxpayer by written agreement without transferring any |
1002 | ownership interest in the property generating the credit or any |
1003 | interest in the entity owning such property. The transferee is |
1004 | entitled to apply the credits against the tax with the same |
1005 | effect as if the transferee had incurred the eligible costs. |
1006 | (b) To perfect the transfer, the transferor shall provide |
1007 | the department with a written transfer statement notifying the |
1008 | department of the transferor's intent to transfer the tax |
1009 | credits to the transferee; the date the transfer is effective; |
1010 | the transferee's name, address, and federal taxpayer |
1011 | identification number; the tax period; and the amount of tax |
1012 | credits to be transferred. The department shall, upon receipt of |
1013 | a transfer statement conforming to the requirements of this |
1014 | section, provide the transferee with a certificate reflecting |
1015 | the tax credit amounts transferred. A copy of the certificate |
1016 | must be attached to each tax return for which the transferee |
1017 | seeks to apply such tax credits. |
1018 | (c) A tax credit authorized under this section that is |
1019 | held by a corporation and not transferred under this subsection |
1020 | shall be passed through to the taxpayers designated as partners, |
1021 | members, or owners, respectively, in the manner agreed to by |
1022 | such persons regardless of whether such partners, members, or |
1023 | owners are allocated or allowed any portion of the federal |
1024 | energy tax credit for the eligible costs. A corporation that |
1025 | passes the credit through to a partner, member, or owner must |
1026 | comply with the notification requirements described in paragraph |
1027 | (b). The partner, member, or owner must attach a copy of the |
1028 | certificate to each tax return on which the partner, member, or |
1029 | owner claims any portion of the credit. |
1030 | (7)(6) RULES.--The Department of Revenue shall have the |
1031 | authority to adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 |
1032 | to administer this section, including rules relating to: |
1033 | (a) The forms required to claim a tax credit under this |
1034 | section, the requirements and basis for establishing an |
1035 | entitlement to a credit, and the examination and audit |
1036 | procedures required to administer this section. |
1037 | (b) The implementation and administration of the |
1038 | provisions allowing a transfer of a tax credit, including rules |
1039 | prescribing forms, reporting requirements, and specific |
1040 | procedures, guidelines, and requirements necessary to transfer a |
1041 | tax credit. |
1042 | (8)(7) PUBLICATION.--The Florida Energy and Climate |
1043 | Commission Department of Environmental Protection shall |
1044 | determine and publish on a regular basis the amount of available |
1045 | tax credits remaining in each fiscal year. |
1046 | Section 12. Paragraphs (f) and (g) are added to subsection |
1047 | (2) and paragraphs (j) and (k) are added to subsection (3) of |
1048 | section 220.193, Florida Statutes, to read: |
1049 | 220.193 Florida renewable energy production credit.-- |
1050 | (2) As used in this section, the term: |
1051 | (f) "Sale" or "sold" includes the use of electricity by |
1052 | the producer of such electricity which decreases the amount of |
1053 | electricity that the producer would otherwise have to purchase. |
1054 | (g) "Taxpayer" includes a general partnership, limited |
1055 | partnership, limited liability company, trust, or other |
1056 | artificial entity in which a corporation, as defined in s. |
1057 | 220.03(1)(e), owns an interest and is taxed as a partnership or |
1058 | is disregarded as a separate entity from the corporation under |
1059 | this chapter. |
1060 | (3) An annual credit against the tax imposed by this |
1061 | section shall be allowed to a taxpayer, based on the taxpayer's |
1062 | production and sale of electricity from a new or expanded |
1063 | Florida renewable energy facility. For a new facility, the |
1064 | credit shall be based on the taxpayer's sale of the facility's |
1065 | entire electrical production. For an expanded facility, the |
1066 | credit shall be based on the increases in the facility's |
1067 | electrical production that are achieved after May 1, 2006. |
1068 | (j) When an entity treated as a partnership or a |
1069 | disregarded entity under this chapter produces and sells |
1070 | electricity from a new or expanded renewable energy facility, |
1071 | the credit earned by such entity shall pass through in the same |
1072 | manner as items of income and expense pass through for federal |
1073 | income tax purposes. When an entity applies for the credit and |
1074 | the entity has received the credit by a pass-through, the |
1075 | application must identify the taxpayer that passed the credit |
1076 | through, all taxpayers that received the credit, and the |
1077 | percentage of the credit that passes through to each recipient |
1078 | and must provide other information that the department requires. |
1079 | (k) A taxpayer's use of the credit granted pursuant to |
1080 | this section does not reduce the amount of any credit available |
1081 | to such taxpayer under s. 220.186. |
1082 | Section 13. It is the intent of the Legislature that the |
1083 | amendments made by this act to s. 220.193, Florida Statutes, are |
1084 | remedial in nature and apply retroactively to the effective date |
1085 | of the law establishing the credit. |
1086 | Section 14. Subsection (2) of section 253.02, Florida |
1087 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
1088 | 253.02 Board of trustees; powers and duties.-- |
1089 | (2)(a) The board of trustees shall not sell, transfer, or |
1090 | otherwise dispose of any lands the title to which is vested in |
1091 | the board of trustees except by vote of at least three of the |
1092 | four trustees. |
1093 | (b) The authority of the board of trustees to grant |
1094 | easements for rights-of-way over, across, and upon uplands the |
1095 | title to which is vested in the board of trustees for the |
1096 | construction and operation of electric transmission and |
1097 | distribution facilities and related appurtenances is hereby |
1098 | confirmed. The board of trustees may delegate to the Secretary |
1099 | of Environmental Protection the authority to grant such |
1100 | easements on its behalf. All easements for rights-of-way over, |
1101 | across, and upon uplands the title to which is vested in the |
1102 | board of trustees for the construction and operation of electric |
1103 | transmission and distribution facilities and related |
1104 | appurtenances which are approved by the Secretary of |
1105 | Environmental Protection pursuant to the authority delegated by |
1106 | the board of trustees shall meet the following criteria: |
1107 | 1. Such easements shall not prevent the use of the state- |
1108 | owned uplands adjacent to the easement area for the purposes for |
1109 | which such lands were acquired and shall not unreasonably |
1110 | diminish the ecological, conservation, or recreational values of |
1111 | the state-owned uplands adjacent to the easement area. |
1112 | 2. There is no practical and prudent alternative to |
1113 | locating the linear facility and related appurtenances on state- |
1114 | owned upland. For purposes of this subparagraph, the test of |
1115 | practicality and prudence shall compare the social, economic, |
1116 | and environmental effects of the alternatives. |
1117 | 3. Appropriate steps are taken to minimize the impacts to |
1118 | state-owned uplands. Such steps may include: |
1119 | a. Siting of facilities so as to reduce impacts and |
1120 | minimize fragmentation of the overall state-owned parcel; |
1121 | b. Avoiding significant wildlife habitat, wetlands, or |
1122 | other valuable natural resources to the maximum extent |
1123 | practicable; or |
1124 | c. Avoiding interference with active land management |
1125 | practices, such as prescribed burning. |
1126 | 4. Except for easements granted as a part of a land |
1127 | exchange to accomplish a recreational or conservation benefit or |
1128 | other public purpose, in exchange for such easements, the |
1129 | grantee pays an amount equal to the market value of the interest |
1130 | acquired. In addition, for the initial grant of such easements |
1131 | only, the grantee shall provide additional compensation by |
1132 | vesting in the board of trustees fee simple title to other |
1133 | available uplands that are 1.5 times the size of the easement |
1134 | acquired by the grantee. The Secretary of Environmental |
1135 | Protection shall approve the property to be acquired on behalf |
1136 | of the board of trustees based on the geographic location in |
1137 | relation to the land proposed to be under easement and a |
1138 | determination that economic, ecological, and recreational value |
1139 | is at least equivalent to the value of the lands under proposed |
1140 | easement. Priority for replacement uplands shall be given to |
1141 | parcels identified as in-holdings and additions to public lands |
1142 | and lands on a Florida Forever land acquisition list. However, |
1143 | if suitable replacement uplands cannot be identified, the |
1144 | grantee shall provide additional compensation for the initial |
1145 | grant of such easements only by paying to the department an |
1146 | amount equal to 2 times the current market value of the state- |
1147 | owned land or the highest and best use value at the time of |
1148 | purchase, whichever is greater. When determining such use of |
1149 | funds, priority shall be given to parcels identified as in- |
1150 | holdings and additions to public lands and lands on a Florida |
1151 | Forever land acquisition list. |
1152 | (c) Where authority to approve easements for rights-of-way |
1153 | over, across, and upon uplands the title to which is vested in |
1154 | the board of trustees for the construction and operation of |
1155 | electric transmission and distribution facilities and related |
1156 | appurtenances has not been delegated to the Secretary of |
1157 | Environmental Protection, the board of trustees shall apply the |
1158 | same criteria and require the same compensation as provided |
1159 | above, provided, however, the board of trustees shall have the |
1160 | discretion to determine the amount of replacement lands required |
1161 | within a range of from one to two times the size of the easement |
1162 | acquired by the grantee, depending upon the degree to which the |
1163 | proposed use of the easement will interfere with the manner in |
1164 | which the lands within the proposed easement area have |
1165 | historically been managed. |
1166 | Section 15. Paragraph (d) of subsection (3) of section |
1167 | 255.249, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
1168 | 255.249 Department of Management Services; responsibility; |
1169 | department rules.-- |
1170 | (3) |
1171 | (d) By June 30 of each year, each state agency shall |
1172 | annually provide to the department all information regarding |
1173 | agency programs affecting the need for or use of space by that |
1174 | agency, reviews of lease-expiration schedules for each |
1175 | geographic area, active and planned full-time equivalent data, |
1176 | business case analyses related to consolidation plans by an |
1177 | agency, a telecommuting program, and current occupancy and |
1178 | relocation costs, inclusive of furnishings, fixtures and |
1179 | equipment, data, and communications. |
1180 | Section 16. Section 255.251, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1181 | to read: |
1182 | 255.251 Energy Conservation and Sustainable in Buildings |
1183 | Act; short title.--This act shall be cited as the "Florida |
1184 | Energy Conservation and Sustainable in Buildings Act of 1974." |
1185 | Section 17. Section 255.252, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1186 | to read: |
1187 | 255.252 Findings and intent.-- |
1188 | (1) Operating and maintenance expenditures associated with |
1189 | energy equipment and with energy consumed in state-financed and |
1190 | leased buildings represent a significant cost over the life of a |
1191 | building. Energy conserved by appropriate building design not |
1192 | only reduces the demand for energy but also reduces costs for |
1193 | building operation. For example, commercial buildings are |
1194 | estimated to use from 20 to 80 percent more energy than would be |
1195 | required if energy-conserving designs were used. The size, |
1196 | design, orientation, and operability of windows, the ratio of |
1197 | ventilating air to air heated or cooled, the level of lighting |
1198 | consonant with space-use requirements, the handling of occupancy |
1199 | loads, and the ability to zone off areas not requiring |
1200 | equivalent levels of heating or cooling are but a few of the |
1201 | considerations necessary to conserving energy. |
1202 | (2) Significant efforts are needed to build energy- |
1203 | efficient state-owned buildings that meet environmental |
1204 | standards and underway by the General Services Administration, |
1205 | the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and others |
1206 | to detail the considerations and practices for energy |
1207 | conservation in buildings. Most important is that energy- |
1208 | efficient designs provide energy savings over the life of the |
1209 | building structure. Conversely, energy-inefficient designs cause |
1210 | excess and wasteful energy use and high costs over that life. |
1211 | With buildings lasting many decades and with energy costs |
1212 | escalating rapidly, it is essential that the costs of operation |
1213 | and maintenance for energy-using equipment and sustainable |
1214 | materials be included in all design proposals for state-owned |
1215 | state buildings. |
1216 | (3) In order that such energy-efficiency and sustainable |
1217 | materials considerations become a function of building design, |
1218 | and also a model for future application in the private sector, |
1219 | it shall be the policy of the state that buildings constructed |
1220 | and financed by the state be designed and constructed to comply |
1221 | with the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership |
1222 | in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, the |
1223 | Green Building Initiative's Green Globes rating system, the |
1224 | Florida Green Building Coalition standards, or a nationally |
1225 | recognized, high-performance green building rating system as |
1226 | approved by the department in a manner which will minimize the |
1227 | consumption of energy used in the operation and maintenance of |
1228 | such buildings. It is further the policy of the state, when |
1229 | economically feasible, to retrofit existing state-owned |
1230 | buildings in a manner which will minimize the consumption of |
1231 | energy used in the operation and maintenance of such buildings. |
1232 | (4) In addition to designing and constructing new |
1233 | buildings to be energy-efficient, it shall be the policy of the |
1234 | state to operate and, maintain, and renovate existing state |
1235 | facilities, or provide for their renovation, in a manner which |
1236 | will minimize energy consumption and maximize building |
1237 | sustainability as well as ensure that facilities leased by the |
1238 | state are operated so as to minimize energy use. It is further |
1239 | the policy of the state that the renovation of existing state |
1240 | facilities be in accordance with the United States Green |
1241 | Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental |
1242 | Design (LEED) rating system, the Green Building Initiative's |
1243 | Green Globes rating system, the Florida Green Building Coalition |
1244 | standards, or a nationally recognized, high-performance green |
1245 | building rating system as approved by the department. State |
1246 | agencies are encouraged to consider shared savings financing of |
1247 | such energy efficiency and conservation projects, using |
1248 | contracts which split the resulting savings for a specified |
1249 | period of time between the state agency and the private firm or |
1250 | cogeneration contracts which otherwise permit the state to lower |
1251 | its net energy costs. Such energy contracts may be funded from |
1252 | the operating budget. |
1253 | (5) Each state agency occupying space within buildings |
1254 | owned or managed by the Department of Management Services must |
1255 | identify and compile a list of projects determined to be |
1256 | suitable for a guaranteed energy, water, and wastewater |
1257 | performance savings contract pursuant to s. 489.145. The list of |
1258 | projects compiled by each state agency shall be submitted to the |
1259 | Department of Management Services by December 31, 2008, and must |
1260 | include all criteria used to determine suitability. The list of |
1261 | projects shall be developed from the list of state-owned |
1262 | facilities more than 5,000 square feet in area and for which the |
1263 | state agency is responsible for paying the expenses of utilities |
1264 | and other operating expenses as they relate to energy use. In |
1265 | consultation with the head of each state agency, by July 1, |
1266 | 2009, the department shall prioritize all projects deemed |
1267 | suitable by each state agency and shall develop an energy |
1268 | efficiency project schedule based on factors such as project |
1269 | magnitude, efficiency and effectiveness of energy conservation |
1270 | measures to be implemented, and other factors that may prove to |
1271 | be advantageous to pursue. The schedule shall provide the |
1272 | deadline for guaranteed energy, water, and wastewater |
1273 | performance savings contract improvements to be made to the |
1274 | state-owned buildings. |
1275 | Section 18. Subsections (6) and (7) are added to section |
1276 | 255.253, Florida Statutes, to read: |
1277 | 255.253 Definitions; ss. 255.251-255.258.-- |
1278 | (6) "Sustainable building" means a building that is |
1279 | healthy and comfortable for its occupants and is economical to |
1280 | operate while conserving resources, including energy, water, and |
1281 | raw materials and land, and minimizing the generation and use of |
1282 | toxic materials and waste in its design, construction, |
1283 | landscaping, and operation. |
1284 | (7) "Sustainable building rating" means a rating |
1285 | established by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) |
1286 | Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating |
1287 | system, the Green Building Initiative's Green Globes rating |
1288 | system, the Florida Green Building Coalition standards, or a |
1289 | nationally recognized, high-performance green building rating |
1290 | system as approved by the department. |
1291 | Section 19. Subsection (1) of section 255.254, Florida |
1292 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
1293 | 255.254 No facility constructed or leased without life- |
1294 | cycle costs.-- |
1295 | (1) No state agency shall lease, construct, or have |
1296 | constructed, within limits prescribed in this section herein, a |
1297 | facility without having secured from the department an a proper |
1298 | evaluation of life-cycle costs based on sustainable building |
1299 | ratings, as computed by an architect or engineer. Furthermore, |
1300 | construction shall proceed only upon disclosing to the |
1301 | department, for the facility chosen, the life-cycle costs as |
1302 | determined in s. 255.255, the facility's sustainable building |
1303 | rating goal, and the capitalization of the initial construction |
1304 | costs of the building. The life-cycle costs and the sustainable |
1305 | building rating goal shall be a primary considerations |
1306 | consideration in the selection of a building design. Such |
1307 | analysis shall be required only for construction of buildings |
1308 | with an area of 5,000 square feet or greater. For leased |
1309 | buildings more than 5,000 areas of 20,000 square feet in area or |
1310 | greater within a given building boundary, an energy performance |
1311 | a life-cycle analysis consisting of a projection of the annual |
1312 | energy consumption costs in dollars per square foot of major |
1313 | energy-consuming equipment and systems based on actual expenses |
1314 | from the last 3 years and projected forward for the term of the |
1315 | proposed lease shall be performed. The, and a lease shall only |
1316 | be made where there is a showing that the energy life-cycle |
1317 | costs incurred by the state are minimal compared to available |
1318 | like facilities. A lease agreement for any building leased by |
1319 | the state from a private-sector entity shall include provisions |
1320 | for monthly energy use data to be collected and submitted |
1321 | monthly to the department by the owner of the building. |
1322 | Section 20. Subsection (1) of section 255.255, Florida |
1323 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
1324 | 255.255 Life-cycle costs.-- |
1325 | (1) The department shall adopt promulgate rules and |
1326 | procedures, including energy conservation performance guidelines |
1327 | based on sustainable building ratings, for conducting a life- |
1328 | cycle cost analysis of alternative architectural and engineering |
1329 | designs and alternative major items of energy-consuming |
1330 | equipment to be retrofitted in existing state-owned or leased |
1331 | facilities and for developing energy performance indices to |
1332 | evaluate the efficiency of energy utilization for competing |
1333 | designs in the construction of state-financed and leased |
1334 | facilities. |
1335 | Section 21. Section 255.257, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1336 | to read: |
1337 | 255.257 Energy management; buildings occupied by state |
1338 | agencies.-- |
1339 | (1) ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND COST DATA.--Each state agency |
1340 | shall collect data on energy consumption and cost. The data |
1341 | gathered shall be on state-owned facilities and metered state- |
1342 | leased facilities of 5,000 net square feet or more. These data |
1343 | will be used in the computation of the effectiveness of the |
1344 | state energy management plan and the effectiveness of the energy |
1345 | management program of each of the state agencies. Collected data |
1346 | shall be reported annually to the department in a format |
1347 | prescribed by the department. |
1348 | (2) ENERGY MANAGEMENT COORDINATORS.--Each state agency, |
1349 | the Florida Public Service Commission, the Department of |
1350 | Military Affairs, and the judicial branch shall appoint a |
1351 | coordinator whose responsibility shall be to advise the head of |
1352 | the state agency on matters relating to energy consumption in |
1353 | facilities under the control of that head or in space occupied |
1354 | by the various units comprising that state agency, in vehicles |
1355 | operated by that state agency, and in other energy-consuming |
1356 | activities of the state agency. The coordinator shall implement |
1357 | the energy management program agreed upon by the state agency |
1358 | concerned and assist the department in the development of the |
1359 | State Energy Management Plan. |
1360 | (3) CONTENTS OF THE STATE ENERGY MANAGEMENT PLAN.--The |
1361 | Department of Management Services shall may develop a state |
1362 | energy management plan consisting of, but not limited to, the |
1363 | following elements: |
1364 | (a) Data-gathering requirements; |
1365 | (b) Building energy audit procedures; |
1366 | (c) Uniform data analysis procedures; |
1367 | (d) Employee energy education program measures; |
1368 | (e) Energy consumption reduction techniques; |
1369 | (f) Training program for state agency energy management |
1370 | coordinators; and |
1371 | (g) Guidelines for building managers. |
1372 |
|
1373 | The plan shall include a description of actions that state |
1374 | agencies shall take to reduce consumption of electricity and |
1375 | nonrenewable energy sources used for space heating and cooling, |
1376 | ventilation, lighting, water heating, and transportation. |
1377 | (4) ADOPTION OF STANDARDS.-- |
1378 | (a) All state agencies shall adopt the United States Green |
1379 | Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental |
1380 | Design (LEED) rating system, the Green Building Initiative's |
1381 | Green Globes rating system, the Florida Green Building Coalition |
1382 | standards, or a nationally recognized, high-performance green |
1383 | building rating system as approved by the department for all new |
1384 | buildings and renovations to existing buildings. |
1385 | (b) No state agency shall enter into new leasing |
1386 | agreements for office space that does not meet Energy Star |
1387 | building standards, except when determined by the appropriate |
1388 | state agency head that no other viable or cost-effective |
1389 | alternative exists. |
1390 | (c) All state agencies shall develop energy conservation |
1391 | measures and guidelines for new and existing office space where |
1392 | state agencies occupy more than 5,000 square feet. These |
1393 | conservation measures shall focus on programs that may reduce |
1394 | energy consumption and, when established, provide a net |
1395 | reduction in occupancy costs. |
1396 | Section 22. (1) The Legislature declares that there is an |
1397 | important state interest in promoting the construction of |
1398 | energy-efficient and sustainable buildings. Government |
1399 | leadership in promoting these standards is vital to demonstrate |
1400 | the state's commitment to energy conservation, saving taxpayers |
1401 | money, and raising public awareness of energy-rating systems. |
1402 | (2) All county, municipal, school district, water |
1403 | management district, state university, community college, and |
1404 | Florida state court buildings shall be constructed to meet the |
1405 | United States Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in |
1406 | Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, the Green |
1407 | Building Initiative's Green Globes rating system, the Florida |
1408 | Green Building Coalition standards, or a nationally recognized, |
1409 | high-performance green building rating system as approved by the |
1410 | Department of Management Services. This section shall apply to |
1411 | all county, municipal, school district, water management |
1412 | district, state university, community college, and Florida state |
1413 | court buildings the architectural plans of which are commenced |
1414 | after July 1, 2008. |
1415 | (3) St. Petersburg College may work with the Florida |
1416 | Community College System and may consult with the University of |
1417 | Florida to provide training and educational opportunities that |
1418 | will ensure that green building rating system certifying agents |
1419 | (accredited professionals who possess a knowledge and |
1420 | understanding of green building processes, practices, and |
1421 | principles) are available to work with the entities specified in |
1422 | subsection (2) as they construct public buildings to meet green |
1423 | building rating system standards. St. Petersburg College may |
1424 | work with the construction industry to develop online continuing |
1425 | education curriculum for use statewide by builders constructing |
1426 | energy-efficient and sustainable public-sector buildings and |
1427 | students interested in the college's Green/Sustainability Track |
1428 | in its Management and Organization Leadership area of study. |
1429 | Curriculum developed may be offered by St. Petersburg College or |
1430 | in cooperation with other programs at other community colleges. |
1431 | Section 23. Section 286.29, Florida Statutes, is created |
1432 | to read: |
1433 | 286.29 Climate-friendly public business.--The Legislature |
1434 | recognizes the importance of leadership by state government in |
1435 | the area of energy efficiency and in reducing the greenhouse gas |
1436 | emissions of state government operations. The following shall |
1437 | pertain to all state agencies when conducting public business: |
1438 | (1) The Department of Management Services shall develop |
1439 | the "Florida Climate-Friendly Preferred Products List." In |
1440 | maintaining that list, the department, in consultation with the |
1441 | Department of Environmental Protection, shall continually assess |
1442 | products currently available for purchase under state term |
1443 | contracts to identify specific products and vendors that offer |
1444 | clear energy efficiency or other environmental benefits over |
1445 | competing products. When procuring products from state term |
1446 | contracts, state agencies shall first consult the Florida |
1447 | Climate-Friendly Preferred Products List and procure such |
1448 | products if the price is comparable. |
1449 | (2) Effective July 1, 2008, state agencies shall contract |
1450 | for meeting and conference space only with hotels or conference |
1451 | facilities that have received the "Green Lodging" designation |
1452 | from the Department of Environmental Protection for best |
1453 | practices in water, energy, and waste efficiency standards, |
1454 | unless the responsible state agency head makes a determination |
1455 | that no other viable alternative exists. The Department of |
1456 | Environmental Protection is authorized to adopt rules to |
1457 | implement the "Green Lodging" program. |
1458 | (3) Each state agency shall ensure that all maintained |
1459 | vehicles meet minimum maintenance schedules shown to reduce fuel |
1460 | consumption, which include: ensuring appropriate tire pressures |
1461 | and tread depth; replacing fuel filters and emission filters at |
1462 | recommended intervals; using proper motor oils; and performing |
1463 | timely motor maintenance. Each state agency shall measure and |
1464 | report compliance to the Department of Management Services |
1465 | through the Equipment Management Information System database. |
1466 | (4) When procuring new vehicles, all state agencies, state |
1467 | universities, community colleges, and local governments that |
1468 | purchase vehicles under a state purchasing plan shall first |
1469 | define the intended purpose for the vehicle and determine which |
1470 | of the following use classes for which the vehicle is being |
1471 | procured: |
1472 | (a) State business travel, designated operator; |
1473 | (b) State business travel, pool operators; |
1474 | (c) Construction, agricultural, or maintenance work; |
1475 | (d) Conveyance of passengers; |
1476 | (e) Conveyance of building or maintenance materials and |
1477 | supplies; |
1478 | (f) Off-road vehicle, motorcycle, or all-terrain vehicle; |
1479 | (g) Emergency response; or |
1480 | (h) Other. |
1481 | |
1482 | Vehicles described in paragraphs (a) through (h), when being |
1483 | processed for purchase or leasing agreements, must be selected |
1484 | for the greatest fuel efficiency available for a given use class |
1485 | when fuel economy data are available. Exceptions may be made for |
1486 | individual vehicles in paragraph (g) when accompanied, during |
1487 | the procurement process, by documentation indicating that the |
1488 | operator or operators will exclusively be emergency first |
1489 | responders or have special documented need for exceptional |
1490 | vehicle performance characteristics. Any request for an |
1491 | exception must be approved by the purchasing agency head and any |
1492 | exceptional performance characteristics denoted as a part of the |
1493 | procurement process prior to purchase. |
1494 | (5) All state agencies shall use ethanol and biodiesel |
1495 | blended fuels when available. State agencies administering |
1496 | central fueling operations for state-owned vehicles shall |
1497 | procure biofuels for fleet needs to the greatest extent |
1498 | practicable. |
1499 | Section 24. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) and subsection |
1500 | (5) of section 287.063, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
1501 | 287.063 Deferred-payment commodity contracts; preaudit |
1502 | review.-- |
1503 | (2) |
1504 | (b) The Chief Financial Officer shall establish, by rule, |
1505 | criteria for approving purchases made under deferred-payment |
1506 | contracts which require the payment of interest. Criteria shall |
1507 | include, but not be limited to, the following provisions: |
1508 | 1. No contract shall be approved in which interest exceeds |
1509 | the statutory ceiling contained in this section. However, the |
1510 | interest component of any master equipment financing agreement |
1511 | entered into for the purpose of consolidated financing of a |
1512 | deferred-payment, installment sale, or lease-purchase shall be |
1513 | deemed to comply with the interest rate limitation of this |
1514 | section so long as the interest component of every interagency |
1515 | agreement under such master equipment financing agreement |
1516 | complies with the interest rate limitation of this section. |
1517 | 2. No deferred-payment purchase for less than $30,000 |
1518 | shall be approved, unless it can be satisfactorily demonstrated |
1519 | and documented to the Chief Financial Officer that failure to |
1520 | make such deferred-payment purchase would adversely affect an |
1521 | agency in the performance of its duties. However, the Chief |
1522 | Financial Officer may approve any deferred-payment purchase if |
1523 | the Chief Financial Officer determines that such purchase is |
1524 | economically beneficial to the state. |
1525 | 3. No agency shall obligate an annualized amount of |
1526 | payments for deferred-payment purchases in excess of current |
1527 | operating capital outlay appropriations, unless specifically |
1528 | authorized by law or unless it can be satisfactorily |
1529 | demonstrated and documented to the Chief Financial Officer that |
1530 | failure to make such deferred-payment purchase would adversely |
1531 | affect an agency in the performance of its duties. |
1532 | 3.4. No contract shall be approved which extends payment |
1533 | beyond 5 years, unless it can be satisfactorily demonstrated and |
1534 | documented to the Chief Financial Officer that failure to make |
1535 | such deferred-payment purchase would adversely affect an agency |
1536 | in the performance of its duties. The payment term may not |
1537 | exceed the useful life of the equipment unless the contract |
1538 | provides for the replacement or the extension of the useful life |
1539 | of the equipment during the term of the loan. |
1540 | (5) For purposes of this section, the annualized amount of |
1541 | any such deferred payment commodity contract must be supported |
1542 | from available recurring funds appropriated to the agency in an |
1543 | appropriation category, other than the expense appropriation |
1544 | category as defined in chapter 216, that the Chief Financial |
1545 | Officer has determined is appropriate or that the Legislature |
1546 | has designated for payment of the obligation incurred under this |
1547 | section. |
1548 | Section 25. Subsections (10) and (11) of section 287.064, |
1549 | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
1550 | 287.064 Consolidated financing of deferred-payment |
1551 | purchases.-- |
1552 | (10)(a) A master equipment financing agreement may finance |
1553 | Costs incurred pursuant to a guaranteed energy performance |
1554 | savings contract, including the cost of energy, water, or |
1555 | wastewater efficiency and conservation measures, each as defined |
1556 | in s. 489.145, excluding may be financed pursuant to a master |
1557 | equipment financing agreement; however, the costs of training, |
1558 | operation, and maintenance, for a term of repayment that may not |
1559 | be financed. The period of time for repayment of the funds drawn |
1560 | pursuant to the master equipment financing agreement under this |
1561 | subsection may exceed 5 years but may not exceed 20 10 years. |
1562 | (b) The guaranteed energy, water, and wastewater savings |
1563 | contractor shall provide for the replacement or the extension of |
1564 | the useful life of the equipment during the term of the |
1565 | contract. |
1566 | (11) For purposes of consolidated financing of deferred |
1567 | payment commodity contracts under this section by a state |
1568 | agency, the annualized amount of any such contract must be |
1569 | supported from available recurring funds appropriated to the |
1570 | agency in an appropriation category, other than the expense |
1571 | appropriation category as defined in chapter 216, which that the |
1572 | Chief Financial Officer has determined is appropriate or which |
1573 | that the Legislature has designated for payment of the |
1574 | obligation incurred under this section. |
1575 | Section 26. Subsection (12) of section 287.16, Florida |
1576 | Statutes, is added to read: |
1577 | 287.16 Powers and duties of department.--The Department of |
1578 | Management Services shall have the following powers, duties, and |
1579 | responsibilities: |
1580 | (12) To conduct, in coordination with the Department of |
1581 | Transportation, an analysis of fuel additive and biofuel use by |
1582 | the Department of Transportation through its central fueling |
1583 | facilities. The department shall encourage other state |
1584 | government entities to analyze transportation fuel usage, |
1585 | including the different types and percentages of fuels consumed, |
1586 | and report such information to the department. |
1587 |
|
1588 | Section 27. Present paragraphs (a) through (n) of |
1589 | subsection (2) of section 288.1089, Florida Statutes, are |
1590 | redesignated as paragraphs (b) through (o), respectively, and a |
1591 | new paragraph (a) is added to that subsection, subsections (3), |
1592 | (5), (6), and (7) of that section are amended, and paragraph (d) |
1593 | is added to subsection (4) of that section, to read: |
1594 | 288.1089 Innovation Incentive Program.-- |
1595 | (1) The Innovation Incentive Program is created within the |
1596 | Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development to ensure |
1597 | that sufficient resources are available to allow the state to |
1598 | respond expeditiously to extraordinary economic opportunities |
1599 | and to compete effectively for high-value research and |
1600 | development and innovation business projects. |
1601 | (2) As used in this section, the term: |
1602 | (a) "Alternative and renewable energy" means electrical, |
1603 | mechanical, or thermal energy produced from a method that uses |
1604 | one or more of the following fuels or energy sources: ethanol, |
1605 | cellulosic ethanol, biobutanol, biodiesel, biomass, biogas, |
1606 | hydrogen fuel cells, ocean energy, hydrogen, solar, hydro, wind, |
1607 | or geothermal. |
1608 | (3) To be eligible for consideration for an innovation |
1609 | incentive award, an innovation business or research and |
1610 | development entity, or alternative and renewable energy project |
1611 | must submit a written application to Enterprise Florida, Inc., |
1612 | before making a decision to locate new operations in this state |
1613 | or expand an existing operation in this state. The application |
1614 | must include, but not be limited to: |
1615 | (a) The applicant's federal employer identification |
1616 | number, unemployment account number, and state sales tax |
1617 | registration number. If such numbers are not available at the |
1618 | time of application, they must be submitted to the office in |
1619 | writing prior to the disbursement of any payments under this |
1620 | section. |
1621 | (b) The location in this state at which the project is |
1622 | located or is to be located. |
1623 | (c) A description of the type of business activity, |
1624 | product, or research and development undertaken by the |
1625 | applicant, including six-digit North American Industry |
1626 | Classification System codes for all activities included in the |
1627 | project. |
1628 | (d) The applicant's projected investment in the project. |
1629 | (e) The total investment, from all sources, in the |
1630 | project. |
1631 | (f) The number of net new full-time equivalent jobs in |
1632 | this state the applicant anticipates having created as of |
1633 | December 31 of each year in the project and the average annual |
1634 | wage of such jobs. |
1635 | (g) The total number of full-time equivalent employees |
1636 | currently employed by the applicant in this state, if |
1637 | applicable. |
1638 | (h) The anticipated commencement date of the project. |
1639 | (i) A detailed explanation of why the innovation incentive |
1640 | is needed to induce the applicant to expand or locate in the |
1641 | state and whether an award would cause the applicant to locate |
1642 | or expand in this state. |
1643 | (j) If applicable, an estimate of the proportion of the |
1644 | revenues resulting from the project that will be generated |
1645 | outside this state. |
1646 | (4) To qualify for review by the office, the applicant |
1647 | must, at a minimum, establish the following to the satisfaction |
1648 | of Enterprise Florida, Inc., and the office: |
1649 | (d) For an alternative and renewable energy project in |
1650 | this state, the project must: |
1651 | 1. Demonstrate a plan for significant collaboration with |
1652 | an institution of higher education; |
1653 | 2. Provide the state, at a minimum, a break-even return on |
1654 | investment within a 20-year period; |
1655 | 3. Include matching funds provided by the applicant or |
1656 | other available sources. This requirement may be waived if the |
1657 | office and the department determine that the merits of the |
1658 | individual project or the specific circumstances warrant such |
1659 | action; |
1660 | 4. Be located in this state; |
1661 | 5. Provide jobs that pay an estimated annual average wage |
1662 | that equals at least 130 percent of the average private-sector |
1663 | wage. The average wage requirement may be waived if the office |
1664 | and the commission determine that the merits of the individual |
1665 | project or the specific circumstances warrant such action; and |
1666 | 6. Meet one of the following criteria: |
1667 | a. Result in the creation of at least 35 direct, new jobs |
1668 | at the business. |
1669 | b. Have an activity or product that uses feedstock or |
1670 | other raw materials grown or produced in this state. |
1671 | c. Have a cumulative investment of at least $50 million |
1672 | within a 5-year period. |
1673 | d. Address the technical feasibility of the technology, |
1674 | and the extent to which the proposed project has been |
1675 | demonstrated to be technically feasible based on pilot project |
1676 | demonstrations, laboratory testing, scientific modeling, or |
1677 | engineering or chemical theory that supports the proposal. |
1678 | e. Include innovative technology and the degree to which |
1679 | the project or business incorporates an innovative new |
1680 | technology or an innovative application of an existing |
1681 | technology. |
1682 | f. Include production potential and the degree to which a |
1683 | project or business generates thermal, mechanical, or electrical |
1684 | energy by means of a renewable energy resource that has |
1685 | substantial long-term production potential. The project must, to |
1686 | the extent possible, quantify annual production potential in |
1687 | megawatts or kilowatts. |
1688 | g. Include and address energy efficiency and the degree to |
1689 | which a project demonstrates efficient use of energy, water, and |
1690 | material resources. |
1691 | h. Include project management and the ability of |
1692 | management to administer a complete the business project. |
1693 | (5) Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall evaluate proposals for |
1694 | innovation incentive awards and transmit recommendations for |
1695 | awards to the office. Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall solicit |
1696 | comments and recommendations from the Florida Energy and Climate |
1697 | Commission for alternative and renewable energy project |
1698 | proposals. Such evaluation and recommendation must include, but |
1699 | need not be limited to: |
1700 | (a) A description of the project, its required facilities, |
1701 | and the associated product, service, or research and development |
1702 | associated with the project. |
1703 | (b) The percentage of match provided for the project. |
1704 | (c) The number of full-time equivalent jobs that will be |
1705 | created by the project, the total estimated average annual wages |
1706 | of such jobs, and the types of business activities and jobs |
1707 | likely to be stimulated by the project. |
1708 | (d) The cumulative investment to be dedicated to the |
1709 | project within 5 years and the total investment expected in the |
1710 | project if more than 5 years. |
1711 | (e) The projected economic and fiscal impacts on the local |
1712 | and state economies relative to investment. |
1713 | (f) A statement of any special impacts the project is |
1714 | expected to stimulate in a particular business sector in the |
1715 | state or regional economy or in the state's universities and |
1716 | community colleges. |
1717 | (g) A statement of any anticipated or proposed |
1718 | relationships with state universities. |
1719 | (h) A statement of the role the incentive is expected to |
1720 | play in the decision of the applicant to locate or expand in |
1721 | this state. |
1722 | (i) A recommendation and explanation of the amount of the |
1723 | award needed to cause the applicant to expand or locate in this |
1724 | state. |
1725 | (j) A discussion of the efforts and commitments made by |
1726 | the local community in which the project is to be located to |
1727 | induce the applicant's location or expansion, taking into |
1728 | consideration local resources and abilities. |
1729 | (k) A recommendation for specific performance criteria the |
1730 | applicant would be expected to achieve in order to receive |
1731 | payments from the fund and penalties or sanctions for failure to |
1732 | meet or maintain performance conditions. |
1733 | (l) For a research and development facility project: |
1734 | 1. A description of the extent to which the project has |
1735 | the potential to serve as catalyst for an emerging or evolving |
1736 | cluster. |
1737 | 2. A description of the extent to which the project has or |
1738 | could have a long-term collaborative research and development |
1739 | relationship with one or more universities or community colleges |
1740 | in this state. |
1741 | 3. A description of the existing or projected impact of |
1742 | the project on established clusters or targeted industry |
1743 | sectors. |
1744 | 4. A description of the project's contribution to the |
1745 | diversity and resiliency of the innovation economy of this |
1746 | state. |
1747 | 5. A description of the project's impact on special needs |
1748 | communities, including, but not limited to, rural areas, |
1749 | distressed urban areas, and enterprise zones. |
1750 | (6) In consultation with Enterprise Florida, Inc., the |
1751 | office may negotiate the proposed amount of an award for any |
1752 | applicant meeting the requirements of this section. In |
1753 | negotiating such award, the office shall consider the amount of |
1754 | the incentive needed to cause the applicant to locate or expand |
1755 | in this state in conjunction with other relevant applicant |
1756 | impact and cost information and analysis as described in this |
1757 | section. Particular emphasis shall be given to the potential for |
1758 | the project to stimulate additional private investment and high- |
1759 | quality employment opportunities in the area. |
1760 | (7) Upon receipt of the evaluation and recommendation from |
1761 | Enterprise Florida, Inc., and from the Florida Energy and |
1762 | Climate Commission for alternative and renewable energy project |
1763 | proposals, the director shall recommend to the Governor the |
1764 | approval or disapproval of an award. In recommending approval of |
1765 | an award, the director shall include proposed performance |
1766 | conditions that the applicant must meet in order to obtain |
1767 | incentive funds and any other conditions that must be met before |
1768 | the receipt of any incentive funds. The Governor shall consult |
1769 | with the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of |
1770 | Representatives before giving approval for an award. Upon |
1771 | approval of an award the Executive Office of the Governor shall |
1772 | release the funds pursuant to the legislative consultation and |
1773 | review requirements set forth in s. 216.177. |
1774 | (8) Upon approval by the Governor and release of the funds |
1775 | as set forth in subsection (7), the director shall issue a |
1776 | letter certifying the applicant as qualified for an award. The |
1777 | office and the applicant shall enter into an agreement that sets |
1778 | forth the conditions for payment of incentives. The agreement |
1779 | must include the total amount of funds awarded; the performance |
1780 | conditions that must be met to obtain the award or portions of |
1781 | the award, including, but not limited to, net new employment in |
1782 | the state, average wage, and total cumulative investment; |
1783 | demonstration of a baseline of current service and a measure of |
1784 | enhanced capability; the methodology for validating performance; |
1785 | the schedule of payments; and sanctions for failure to meet |
1786 | performance conditions, including any clawback provisions. |
1787 | (9) Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall assist the office in |
1788 | validating the performance of an innovation business or research |
1789 | and development facility that has received an award. At the |
1790 | conclusion of the innovation incentive award agreement, or its |
1791 | earlier termination, Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall, within 90 |
1792 | days, report the results of the innovation incentive award to |
1793 | the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of |
1794 | the House of Representatives. |
1795 | (10) Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall develop business |
1796 | ethics standards based on appropriate best industry practices |
1797 | which shall be applicable to all award recipients. The standards |
1798 | shall address ethical duties of business enterprises, fiduciary |
1799 | responsibilities of management, and compliance with the laws of |
1800 | this state. Enterprise Florida, Inc., may collaborate with the |
1801 | State University System in reviewing and evaluating appropriate |
1802 | business ethics standards. Such standards shall be provided to |
1803 | the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of |
1804 | the House of Representatives by December 31, 2006. An award |
1805 | agreement entered into on or after December 31, 2006, shall |
1806 | require a recipient to comply with the business ethics standards |
1807 | developed pursuant to this section. |
1808 | Section 28. Section 316.0741, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1809 | to read: |
1810 | 316.0741 High-occupancy-vehicle High occupancy vehicle |
1811 | lanes.-- |
1812 | (1) As used in this section, the term: |
1813 | (a) "High-occupancy-vehicle "High occupancy vehicle lane" |
1814 | or "HOV lane" means a lane of a public roadway designated for |
1815 | use by vehicles in which there is more than one occupant unless |
1816 | otherwise authorized by federal law. |
1817 | (b) "Hybrid vehicle" means a motor vehicle that: |
1818 | 1. Draws propulsion energy from an onboard source of |
1819 | stored energy comprised of both an internal combustion or heat |
1820 | engine using combustible fuel and a rechargeable energy-storage |
1821 | system; and |
1822 | 2. In the case of a passenger automobile or light truck, |
1823 | has received a certificate of conformity under the Clean Air |
1824 | Act, 42 U.S.C. ss. 7401 et seq., and meets or exceeds the |
1825 | equivalent qualifying California standards for a low-emission |
1826 | vehicle. |
1827 | (2) The number of persons who that must be in a vehicle to |
1828 | qualify for legal use of the HOV lane and the hours during which |
1829 | the lane will serve as an HOV lane, if it is not designated as |
1830 | such on a full-time basis, must also be indicated on a traffic |
1831 | control device. |
1832 | (3) Except as provided in subsection (4), a vehicle may |
1833 | not be driven in an HOV lane if the vehicle is occupied by fewer |
1834 | than the number of occupants indicated by a traffic control |
1835 | device. A driver who violates this section shall be cited for a |
1836 | moving violation, punishable as provided in chapter 318. |
1837 | (4)(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this |
1838 | section, an inherently low-emission vehicle (ILEV) that is |
1839 | certified and labeled in accordance with federal regulations may |
1840 | be driven in an HOV lane at any time, regardless of its |
1841 | occupancy. In addition, upon the state's receipt of written |
1842 | notice from the proper federal regulatory agency authorizing |
1843 | such use, a vehicle defined as a hybrid vehicle under this |
1844 | section may be driven in an HOV lane at any time, regardless of |
1845 | its occupancy. |
1846 | (b) All eligible hybrid and other low-emission and energy- |
1847 | efficient vehicles driven in an HOV lane must comply with the |
1848 | minimum fuel economy standards in 23 U.S.C. s. 166(f)(3)(B). |
1849 | (c) Upon its effective date, the eligibility of hybrid and |
1850 | other low-emission and energy-efficient vehicles for operation |
1851 | in an HOV lane regardless of occupancy shall be determined in |
1852 | accordance with the applicable final rule issued by the United |
1853 | States Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to 23 U.S.C. s. |
1854 | 166(e). |
1855 | (5) The department shall issue a decal and registration |
1856 | certificate, to be renewed annually, reflecting the HOV lane |
1857 | designation on such vehicles meeting the criteria in subsection |
1858 | (4) authorizing driving in an HOV lane at any time such use. The |
1859 | department may charge a fee for a decal, not to exceed the costs |
1860 | of designing, producing, and distributing each decal, or $5, |
1861 | whichever is less. The proceeds from sale of the decals shall be |
1862 | deposited in the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund. The |
1863 | department may, for reasons of operation and management of HOV |
1864 | facilities, limit or discontinue issuance of decals for the use |
1865 | of HOV facilities by hybrid and low-emission and energy- |
1866 | efficient vehicles regardless of occupancy if it has been |
1867 | determined by the Department of Transportation that the |
1868 | facilities are degraded as defined by 23 U.S.C. s. 166(d)(2). |
1869 | (6) Vehicles having decals by virtue of compliance with |
1870 | the minimum fuel economy standards in 23 U.S.C. s. 166(f)(3)(B) |
1871 | and that are registered for use in high-occupancy-vehicle toll |
1872 | lanes or express lanes in accordance with Department of |
1873 | Transportation rule shall be allowed to use any HOV lane |
1874 | redesignated as a high-occupancy-vehicle toll lane without |
1875 | requiring payment of the toll. |
1876 | (5) As used in this section, the term "hybrid vehicle" |
1877 | means a motor vehicle: |
1878 | (a) That draws propulsion energy from onboard sources of |
1879 | stored energy which are both: |
1880 | 1. An internal combustion or heat engine using combustible |
1881 | fuel; and |
1882 | 2. A rechargeable energy storage system; and |
1883 | (b) That, in the case of a passenger automobile or light |
1884 | truck: |
1885 | 1. Has received a certificate of conformity under the |
1886 | Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. ss. 7401 et seq.; and |
1887 | 2. Meets or exceeds the equivalent qualifying California |
1888 | standards for a low-emission vehicle. |
1889 | (7)(6) The department may adopt rules necessary to |
1890 | administer this section. |
1891 | Section 29. Subsection (1) of section 337.401, Florida |
1892 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
1893 | 337.401 Use of right-of-way for utilities subject to |
1894 | regulation; permit; fees.-- |
1895 | (1) The department and local governmental entities, |
1896 | referred to in ss. 337.401-337.404 as the "authority," that have |
1897 | jurisdiction and control of public roads or publicly owned rail |
1898 | corridors are authorized to prescribe and enforce reasonable |
1899 | rules or regulations with reference to the placing and |
1900 | maintaining along, across, or on any road or publicly owned rail |
1901 | corridors under their respective jurisdictions any electric |
1902 | transmission, telephone, telegraph, or other communications |
1903 | services lines; pole lines; poles; railways; ditches; sewers; |
1904 | water, heat, or gas mains; pipelines; fences; gasoline tanks and |
1905 | pumps; or other structures hereinafter referred to in this |
1906 | section as the "utility." For aerial and underground electric |
1907 | utility transmission lines designed to operate at 69 or more |
1908 | kilovolts that are needed to accommodate the additional |
1909 | electrical transfer capacity on the transmission grid resulting |
1910 | from new base-load generating facilities, where there is no |
1911 | other practicable alternative available for placement of the |
1912 | electric utility transmission lines on the department's rights- |
1913 | of-way, the department's rules shall provide for placement of |
1914 | and access to such transmission lines adjacent to and within the |
1915 | right-of-way of any department-controlled public roads, |
1916 | including longitudinally within limited access facilities to the |
1917 | greatest extent allowed by federal law, if compliance with the |
1918 | standards established by such rules is achieved. Such rules may |
1919 | include, but need not be limited to, that the use of the right- |
1920 | of-way is reasonable based upon a consideration of economic and |
1921 | environmental factors, including, without limitation, other |
1922 | practicable alternative alignments, utility corridors and |
1923 | easements, impacts on adjacent property owners, and minimum |
1924 | clear zones and other safety standards, and further provide that |
1925 | placement of the electric utility transmission lines within the |
1926 | department's right-of-way does not interfere with operational |
1927 | requirements of the transportation facility or planned or |
1928 | potential future expansion of such transportation facility. If |
1929 | the department approves longitudinal placement of electric |
1930 | utility transmission lines in limited access facilities, |
1931 | compensation for the use of the right-of-way is required. Such |
1932 | consideration or compensation paid by the electric utility in |
1933 | connection with the department's issuance of a permit does not |
1934 | create any property right in the department's property |
1935 | regardless of the amount of consideration paid or the |
1936 | improvements constructed on the property by the utility. Upon |
1937 | notice by the department that the property is needed for |
1938 | expansion or improvement of the transportation facility, the |
1939 | electric utility transmission line will relocate from the |
1940 | facility at the electric utility's sole expense. The electric |
1941 | utility shall pay to the department reasonable damages resulting |
1942 | from the utility's failure or refusal to timely relocate its |
1943 | transmission lines. The rules to be adopted by the department |
1944 | may also address the compensation methodology and relocation. As |
1945 | used in this subsection, the term "base-load generating |
1946 | facilities" means electric power plants that are certified under |
1947 | part II of chapter 403. The department may enter into a permit- |
1948 | delegation agreement with a governmental entity if issuance of a |
1949 | permit is based on requirements that the department finds will |
1950 | ensure the safety and integrity of facilities of the Department |
1951 | of Transportation; however, the permit-delegation agreement does |
1952 | not apply to facilities of electric utilities as defined in s. |
1953 | 366.02(2). |
1954 | Section 30. Subsections (1) and (7) of section 339.175, |
1955 | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
1956 | 339.175 Metropolitan planning organization.-- |
1957 | (1) PURPOSE.--It is the intent of the Legislature to |
1958 | encourage and promote the safe and efficient management, |
1959 | operation, and development of surface transportation systems |
1960 | that will serve the mobility needs of people and freight and |
1961 | foster economic growth and development within and through |
1962 | urbanized areas of this state while minimizing transportation- |
1963 | related fuel consumption, and air pollution, and greenhouse gas |
1964 | emissions through metropolitan transportation planning processes |
1965 | identified in this section. To accomplish these objectives, |
1966 | metropolitan planning organizations, referred to in this section |
1967 | as M.P.O.'s, shall develop, in cooperation with the state and |
1968 | public transit operators, transportation plans and programs for |
1969 | metropolitan areas. The plans and programs for each metropolitan |
1970 | area must provide for the development and integrated management |
1971 | and operation of transportation systems and facilities, |
1972 | including pedestrian walkways and bicycle transportation |
1973 | facilities that will function as an intermodal transportation |
1974 | system for the metropolitan area, based upon the prevailing |
1975 | principles provided in s. 334.046(1). The process for developing |
1976 | such plans and programs shall provide for consideration of all |
1977 | modes of transportation and shall be continuing, cooperative, |
1978 | and comprehensive, to the degree appropriate, based on the |
1979 | complexity of the transportation problems to be addressed. To |
1980 | ensure that the process is integrated with the statewide |
1981 | planning process, M.P.O.'s shall develop plans and programs that |
1982 | identify transportation facilities that should function as an |
1983 | integrated metropolitan transportation system, giving emphasis |
1984 | to facilities that serve important national, state, and regional |
1985 | transportation functions. For the purposes of this section, |
1986 | those facilities include the facilities on the Strategic |
1987 | Intermodal System designated under s. 339.63 and facilities for |
1988 | which projects have been identified pursuant to s. 339.2819(4). |
1989 | (7) LONG-RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN.--Each M.P.O. must |
1990 | develop a long-range transportation plan that addresses at least |
1991 | a 20-year planning horizon. The plan must include both long- |
1992 | range and short-range strategies and must comply with all other |
1993 | state and federal requirements. The prevailing principles to be |
1994 | considered in the long-range transportation plan are: preserving |
1995 | the existing transportation infrastructure; enhancing Florida's |
1996 | economic competitiveness; and improving travel choices to ensure |
1997 | mobility. The long-range transportation plan must be consistent, |
1998 | to the maximum extent feasible, with future land use elements |
1999 | and the goals, objectives, and policies of the approved local |
2000 | government comprehensive plans of the units of local government |
2001 | located within the jurisdiction of the M.P.O. Each M.P.O. is |
2002 | encouraged to consider strategies that integrate transportation |
2003 | and land use planning to provide for sustainable development and |
2004 | reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The approved long-range |
2005 | transportation plan must be considered by local governments in |
2006 | the development of the transportation elements in local |
2007 | government comprehensive plans and any amendments thereto. The |
2008 | long-range transportation plan must, at a minimum: |
2009 | (a) Identify transportation facilities, including, but not |
2010 | limited to, major roadways, airports, seaports, spaceports, |
2011 | commuter rail systems, transit systems, and intermodal or |
2012 | multimodal terminals that will function as an integrated |
2013 | metropolitan transportation system. The long-range |
2014 | transportation plan must give emphasis to those transportation |
2015 | facilities that serve national, statewide, or regional |
2016 | functions, and must consider the goals and objectives identified |
2017 | in the Florida Transportation Plan as provided in s. 339.155. If |
2018 | a project is located within the boundaries of more than one |
2019 | M.P.O., the M.P.O.'s must coordinate plans regarding the project |
2020 | in the long-range transportation plan. |
2021 | (b) Include a financial plan that demonstrates how the |
2022 | plan can be implemented, indicating resources from public and |
2023 | private sources which are reasonably expected to be available to |
2024 | carry out the plan, and recommends any additional financing |
2025 | strategies for needed projects and programs. The financial plan |
2026 | may include, for illustrative purposes, additional projects that |
2027 | would be included in the adopted long-range transportation plan |
2028 | if reasonable additional resources beyond those identified in |
2029 | the financial plan were available. For the purpose of developing |
2030 | the long-range transportation plan, the M.P.O. and the |
2031 | department shall cooperatively develop estimates of funds that |
2032 | will be available to support the plan implementation. Innovative |
2033 | financing techniques may be used to fund needed projects and |
2034 | programs. Such techniques may include the assessment of tolls, |
2035 | the use of value capture financing, or the use of value pricing. |
2036 | (c) Assess capital investment and other measures necessary |
2037 | to: |
2038 | 1. Ensure the preservation of the existing metropolitan |
2039 | transportation system including requirements for the operation, |
2040 | resurfacing, restoration, and rehabilitation of major roadways |
2041 | and requirements for the operation, maintenance, modernization, |
2042 | and rehabilitation of public transportation facilities; and |
2043 | 2. Make the most efficient use of existing transportation |
2044 | facilities to relieve vehicular congestion and maximize the |
2045 | mobility of people and goods. |
2046 | (d) Indicate, as appropriate, proposed transportation |
2047 | enhancement activities, including, but not limited to, |
2048 | pedestrian and bicycle facilities, scenic easements, |
2049 | landscaping, historic preservation, mitigation of water |
2050 | pollution due to highway runoff, and control of outdoor |
2051 | advertising. |
2052 | (e) In addition to the requirements of paragraphs (a)-(d), |
2053 | in metropolitan areas that are classified as nonattainment areas |
2054 | for ozone or carbon monoxide, the M.P.O. must coordinate the |
2055 | development of the long-range transportation plan with the State |
2056 | Implementation Plan developed pursuant to the requirements of |
2057 | the federal Clean Air Act. |
2058 |
|
2059 | In the development of its long-range transportation plan, each |
2060 | M.P.O. must provide the public, affected public agencies, |
2061 | representatives of transportation agency employees, freight |
2062 | shippers, providers of freight transportation services, private |
2063 | providers of transportation, representatives of users of public |
2064 | transit, and other interested parties with a reasonable |
2065 | opportunity to comment on the long-range transportation plan. |
2066 | The long-range transportation plan must be approved by the |
2067 | M.P.O. |
2068 | Section 31. Subsections (2), (3), and (4) of section |
2069 | 350.01, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
2070 | 350.01 Florida Public Service Commission; terms of |
2071 | commissioners; vacancies; election and duties of chair; quorum; |
2072 | proceedings.-- |
2073 | (2)(a) Each commissioner serving on July 1, 1978, shall be |
2074 | permitted to remain in office until the completion of his or her |
2075 | current term. Upon the expiration of the term, a successor shall |
2076 | be appointed in the manner prescribed by s. 350.031(5), (6), and |
2077 | (7) for a 4-year term, except that the terms of the initial |
2078 | members appointed under this act shall be as follows: |
2079 | 1. The vacancy created by the present term ending in |
2080 | January, 1981, shall be filled by appointment for a 4-year term |
2081 | and for 4-year terms thereafter; and |
2082 | 2. The vacancies created by the two present terms ending |
2083 | in January, 1979, shall be filled by appointment for a 3-year |
2084 | term and for 4-year terms thereafter. |
2085 | (b) Two additional commissioners shall be appointed in the |
2086 | manner prescribed by s. 350.031(5), (6), and (7) for 4-year |
2087 | terms beginning the first Tuesday after the first Monday in |
2088 | January, 1979, and successors shall be appointed for 4-year |
2089 | terms thereafter with each term beginning on January 2 of the |
2090 | year the term commences and ending 4 years later on January 1. |
2091 | (c) Vacancies on the commission shall be filled for the |
2092 | unexpired portion of the term in the same manner as original |
2093 | appointments to the commission. |
2094 | (3) Any person serving on the commission who seeks to be |
2095 | appointed or reappointed shall file with the nominating council |
2096 | no later than June 1 prior to the year in which his or her term |
2097 | expires at least 210 days before the expiration of his or her |
2098 | term a statement that he or she desires to serve an additional |
2099 | term. |
2100 | (4) One member of the commission shall be elected by |
2101 | majority vote to serve as chair for a term of 2 years, beginning |
2102 | on January 2 of the first year of the term with the first |
2103 | Tuesday after the first Monday in January 1979. A member may not |
2104 | serve two consecutive terms as chair. |
2105 | Section 32. Section 350.012, Florida Statutes, is amended |
2106 | to read: |
2107 | 350.012 Committee on Public Counsel Service Commission |
2108 | Oversight; creation; membership; powers and duties.-- |
2109 | (1) There is created a standing joint committee of the |
2110 | Legislature, designated the Committee on Public Counsel Service |
2111 | Commission Oversight, and composed of 12 members appointed as |
2112 | follows: six members of the Senate appointed by the President of |
2113 | the Senate, two of whom must be members of the minority party; |
2114 | and six members of the House of Representatives appointed by the |
2115 | Speaker of the House of Representatives, two of whom must be |
2116 | members of the minority party. The terms of members shall be for |
2117 | 2 years and shall run from the organization of one Legislature |
2118 | to the organization of the next Legislature. The President shall |
2119 | appoint the chair of the committee in even-numbered years and |
2120 | the vice chair in odd-numbered years, and the Speaker of the |
2121 | House of Representatives shall appoint the chair of the |
2122 | committee in odd-numbered years and the vice chair in even- |
2123 | numbered years, from among the committee membership. Vacancies |
2124 | shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. |
2125 | Members shall serve without additional compensation, but shall |
2126 | be reimbursed for expenses. |
2127 | (2) The committee shall: |
2128 | (a) Recommend to the Governor nominees to fill a vacancy |
2129 | on the Public Service Commission, as provided by general law; |
2130 | and |
2131 | (b) appoint a Public Counsel as provided by general law. |
2132 | (3) The committee is authorized to file a complaint with |
2133 | the Commission on Ethics alleging a violation of this chapter by |
2134 | a commissioner, former commissioner, former commission employee, |
2135 | or member of the Public Service Commission Nominating Council. |
2136 | (4) The committee will not have a permanent staff, but the |
2137 | President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of |
2138 | Representatives shall select staff members from among existing |
2139 | legislative staff, when and as needed. |
2140 | Section 33. Section 350.03, Florida Statutes, is amended |
2141 | to read: |
2142 | 350.03 Power of Governor to remove and to fill |
2143 | vacancies.-- The Governor shall have the same power to remove, |
2144 | suspend, or appoint to fill vacancies in the office of |
2145 | commissioners as in other offices, as set forth in s. 7, Art. IV |
2146 | of the State Constitution. |
2147 | Section 34. Subsections (1), (5), (6), (7), and (8) of |
2148 | section 350.031, Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsection |
2149 | (9) is added to that section, to read: |
2150 | 350.031 Florida Public Service Commission Nominating |
2151 | Council.-- |
2152 | (1)(a) There is created a Florida Public Service |
2153 | Commission Nominating Council consisting of 12 nine members. At |
2154 | least one member of the council must be 60 years of age or |
2155 | older. Six Three members, including three members one member of |
2156 | the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be a member of |
2157 | the minority party, shall be appointed by and serve at the |
2158 | pleasure of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Six; |
2159 | three members, including three members one member of the Senate, |
2160 | one of whom shall be a member of the minority party, shall be |
2161 | appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the President of the |
2162 | Senate; and three members shall be selected and appointed by a |
2163 | majority vote of the other six members of the council. |
2164 | (b) All terms shall be for 4 years except those members of |
2165 | the House and Senate, who shall serve 2-year terms concurrent |
2166 | with the 2-year elected terms of House members. All terms of the |
2167 | members of the Public Service Commission Nominating Council |
2168 | existing on June 30, 2008, shall terminate upon the effective |
2169 | date of this act; however, such members may serve an additional |
2170 | term if reappointed by the Speaker of the House of |
2171 | Representatives or the President of the Senate. To establish |
2172 | staggered terms, appointments of members shall be made for |
2173 | initial terms to begin on July 1, 2008, with each appointing |
2174 | officer to appoint three legislator members, one of whom shall |
2175 | be a member of the minority party, to terms through the |
2176 | remainder of the 2-year elected terms of House members; one |
2177 | nonlegislator member to a 6-month term; one nonlegislator member |
2178 | to an 18-month term; and one nonlegislator member to a 42-month |
2179 | term. Thereafter, the terms of the nonlegislator members of the |
2180 | Public Service Commission Nominating Council shall begin on |
2181 | January 2 of the year the term commences and end 4 years later |
2182 | on January 1. |
2183 | (c) The President of the Senate shall appoint the chair of |
2184 | the council in even-numbered years and the vice chair in odd- |
2185 | numbered years, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives |
2186 | shall appoint the chair of the council in odd-numbered years and |
2187 | the vice chair in even-numbered years, from among the council |
2188 | membership. |
2189 | (d) Vacancies on the council shall be filled for the |
2190 | unexpired portion of the term in the same manner as original |
2191 | appointments to the council. A member may not be reappointed to |
2192 | the council, except for a member of the House of Representatives |
2193 | or the Senate who may be appointed to two 2-year terms, members |
2194 | who are reappointed pursuant to paragraph (b), or a person who |
2195 | is appointed to fill the remaining portion of an unexpired term. |
2196 | (5) A person may not be nominated to the Governor for |
2197 | appointment to the Committee on Public Service Commission |
2198 | Oversight until the council has determined that the person is |
2199 | competent and knowledgeable in one or more fields, which shall |
2200 | include, but not be limited to: public affairs, law, economics, |
2201 | accounting, engineering, finance, natural resource conservation, |
2202 | energy, or another field substantially related to the duties and |
2203 | functions of the commission. The commission shall fairly |
2204 | represent the above-stated fields. Recommendations of the |
2205 | council shall be nonpartisan. |
2206 | (6) It is the responsibility of the council to nominate to |
2207 | the Governor no fewer than three Committee on Public Service |
2208 | Commission Oversight six persons for each vacancy occurring on |
2209 | the Public Service Commission. The council shall submit the |
2210 | recommendations to the Governor by September 15 committee by |
2211 | August 1 of those years in which the terms are to begin the |
2212 | following January, or within 60 days after a vacancy occurs for |
2213 | any reason other than the expiration of the term. |
2214 | (7) The Committee on Public Service Commission Oversight |
2215 | shall select from the list of nominees provided by the |
2216 | nominating council three nominees for recommendation to the |
2217 | Governor for appointment to the commission. The recommendations |
2218 | must be provided to the Governor within 45 days after receipt of |
2219 | the list of nominees. The Governor shall fill a vacancy |
2220 | occurring on the Public Service Commission by appointment of one |
2221 | of the applicants nominated by the council committee only after |
2222 | a background investigation of such applicant has been conducted |
2223 | by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. If the Governor |
2224 | has not made an appointment within 30 consecutive calendar days |
2225 | after the receipt of the recommendation, the council committee, |
2226 | by majority vote, shall appoint, within 30 days after the |
2227 | expiration of the Governor's time to make an appointment, one |
2228 | person from the applicants previously nominated to the Governor |
2229 | to fill the vacancy. |
2230 | (8) Each appointment to the Public Service Commission |
2231 | shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate during the next |
2232 | regular session after the vacancy occurs. If the Senate refuses |
2233 | to confirm or fails to consider rejects the Governor's |
2234 | appointment, the council shall initiate, in accordance with this |
2235 | section, the nominating process within 30 days. |
2236 | (9) When the Governor makes an appointment, to fill a |
2237 | vacancy occurring due to expiration of the term, and that |
2238 | appointment has not been confirmed by the Senate before the |
2239 | appointing Governor's term ends, a successor Governor may, |
2240 | within 30 days after taking office, recall the appointment and, |
2241 | prior to the first day of the next regular session, make a |
2242 | replacement appointment from the list provided to the previous |
2243 | Governor by the council. Such an appointment is subject to |
2244 | confirmation by the Senate at the next regular session following |
2245 | the creation of the vacancy to which the appointments are being |
2246 | made. If the replacement appointment is not timely made, or if |
2247 | the appointment is not confirmed by the Senate for any reason, |
2248 | the council, by majority vote, shall appoint, within 30 days |
2249 | after the Legislature adjourns sine die, one person from the |
2250 | applicants previously nominated to the Governor to fill the |
2251 | vacancy, and this appointee is subject to confirmation by the |
2252 | Senate during the next regular session following the |
2253 | appointment. |
2254 | Section 35. Subsection (1) of section 350.061, Florida |
2255 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
2256 | 350.061 Public Counsel; appointment; oath; restrictions on |
2257 | Public Counsel and his or her employees.-- |
2258 | (1) The Committee on Public Counsel Service Commission |
2259 | Oversight shall appoint a Public Counsel by majority vote of the |
2260 | members of the committee to represent the general public of |
2261 | Florida before the Florida Public Service Commission. The Public |
2262 | Counsel shall be an attorney admitted to practice before the |
2263 | Florida Supreme Court and shall serve at the pleasure of the |
2264 | Committee on Public Counsel Service Commission Oversight, |
2265 | subject to biennial reconfirmation by the committee. The Public |
2266 | Counsel shall perform his or her duties independently. Vacancies |
2267 | in the office shall be filled in the same manner as the original |
2268 | appointment. |
2269 | Section 36. Subsection (2) of section 350.0614, Florida |
2270 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
2271 | 350.0614 Public Counsel; compensation and expenses.-- |
2272 | (2) The Legislature declares and determines that the |
2273 | Public Counsel is under the legislative branch of government |
2274 | within the intention of the legislation as expressed in chapter |
2275 | 216, and no power shall be in the Executive Office of the |
2276 | Governor or its successor to release or withhold funds |
2277 | appropriated to it, but the same shall be available for |
2278 | expenditure as provided by law and the rules or decisions of the |
2279 | Committee on Public Counsel Service Commission Oversight. |
2280 | Section 37. Subsection (7) is added to section 366.04, |
2281 | Florida Statutes, to read: |
2282 | 366.04 Jurisdiction of commission.-- |
2283 | (7)(a) As used in this subsection, the term "affected |
2284 | municipal electric utility" means a municipality that operates |
2285 | an electric utility that: |
2286 | 1. Serves two cities in the same county; |
2287 | 2. Is located in a noncharter county; |
2288 | 3. Has between 30,000 and 35,000 retail electric customers |
2289 | as of September 30, 2007; and |
2290 | 4. Does not have a service territory that extends beyond |
2291 | its home county as of September 30, 2007. |
2292 | (b) Each affected municipal electric utility shall conduct |
2293 | a referendum election of all of its retail electric customers, |
2294 | with each named retail electric customer having one vote, |
2295 | concurrent with the next regularly scheduled general election |
2296 | following the effective date of this act. |
2297 | (c) The ballot for the referendum election required under |
2298 | paragraph (b) shall contain the following question: "Should a |
2299 | separate electric utility authority be created to operate the |
2300 | business of the electric utility in the affected municipal |
2301 | electric utility?" The statement shall be followed by the word |
2302 | "yes" and the word "no." |
2303 | (d) The provisions of the Election Code relating to notice |
2304 | and conduct of the election shall be followed to the extent |
2305 | practicable. Costs of the referendum election shall be borne by |
2306 | the affected municipal electric utility. |
2307 | (e) If a majority of the affected municipal electric |
2308 | utility's retail electric customers vote in favor of creating a |
2309 | separate electric utility authority, the affected municipal |
2310 | electric utility shall, no later than January 15, 2009, provide |
2311 | to each member of the Legislature whose district includes any |
2312 | portion of the electric service territory of the affected |
2313 | municipal electric utility a proposed charter that transfers |
2314 | operations of its electric, water, and sewer utility businesses |
2315 | to a duly-created authority, the governing board of which shall |
2316 | proportionally represent the number of county and city |
2317 | ratepayers of the electric utility. |
2318 | Section 38. Section 366.81, Florida Statutes, is amended |
2319 | to read: |
2320 | 366.81 Legislative findings and intent.--The Legislature |
2321 | finds and declares that it is critical to utilize the most |
2322 | efficient and cost-effective demand-side renewable energy |
2323 | systems and conservation systems in order to protect the health, |
2324 | prosperity, and general welfare of the state and its citizens. |
2325 | Reduction in, and control of, the growth rates of electric |
2326 | consumption and of weather-sensitive peak demand are of |
2327 | particular importance. The Legislature further finds that the |
2328 | Florida Public Service Commission is the appropriate agency to |
2329 | adopt goals and approve plans related to the promotion of |
2330 | demand-side renewable energy systems and the conservation of |
2331 | electric energy and natural gas usage. The Legislature directs |
2332 | the commission to develop and adopt overall goals and authorizes |
2333 | the commission to require each utility to develop plans and |
2334 | implement programs for increasing energy efficiency and |
2335 | conservation and demand-side renewable energy systems within its |
2336 | service area, subject to the approval of the commission. Since |
2337 | solutions to our energy problems are complex, the Legislature |
2338 | intends that the use of solar energy, renewable energy sources, |
2339 | highly efficient systems, cogeneration, and load-control systems |
2340 | be encouraged. Accordingly, in exercising its jurisdiction, the |
2341 | commission shall not approve any rate or rate structure which |
2342 | discriminates against any class of customers on account of the |
2343 | use of such facilities, systems, or devices. This expression of |
2344 | legislative intent shall not be construed to preclude |
2345 | experimental rates, rate structures, or programs. The |
2346 | Legislature further finds and declares that ss. 366.80-366.85 |
2347 | and 403.519 are to be liberally construed in order to meet the |
2348 | complex problems of reducing and controlling the growth rates of |
2349 | electric consumption and reducing the growth rates of weather- |
2350 | sensitive peak demand; increasing the overall efficiency and |
2351 | cost-effectiveness of electricity and natural gas production and |
2352 | use; encouraging further development of demand-side renewable |
2353 | energy systems cogeneration facilities; and conserving expensive |
2354 | resources, particularly petroleum fuels. |
2355 | Section 39. Section 366.82, Florida Statutes, is amended |
2356 | to read: |
2357 | 366.82 Definition; goals; plans; programs; annual reports; |
2358 | energy audits.-- |
2359 | (1) For the purposes of ss. 366.80-366.85 and 403.519:, |
2360 | (a) "Utility" means any person or entity of whatever form |
2361 | which provides electricity or natural gas at retail to the |
2362 | public, specifically including municipalities or |
2363 | instrumentalities thereof and cooperatives organized under the |
2364 | Rural Electric Cooperative Law and specifically excluding any |
2365 | municipality or instrumentality thereof, any cooperative |
2366 | organized under the Rural Electric Cooperative Law, or any other |
2367 | person or entity providing natural gas at retail to the public |
2368 | whose annual sales volume is less than 100 million therms or any |
2369 | municipality or instrumentality thereof and any cooperative |
2370 | organized under the Rural Electric Cooperative Law providing |
2371 | electricity at retail to the public whose annual sales as of |
2372 | July 1, 1993, to end-use customers is less than 2,000 gigawatt |
2373 | hours. |
2374 | (b) "Demand-side renewable energy" means a system located |
2375 | on a customer's premises generating thermal or electric energy |
2376 | using Florida renewable energy resources and primarily intended |
2377 | to offset all or part of the customer's electricity requirements |
2378 | provided such system does not exceed 2 megawatts. |
2379 | (2) The commission shall adopt appropriate goals for |
2380 | increasing the efficiency of energy consumption and increasing |
2381 | the development of demand-side renewable energy systems |
2382 | cogeneration, specifically including goals designed to increase |
2383 | the conservation of expensive resources, such as petroleum |
2384 | fuels, to reduce and control the growth rates of electric |
2385 | consumption, and to reduce the growth rates of weather-sensitive |
2386 | peak demand, and to encourage development of demand-side |
2387 | renewable energy resources. The commission may allow efficiency |
2388 | investments across generation, transmission, and distribution as |
2389 | well as efficiencies within the user base. The Executive Office |
2390 | of the Governor shall be a party in the proceedings to adopt |
2391 | goals. The commission may change the goals for reasonable cause. |
2392 | The time period to review the goals, however, shall not exceed 5 |
2393 | years. After the programs and plans to meet those goals are |
2394 | completed, the commission shall determine what further goals, |
2395 | programs, or plans are warranted and, if so, shall adopt them. |
2396 | (3) In developing the goals, the commission shall evaluate |
2397 | the full technical potential of all available demand-side and |
2398 | supply-side conservation and efficiency measures, including |
2399 | demand-side renewable energy systems. In establishing the goals, |
2400 | the commission shall take into consideration: |
2401 | (a) The costs and benefits to customers participating in |
2402 | the measure. |
2403 | (b) The costs and benefits to the general body of |
2404 | ratepayers as a whole, including utility incentives and |
2405 | participant contributions. |
2406 | (c) The need for incentives to promote both customer-owned |
2407 | and utility-owned energy efficiency and demand-side renewable |
2408 | energy systems. |
2409 | (d) The costs imposed by state and federal regulations on |
2410 | the emission of greenhouse gases. |
2411 | (4) Subject to specific appropriation, the commission may |
2412 | expend up to $250,000 from the Florida Public Service Regulatory |
2413 | Trust Fund to obtain needed technical consulting assistance. |
2414 | (5) The Florida Energy and Climate Commission shall be a |
2415 | party in the proceedings to adopt goals and shall file with the |
2416 | commission comments on the proposed goals, including, but not |
2417 | limited to: |
2418 | (a) An evaluation of utility load forecasts, including an |
2419 | assessment of alternative supply-side and demand-side resource |
2420 | options. |
2421 | (b) An analysis of various policy options that can be |
2422 | implemented to achieve a least-cost strategy, including |
2423 | nonutility programs targeted at reducing and controlling the per |
2424 | capita use of electricity in the state. |
2425 | (c) An analysis of the impact of state and local building |
2426 | codes and appliance efficiency standards on the need for |
2427 | utility-sponsored conservation and energy efficiency measures |
2428 | and programs. |
2429 | (6) The commission may change the goals for reasonable |
2430 | cause. The time period to review the goals, however, shall not |
2431 | exceed 5 years. After the programs and plans to meet those goals |
2432 | are completed, the commission shall determine what further |
2433 | goals, programs, or plans are warranted and adopt them. |
2434 | (7)(3) Following adoption of goals pursuant to subsections |
2435 | subsection (2) and (3), the commission shall require each |
2436 | utility to develop plans and programs to meet the overall goals |
2437 | within its service area. The commission may require |
2438 | modifications or additions to a utility's plans and programs at |
2439 | any time it is in the public interest consistent with this act. |
2440 | In approving plans and programs for cost recovery, the |
2441 | commission shall have the flexibility to modify or deny plans or |
2442 | programs that would have an undue impact on the costs passed on |
2443 | to customers. If any plan or program includes loans, collection |
2444 | of loans, or similar banking functions by a utility and the plan |
2445 | is approved by the commission, the utility shall perform such |
2446 | functions, notwithstanding any other provision of the law. The |
2447 | commission may pledge up to $5 million of the Florida Public |
2448 | Service Regulatory Trust Fund to guarantee such loans. However, |
2449 | no utility shall be required to loan its funds for the purpose |
2450 | of purchasing or otherwise acquiring conservation measures or |
2451 | devices, but nothing herein shall prohibit or impair the |
2452 | administration or implementation of a utility plan as submitted |
2453 | by a utility and approved by the commission under this |
2454 | subsection. If the commission disapproves a plan, it shall |
2455 | specify the reasons for disapproval, and the utility whose plan |
2456 | is disapproved shall resubmit its modified plan within 30 days. |
2457 | Prior approval by the commission shall be required to modify or |
2458 | discontinue a plan, or part thereof, which has been approved. If |
2459 | any utility has not implemented its programs and is not |
2460 | substantially in compliance with the provisions of its approved |
2461 | plan at any time, the commission shall adopt programs required |
2462 | for that utility to achieve the overall goals. Utility programs |
2463 | may include variations in rate design, load control, |
2464 | cogeneration, residential energy conservation subsidy, or any |
2465 | other measure within the jurisdiction of the commission which |
2466 | the commission finds likely to be effective; this provision |
2467 | shall not be construed to preclude these measures in any plan or |
2468 | program. |
2469 | (8) The commission may authorize financial rewards for |
2470 | those utilities over which it has rate-setting authority that |
2471 | exceed their goals and may authorize financial penalties for |
2472 | those utilities that fail to meet their goals, including, but |
2473 | not limited to, the sharing of generation, transmission, and |
2474 | distribution cost savings associated with conservation, energy |
2475 | efficiency, and demand-side renewable energy systems additions. |
2476 | (9) The commission is authorized to allow an investor- |
2477 | owned electric utility an additional return on equity of up to |
2478 | 50 basis points for exceeding 20 percent of their annual load- |
2479 | growth through energy efficiency and conservation measures. The |
2480 | additional return on equity shall be established by the |
2481 | commission through a limited proceeding. |
2482 | (10)(4) The commission shall require periodic reports from |
2483 | each utility and shall provide the Legislature and the Governor |
2484 | with an annual report by March 1 of the goals it has adopted and |
2485 | its progress toward meeting those goals. The commission shall |
2486 | also consider the performance of each utility pursuant to ss. |
2487 | 366.80-366.85 and 403.519 when establishing rates for those |
2488 | utilities over which the commission has ratesetting authority. |
2489 | (11)(5) The commission shall require each utility to |
2490 | offer, or to contract to offer, energy audits to its residential |
2491 | customers. This requirement need not be uniform, but may be |
2492 | based on such factors as level of usage, geographic location, or |
2493 | any other reasonable criterion, so long as all eligible |
2494 | customers are notified. The commission may extend this |
2495 | requirement to some or all commercial customers. The commission |
2496 | shall set the charge for audits by rule, not to exceed the |
2497 | actual cost, and may describe by rule the general form and |
2498 | content of an audit. In the event one utility contracts with |
2499 | another utility to perform audits for it, the utility for which |
2500 | the audits are performed shall pay the contracting utility the |
2501 | reasonable cost of performing the audits. Each utility over |
2502 | which the commission has ratesetting authority shall estimate |
2503 | its costs and revenues for audits, conservation programs, and |
2504 | implementation of its plan for the immediately following 6-month |
2505 | period. Reasonable and prudent unreimbursed costs projected to |
2506 | be incurred, or any portion of such costs, may be added to the |
2507 | rates which would otherwise be charged by a utility upon |
2508 | approval by the commission, provided that the commission shall |
2509 | not allow the recovery of the cost of any company image- |
2510 | enhancing advertising or of any advertising not directly related |
2511 | to an approved conservation program. Following each 6-month |
2512 | period, each utility shall report the actual results for that |
2513 | period to the commission, and the difference, if any, between |
2514 | actual and projected results shall be taken into account in |
2515 | succeeding periods. The state plan as submitted for |
2516 | consideration under the National Energy Conservation Policy Act |
2517 | shall not be in conflict with any state law or regulation. |
2518 | (12)(6)(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 377.703, |
2519 | the commission shall be the responsible state agency for |
2520 | performing, coordinating, implementing, or administering the |
2521 | functions of the state plan submitted for consideration under |
2522 | the National Energy Conservation Policy Act and any acts |
2523 | amendatory thereof or supplemental thereto and for performing, |
2524 | coordinating, implementing, or administering the functions of |
2525 | any future federal program delegated to the state which relates |
2526 | to consumption, utilization, or conservation of electricity or |
2527 | natural gas; and the commission shall have exclusive |
2528 | responsibility for preparing all reports, information, analyses, |
2529 | recommendations, and materials related to consumption, |
2530 | utilization, or conservation of electrical energy which are |
2531 | required or authorized by s. 377.703. |
2532 | (b) The Executive Office of the Governor shall be a party |
2533 | in the proceedings to adopt goals and shall file with the |
2534 | commission comments on the proposed goals including, but not |
2535 | limited to: |
2536 | 1. An evaluation of utility load forecasts, including an |
2537 | assessment of alternative supply and demand side resource |
2538 | options. |
2539 | 2. An analysis of various policy options which can be |
2540 | implemented to achieve a least-cost strategy. |
2541 | (13)(7) The commission shall establish all minimum |
2542 | requirements for energy auditors used by each utility. The |
2543 | commission is authorized to contract with any public agency or |
2544 | other person to provide any training, testing, evaluation, or |
2545 | other step necessary to fulfill the provisions of this |
2546 | subsection. |
2547 | Section 40. Paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of section |
2548 | 366.8255, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
2549 | 366.8255 Environmental cost recovery.-- |
2550 | (1) As used in this section, the term: |
2551 | (d) "Environmental compliance costs" includes all costs or |
2552 | expenses incurred by an electric utility in complying with |
2553 | environmental laws or regulations, including, but not limited |
2554 | to: |
2555 | 1. Inservice capital investments, including the electric |
2556 | utility's last authorized rate of return on equity thereon.; |
2557 | 2. Operation and maintenance expenses.; |
2558 | 3. Fuel procurement costs.; |
2559 | 4. Purchased power costs.; |
2560 | 5. Emission allowance costs.; |
2561 | 6. Direct taxes on environmental equipment.; and |
2562 | 7. Costs or expenses prudently incurred by an electric |
2563 | utility pursuant to an agreement entered into on or after the |
2564 | effective date of this act and prior to October 1, 2002, between |
2565 | the electric utility and the Florida Department of Environmental |
2566 | Protection or the United States Environmental Protection Agency |
2567 | for the exclusive purpose of ensuring compliance with ozone |
2568 | ambient air quality standards by an electrical generating |
2569 | facility owned by the electric utility. |
2570 | 8. Costs or expenses prudently incurred for the |
2571 | quantification, reporting, and third-party verification as |
2572 | required for participation in greenhouse gas emission registries |
2573 | for greenhouse gases as defined in s. 403.44. |
2574 | 9. Costs or expenses prudently incurred for scientific |
2575 | research and geological assessments of carbon capture and |
2576 | storage conducted in this state for the purpose of reducing an |
2577 | electric utility's greenhouse gas emissions when such costs or |
2578 | expenses are incurred in joint research projects with Florida |
2579 | state government agencies and Florida state universities. |
2580 | Section 41. Subsection (2) of section 366.91, Florida |
2581 | Statutes, is amended, subsection (5) is renumbered as subsection |
2582 | (8), and new subsections (5), (6), and (7) are added to that |
2583 | section, to read: |
2584 | 366.91 Renewable energy.-- |
2585 | (2) As used in this section, the term: |
2586 | (a) "Biomass" means a power source that is comprised of, |
2587 | but not limited to, combustible residues or gases from forest |
2588 | products manufacturing, waste, byproducts, or products from |
2589 | agricultural and orchard crops, waste or co-products products |
2590 | from livestock and poultry operations, waste or byproducts from |
2591 | and food processing, urban wood waste, municipal solid waste, |
2592 | municipal liquid waste treatment operations, and landfill gas. |
2593 | (b) "Customer-owned renewable generation" means an |
2594 | electric generating system located on a customer's premises that |
2595 | is primarily intended to offset part or all of the customer's |
2596 | electricity requirements with renewable energy. |
2597 | (c) "Net metering" means a metering and billing |
2598 | methodology whereby customer-owned renewable generation is |
2599 | allowed to offset the customer's electricity consumption on |
2600 | site. |
2601 | (d)(b) "Renewable energy" means electrical energy produced |
2602 | from a method that uses one or more of the following fuels or |
2603 | energy sources: hydrogen produced from sources other than fossil |
2604 | fuels, biomass, solar energy, geothermal energy, wind energy, |
2605 | ocean energy, and hydroelectric power. The term includes the |
2606 | alternative energy resource, waste heat, from sulfuric acid |
2607 | manufacturing operations. |
2608 | (5) On or before January 1, 2009, each public utility |
2609 | shall develop a standardized interconnection agreement and net |
2610 | metering program for customer-owned renewable generation. The |
2611 | commission shall establish requirements relating to the |
2612 | expedited interconnection and net metering of customer-owned |
2613 | renewable generation by public utilities and may adopt rules to |
2614 | administer this section. |
2615 | (6) On or before July 1, 2009, each municipal electric |
2616 | utility and each rural electric cooperative that sells |
2617 | electricity at retail shall develop a standardized |
2618 | interconnection agreement and net metering program for customer- |
2619 | owned renewable generation. Each governing authority shall |
2620 | establish requirements relating to the expedited interconnection |
2621 | and net metering of customer-owned generation. By April 1 of |
2622 | each year, each municipal electric utility and rural electric |
2623 | cooperative utility serving retail customers shall file a report |
2624 | with the commission detailing customer participation in the |
2625 | interconnection and net metering program, including, but not |
2626 | limited to, the number and total capacity of interconnected |
2627 | generating systems and the total energy net metered in the |
2628 | previous year. |
2629 | (7) Under the provisions of subsections (5) and (6), when |
2630 | a utility purchases power generated from biogas produced by the |
2631 | anaerobic digestion of agricultural waste, including food waste |
2632 | or other agricultural byproducts, net metering shall be |
2633 | available at a single metering point or as a part of conjunctive |
2634 | billing of multiple points for a customer at a single location, |
2635 | so long as the provision of such service and its associated |
2636 | charges, terms, and other conditions are not reasonably |
2637 | projected to result in higher cost electric service to the |
2638 | utility's general body of ratepayers or adversely affect the |
2639 | adequacy or reliability of electric service to all customers, as |
2640 | determined by the commission for public utilities, or as |
2641 | determined by the governing authority of the municipal electric |
2642 | utility or rural electric cooperative that serves at retail. |
2643 | Section 42. Section 366.92, Florida Statutes, is amended |
2644 | to read: |
2645 | 366.92 Florida renewable energy policy.-- |
2646 | (1) It is the intent of the Legislature to promote the |
2647 | development of renewable energy; protect the economic viability |
2648 | of Florida's existing renewable energy facilities; diversify the |
2649 | types of fuel used to generate electricity in Florida; lessen |
2650 | Florida's dependence on natural gas and fuel oil for the |
2651 | production of electricity; minimize the volatility of fuel |
2652 | costs; encourage investment within the state; improve |
2653 | environmental conditions; and, at the same time, minimize the |
2654 | costs of power supply to electric utilities and their customers. |
2655 | (2) As used in For the purposes of this section, the term: |
2656 | (a) "Florida renewable energy resources" means shall mean |
2657 | renewable energy, as defined in s. 377.803, that is produced in |
2658 | Florida. |
2659 | (b) "Provider" means a "utility" as defined in s. |
2660 | 366.8255(1)(a). |
2661 | (c) "Renewable energy" means renewable energy as defined |
2662 | in s. 366.91(2)(d). |
2663 | (d) "Renewable energy credit" or "REC" means a product |
2664 | that represents the unbundled, separable, renewable attribute of |
2665 | renewable energy produced in Florida and is equivalent to 1 |
2666 | megawatt-hour of electricity generated by a source of renewable |
2667 | energy located in Florida. |
2668 | (e) "Renewable portfolio standard" or "RPS" means the |
2669 | minimum percentage of total annual retail electricity sales by a |
2670 | provider to consumers in Florida that shall be supplied by |
2671 | renewable energy produced in Florida. |
2672 | (3) The commission shall adopt rules for a renewable |
2673 | portfolio standard requiring each provider to supply renewable |
2674 | energy to its customers directly, by procuring, or through |
2675 | renewable energy credits. In developing the RPS rule, the |
2676 | commission shall consult the Department of Environmental |
2677 | Protection and the Florida Energy and Climate Commission. The |
2678 | rule shall not be implemented until ratified by the Legislature. |
2679 | The commission shall present a draft rule for legislative |
2680 | consideration by February 1, 2009. |
2681 | (a) In developing the rule, the commission shall evaluate |
2682 | the current and forecasted levelized cost in cents per kilowatt |
2683 | hour through 2020 and current and forecasted installed capacity |
2684 | in kilowatts for each renewable energy generation method through |
2685 | 2020. |
2686 | (b) The commission's rule: |
2687 | 1. Shall include methods of managing the cost of |
2688 | compliance with the renewable portfolio standard, whether |
2689 | through direct supply or procurement of renewable power or |
2690 | through the purchase of renewable energy credits. The commission |
2691 | shall have rulemaking authority for providing annual cost |
2692 | recovery and incentive-based adjustments to authorized rates of |
2693 | return on common equity to providers to incentivize renewable |
2694 | energy. Notwithstanding s. 366.91(3) and (4), upon the |
2695 | ratification of the rules developed pursuant to this subsection, |
2696 | the commission may approve projects and power sales agreements |
2697 | with renewable power producers and the sale of renewable energy |
2698 | credits needed to comply with the renewable portfolio standard. |
2699 | In the event of any conflict, this subparagraph shall supersede |
2700 | s. 366.91(3) and (4). However, nothing in this section shall |
2701 | alter the obligation of each public utility to continuously |
2702 | offer a purchase contract to producers of renewable energy. |
2703 | 2. Shall provide for appropriate compliance measures and |
2704 | the conditions under which noncompliance shall be excused due to |
2705 | a determination by the commission that the supply of renewable |
2706 | energy or renewable energy credits was not adequate to satisfy |
2707 | the demand for such energy or that the cost of securing |
2708 | renewable energy or renewable energy credits was cost |
2709 | prohibitive. |
2710 | 3. May provide added weight to energy provided by wind and |
2711 | solar photovoltaic over other forms of renewable energy, whether |
2712 | directly supplied or procured or indirectly obtained through the |
2713 | purchase of renewable energy credits. |
2714 | 4. Shall determine an appropriate period of time for which |
2715 | renewable energy credits may be used for purposes of compliance |
2716 | with the renewable portfolio standard. |
2717 | 5. Shall provide for monitoring of compliance with and |
2718 | enforcement of the requirements of this section. |
2719 | 6. Shall ensure that energy credited toward compliance |
2720 | with the requirements of this section is not credited toward any |
2721 | other purpose. |
2722 | 7. Shall include procedures to track and account for |
2723 | renewable energy credits, including ownership of renewable |
2724 | energy credits that are derived from a customer-owned renewable |
2725 | energy facility as a result of any action by a customer of an |
2726 | electric power supplier that is independent of a program |
2727 | sponsored by the electric power supplier. |
2728 | 8. Shall provide for the conditions and options for the |
2729 | repeal or alteration of the rule in the event that new |
2730 | provisions of federal law supplant or conflict with the rule. |
2731 | (c) Beginning on April 1 of the year following final |
2732 | adoption of the commission's renewable portfolio standard rule, |
2733 | each provider shall submit a report to the commission describing |
2734 | the steps that have been taken in the previous year and the |
2735 | steps that will be taken in the future to add renewable energy |
2736 | to the provider's energy supply portfolio. The report shall |
2737 | state whether the provider was in compliance with the renewable |
2738 | portfolio standard during the previous year and how it will |
2739 | comply with the renewable portfolio standard in the upcoming |
2740 | year. |
2741 | (4) In order to demonstrate the feasibility and viability |
2742 | of clean energy systems, the commission shall provide for full |
2743 | cost recovery under the environmental cost-recovery clause of |
2744 | all reasonable and prudent costs incurred by a provider for |
2745 | renewable energy projects that are zero greenhouse gas emitting |
2746 | at the point of generation, up to a total of 110 megawatts |
2747 | statewide, and for which the provider has secured necessary |
2748 | land, zoning permits, and transmission rights within the state. |
2749 | Such costs shall be deemed reasonable and prudent for purposes |
2750 | of cost recovery so long as the provider has used reasonable and |
2751 | customary industry practices in the design, procurement, and |
2752 | construction of the project in a cost-effective manner |
2753 | appropriate to the location of the facility. The provider shall |
2754 | report to the commission as part of the cost-recovery |
2755 | proceedings the construction costs, in-service costs, operating |
2756 | and maintenance costs, hourly energy production of the renewable |
2757 | energy project, and any other information deemed relevant by the |
2758 | commission. Any provider constructing a clean energy facility |
2759 | pursuant to this section shall file for cost recovery no later |
2760 | than July 1, 2009. |
2761 | (5) Each municipal electric utility and rural electric |
2762 | cooperative shall develop standards for the promotion, |
2763 | encouragement, and expansion of the use of renewable energy |
2764 | resources and energy conservation and efficiency measures. On or |
2765 | before April 1, 2009, and annually thereafter, each municipal |
2766 | electric utility and electric cooperative shall submit to the |
2767 | commission a report that identifies such standards. |
2768 | (6) Nothing in this section shall be construed to impede |
2769 | or impair terms and conditions of existing contracts. |
2770 | (3) The commission may adopt appropriate goals for |
2771 | increasing the use of existing, expanded, and new Florida |
2772 | renewable energy resources. The commission may change the goals. |
2773 | The commission may review and reestablish the goals at least |
2774 | once every 5 years. |
2775 | (7)(4) The commission may adopt rules to administer and |
2776 | implement the provisions of this section. |
2777 | Section 43. Subsections (1), (2), and (6) of section |
2778 | 366.93, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
2779 | 366.93 Cost recovery for the siting, design, licensing, |
2780 | and construction of nuclear and integrated gasification combined |
2781 | cycle power plants.-- |
2782 | (1) As used in this section, the term: |
2783 | (a) "Cost" includes, but is not limited to, all capital |
2784 | investments, including rate of return, any applicable taxes, and |
2785 | all expenses, including operation and maintenance expenses, |
2786 | related to or resulting from the siting, licensing, design, |
2787 | construction, or operation of the nuclear power plant, including |
2788 | new, expanded, or relocated electrical transmission lines or |
2789 | facilities of any size that are necessary thereto, or of the |
2790 | integrated gasification combined cycle power plant. |
2791 | (b) "Electric utility" or "utility" has the same meaning |
2792 | as that provided in s. 366.8255(1)(a). |
2793 | (c) "Integrated gasification combined cycle power plant" |
2794 | or "plant" means is an electrical power plant as defined in s. |
2795 | 403.503(14)(13) that uses synthesis gas produced by integrated |
2796 | gasification technology. |
2797 | (d) "Nuclear power plant" or "plant" means is an |
2798 | electrical power plant as defined in s. 403.503(14)(13) that |
2799 | uses nuclear materials for fuel. |
2800 | (e) "Power plant" or "plant" means a nuclear power plant |
2801 | or an integrated gasification combined cycle power plant. |
2802 | (f) "Preconstruction" is that period of time after a site, |
2803 | including any related electrical transmission lines or |
2804 | facilities, has been selected through and including the date the |
2805 | utility completes site clearing work. Preconstruction costs |
2806 | shall be afforded deferred accounting treatment and shall accrue |
2807 | a carrying charge equal to the utility's allowance for funds |
2808 | during construction (AFUDC) rate until recovered in rates. |
2809 | (2) Within 6 months after the enactment of this act, the |
2810 | commission shall establish, by rule, alternative cost recovery |
2811 | mechanisms for the recovery of costs incurred in the siting, |
2812 | design, licensing, and construction of a nuclear power plant, |
2813 | including new, expanded, or relocated electrical transmission |
2814 | lines and facilities that are necessary thereto, or of an |
2815 | integrated gasification combined cycle power plant. Such |
2816 | mechanisms shall be designed to promote utility investment in |
2817 | nuclear or integrated gasification combined cycle power plants |
2818 | and allow for the recovery in rates of all prudently incurred |
2819 | costs, and shall include, but are not be limited to: |
2820 | (a) Recovery through the capacity cost recovery clause of |
2821 | any preconstruction costs. |
2822 | (b) Recovery through an incremental increase in the |
2823 | utility's capacity cost recovery clause rates of the carrying |
2824 | costs on the utility's projected construction cost balance |
2825 | associated with the nuclear or integrated gasification combined |
2826 | cycle power plant. To encourage investment and provide |
2827 | certainty, for nuclear or integrated gasification combined cycle |
2828 | power plant need petitions submitted on or before December 31, |
2829 | 2010, associated carrying costs shall be equal to the pretax |
2830 | AFUDC in effect upon this act becoming law. For nuclear or |
2831 | integrated gasification combined cycle power plants for which |
2832 | need petitions are submitted after December 31, 2010, the |
2833 | utility's existing pretax AFUDC rate is presumed to be |
2834 | appropriate unless determined otherwise by the commission in the |
2835 | determination of need for the nuclear or integrated gasification |
2836 | combined cycle power plant. |
2837 | (6) If In the event the utility elects not to complete or |
2838 | is precluded from completing construction of the nuclear power |
2839 | plant, including new, expanded, or relocated electrical |
2840 | transmission lines or facilities necessary thereto, or of the |
2841 | integrated gasification combined cycle power plant, the utility |
2842 | shall be allowed to recover all prudent preconstruction and |
2843 | construction costs incurred following the commission's issuance |
2844 | of a final order granting a determination of need for the |
2845 | nuclear power plant and electrical transmission lines and |
2846 | facilities necessary thereto or for the integrated gasification |
2847 | combined cycle power plant. The utility shall recover such costs |
2848 | through the capacity cost recovery clause over a period equal to |
2849 | the period during which the costs were incurred or 5 years, |
2850 | whichever is greater. The unrecovered balance during the |
2851 | recovery period will accrue interest at the utility's weighted |
2852 | average cost of capital as reported in the commission's earnings |
2853 | surveillance reporting requirement for the prior year. |
2854 | Section 44. Section 377.601, Florida Statutes, is amended |
2855 | to read: |
2856 | 377.601 Legislative intent.-- |
2857 | (1) The Legislature finds that the state's energy security |
2858 | can be increased by lessening dependence on foreign oil; that |
2859 | the impacts of global climate change can be reduced through the |
2860 | reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; and that the |
2861 | implementation of alternative energy technologies can be a |
2862 | source of new jobs and employment opportunities for many |
2863 | Floridians. The Legislature further finds that the state is |
2864 | positioned at the front line against potential impacts of global |
2865 | climate change. Human and economic costs of those impacts can be |
2866 | averted by global actions and, where necessary, adapted to by a |
2867 | concerted effort to make Florida's communities more resilient |
2868 | and less vulnerable to these impacts. In focusing the |
2869 | government's policy and efforts to benefit and protect our |
2870 | state, its citizens, and its resources, the Legislature believes |
2871 | that a single government entity with a specific focus on energy |
2872 | and climate change is both desirable and advantageous. Further, |
2873 | the Legislature finds that energy infrastructure provides the |
2874 | foundation for secure and reliable access to the energy supplies |
2875 | and services on which Florida depends. Therefore, there is |
2876 | significant value to Florida consumers that comes from |
2877 | investment in Florida's energy infrastructure that increases |
2878 | system reliability, enhances energy independence and |
2879 | diversification, stabilizes energy costs, and reduces greenhouse |
2880 | gas emissions ability to deal effectively with present shortages |
2881 | of resources used in the production of energy is aggravated and |
2882 | intensified because of inadequate or nonexistent information and |
2883 | that intelligent response to these problems and to the |
2884 | development of a state energy policy demands accurate and |
2885 | relevant information concerning energy supply, distribution, and |
2886 | use. The Legislature finds and declares that a procedure for the |
2887 | collection and analysis of data on the energy flow in this state |
2888 | is essential to the development and maintenance of an energy |
2889 | profile defining the characteristics and magnitudes of present |
2890 | and future energy demands and availability so that the state may |
2891 | rationally deal with present energy problems and anticipate |
2892 | future energy problems. |
2893 | (2) The Legislature further recognizes that every state |
2894 | official dealing with energy problems should have current and |
2895 | reliable information on the types and quantity of energy |
2896 | resources produced, imported, converted, distributed, exported, |
2897 | stored, held in reserve, or consumed within the state. |
2898 | (3) It is the intent of the Legislature in the passage of |
2899 | this act to provide the necessary mechanisms for the effective |
2900 | development of information necessary to rectify the present lack |
2901 | of information which is seriously handicapping the state's |
2902 | ability to deal effectively with the energy problem. To this |
2903 | end, the provisions of ss. 377.601-377.608 should be given the |
2904 | broadest possible interpretation consistent with the stated |
2905 | legislative desire to procure vital information. |
2906 | (2)(4) It is the policy of the State of Florida to: |
2907 | (a) Develop and promote the effective use of energy in the |
2908 | state, and discourage all forms of energy waste, and recognize |
2909 | and address the potential of global climate change wherever |
2910 | possible. |
2911 | (b) Play a leading role in developing and instituting |
2912 | energy management programs aimed at promoting energy |
2913 | conservation, energy security, and the reduction of greenhouse |
2914 | gas emissions. |
2915 | (c) Include energy considerations in all state, regional, |
2916 | and local planning. |
2917 | (d) Utilize and manage effectively energy resources used |
2918 | within state agencies. |
2919 | (e) Encourage local governments to include energy |
2920 | considerations in all planning and to support their work in |
2921 | promoting energy management programs. |
2922 | (f) Include the full participation of citizens in the |
2923 | development and implementation of energy programs. |
2924 | (g) Consider in its decisions the energy needs of each |
2925 | economic sector, including residential, industrial, commercial, |
2926 | agricultural, and governmental uses, and reduce those needs |
2927 | whenever possible. |
2928 | (h) Promote energy education and the public dissemination |
2929 | of information on energy and its environmental, economic, and |
2930 | social impact. |
2931 | (i) Encourage the research, development, demonstration, |
2932 | and application of alternative energy resources, particularly |
2933 | renewable energy resources. |
2934 | (j) Consider, in its decisionmaking, the social, economic, |
2935 | and environmental impacts of energy-related activities, |
2936 | including the whole-life-cycle impacts of any potential energy |
2937 | use choices, so that detrimental effects of these activities are |
2938 | understood and minimized. |
2939 | (k) Develop and maintain energy emergency preparedness |
2940 | plans to minimize the effects of an energy shortage within |
2941 | Florida. |
2942 | Section 45. All of the records, property, unexpended |
2943 | balances of appropriations, and personnel related to the Florida |
2944 | Energy Commission for the administration and implementation of |
2945 | s. 377.901, Florida Statutes, shall be transferred from the |
2946 | Office of Legislative Services to the Florida Energy and Climate |
2947 | Commission in the Executive Office of the Governor. The |
2948 | Executive Office of the Governor is authorized to establish four |
2949 | full-time equivalent positions to staff the Florida Energy and |
2950 | Climate Commission. |
2951 | Section 46. Section 377.6015, Florida Statutes, is created |
2952 | to read: |
2953 | 377.6015 Florida Energy and Climate Commission.-- |
2954 | (1) The Florida Energy and Climate Commission is created |
2955 | within the Executive Office of the Governor. The commission |
2956 | shall be comprised of nine members appointed by the Governor, |
2957 | the Commissioner of Agriculture, and the Chief Financial |
2958 | Officer. |
2959 | (a) The Governor shall appoint one member from three |
2960 | persons nominated by the Florida Public Service Commission |
2961 | Nominating Council, created in s. 350.031, to each of seven |
2962 | seats on the commission. The Commissioner of Agriculture shall |
2963 | appoint one member from three persons nominated by the council |
2964 | to one seat on the commission. The Chief Financial Officer shall |
2965 | appoint one member from three persons nominated by the council |
2966 | to one seat on the commission. |
2967 | 1. The council shall submit the recommendations to the |
2968 | Governor, the Commissioner of Agriculture, and the Chief |
2969 | Financial Officer by September 1 of those years in which the |
2970 | terms are to begin the following October or within 60 days after |
2971 | a vacancy occurs for any reason other than the expiration of the |
2972 | term. The Governor, the Commissioner of Agriculture, and the |
2973 | Chief Financial Officer may proffer names of persons to be |
2974 | considered for nomination by the council. |
2975 | 2. The Governor, the Commissioner of Agriculture, and the |
2976 | Chief Financial Officer shall fill a vacancy occurring on the |
2977 | commission by appointment of one of the applicants nominated by |
2978 | the council only after a background investigation of such |
2979 | applicant has been conducted by the Department of Law |
2980 | Enforcement. |
2981 | 3. Members shall be appointed to 3-year terms; however, in |
2982 | order to establish staggered terms, for the initial |
2983 | appointments, the Governor shall appoint four members to 3-year |
2984 | terms, two members to 2-year terms, and one member to a 1-year |
2985 | term, and the Commissioner of Agriculture and the Chief |
2986 | Financial Officer shall each appoint one member to a 3-year term |
2987 | and shall appoint a successor when that appointee's term expires |
2988 | in the same manner as the original appointment. |
2989 | 4. The Governor shall select from the membership of the |
2990 | commission one person to serve as chair. |
2991 | 5. A vacancy on the commission shall be filled for the |
2992 | unexpired portion of the term in the same manner as the original |
2993 | appointment. |
2994 | 6. If the Governor, the Commissioner of Agriculture, or |
2995 | the Chief Financial Officer has not made an appointment within |
2996 | 30 consecutive calendar days after the receipt of the |
2997 | recommendations, the council shall initiate, in accordance with |
2998 | this section, the nominating process within 30 days. |
2999 | 7. Each appointment to the commission shall be subject to |
3000 | confirmation by the Senate during the next regular session after |
3001 | the vacancy occurs. If the Senate refuses to confirm or fails to |
3002 | consider the appointment of the Governor, the Commissioner of |
3003 | Agriculture, or the Chief Financial Officer, the council shall |
3004 | initiate, in accordance with this section, the nominating |
3005 | process within 30 days. |
3006 | 8. The Governor or the Governor's successor may recall an |
3007 | appointee. |
3008 | (b) Members must meet the following qualifications and |
3009 | restrictions: |
3010 | 1. A member must be an expert in one or more of the |
3011 | following fields: energy, natural resource conservation, |
3012 | economics, engineering, finance, law, transportation and land |
3013 | use, consumer protection, state energy policy, or another field |
3014 | substantially related to the duties and functions of the |
3015 | commission. The commission shall fairly represent the fields |
3016 | specified in this subparagraph. |
3017 | 2. Each member shall, at the time of appointment and at |
3018 | each commission meeting during his or her term of office, |
3019 | disclose: |
3020 | a. Whether he or she has any financial interest, other |
3021 | than ownership of shares in a mutual fund, in any business |
3022 | entity that, directly or indirectly, owns or controls, or is an |
3023 | affiliate or subsidiary of, any business entity that may be |
3024 | affected by the policy recommendations developed by the |
3025 | commission. |
3026 | b. Whether he or she is employed by or is engaged in any |
3027 | business activity with any business entity that, directly or |
3028 | indirectly, owns or controls, or is an affiliate or subsidiary |
3029 | of, any business entity that may be affected by the policy |
3030 | recommendations developed by the commission. |
3031 | (c) The chair may designate the following ex officio, |
3032 | nonvoting members to provide information and advice to the |
3033 | commission at the request of the chair: |
3034 | 1. The chair of the Florida Public Service Commission, or |
3035 | his or her designee. |
3036 | 2. The Public Counsel, or his or her designee. |
3037 | 3. A representative of the Department of Agriculture and |
3038 | Consumer Services. |
3039 | 4. A representative of the Department of Financial |
3040 | Services. |
3041 | 5. A representative of the Department of Environmental |
3042 | Protection. |
3043 | 6. A representative of the Department of Community |
3044 | Affairs. |
3045 | 7. A representative of the Board of Governors of the State |
3046 | University System. |
3047 | 8. A representative of the Department of Transportation. |
3048 | (2) Members shall serve without compensation but are |
3049 | entitled to reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses as |
3050 | provided in s. 112.061. |
3051 | (3) Meetings of the commission may be held in various |
3052 | locations around the state and at the call of the chair; |
3053 | however, the commission must meet at least six times each year. |
3054 | (4) The commission may: |
3055 | (a) Employ staff and counsel as needed in the performance |
3056 | of its duties. |
3057 | (b) Prosecute and defend legal actions in its own name. |
3058 | (c) Form advisory groups consisting of members of the |
3059 | public to provide information on specific issues. |
3060 | (5) The commission shall: |
3061 | (a) Administer the Florida Renewable Energy and Energy |
3062 | Efficient Technologies Grants Program pursuant to s. 377.804 to |
3063 | assure a robust grant portfolio. |
3064 | (b) Develop policy for requiring grantees to provide |
3065 | royalty-sharing or licensing agreements with state government |
3066 | for commercialized products developed under a state grant. |
3067 | (c) Administer the Florida Green Government Grants Act |
3068 | pursuant to s. 377.808 and set annual priorities for grants. |
3069 | (d) Administer the information gathering and reporting |
3070 | functions pursuant to ss. 377.601-377.608. |
3071 | (e) Administer petroleum planning and emergency |
3072 | contingency planning pursuant to ss. 377.701, 377.703, and |
3073 | 377.704. |
3074 | (f) Represent Florida in the Southern States Energy |
3075 | Compact pursuant to ss. 377.71-377.712. |
3076 | (g) Complete the annual assessment of the efficacy of |
3077 | Florida's Energy and Climate Change Action Plan, upon completion |
3078 | by the Governor's Action Team on Energy and Climate Change |
3079 | pursuant to the Governor's Executive Order 2007-128, and |
3080 | provide specific recommendations to the Governor and the |
3081 | Legislature each year to improve results. |
3082 | (h) Administer the provisions of the Florida Energy and |
3083 | Climate Protection Act pursuant to ss. 377.801-377.806. |
3084 | (i) Advocate for energy and climate change issues and |
3085 | provide educational outreach and technical assistance in |
3086 | cooperation with the state's academic institutions. |
3087 | (j) Be a party in the proceedings to adopt goals and |
3088 | submit comments to the Public Service Commission pursuant to s. |
3089 | 366.82. |
3090 | (k) Adopt rules pursuant to chapter 120 in order to |
3091 | implement all powers and duties described in this section. |
3092 | Section 47. Section 377.602, Florida Statutes, is amended |
3093 | to read: |
3094 | 377.602 Definitions.--As used in ss. 377.601-377.608: |
3095 | (1) "Commission" means the Florida Energy and Climate |
3096 | Commission. |
3097 | (2)(1) "Energy resources" includes, but shall not be |
3098 | limited to: |
3099 | (a) Energy converted from solar radiation, wind, hydraulic |
3100 | potential, tidal movements, biomass, geothermal sources, and |
3101 | other energy resources the commission determines to be important |
3102 | to the production or supply of energy. |
3103 | (b)(a) Propane, butane, motor gasoline, kerosene, home |
3104 | heating oil, diesel fuel, other middle distillates, aviation |
3105 | gasoline, kerosene-type jet fuel, naphtha-type jet fuel, |
3106 | residual fuels, crude oil, and other petroleum products and |
3107 | hydrocarbons as may be determined by the commission department |
3108 | to be of importance. |
3109 | (c)(b) All natural gas, including casinghead gas, all |
3110 | other hydrocarbons not defined as petroleum products in |
3111 | paragraph (b) (a), and liquefied petroleum gas as defined in s. |
3112 | 527.01. |
3113 | (d)(c) All types of coal and products derived from its |
3114 | conversion and used as fuel. |
3115 | (e)(d) All types of nuclear energy, special nuclear |
3116 | material, and source material, as defined in former s. 290.07. |
3117 | (e) Every other energy resource, whether natural or |
3118 | manmade which the department determines to be important to the |
3119 | production or supply of energy, including, but not limited to, |
3120 | energy converted from solar radiation, wind, hydraulic |
3121 | potential, tidal movements, and geothermal sources. |
3122 | (f) All electrical energy. |
3123 | (2) "Department" means the Department of Environmental |
3124 | Protection. |
3125 | (3) "Person" means producer, refiner, wholesaler, |
3126 | marketer, consignee, jobber, distributor, storage operator, |
3127 | importer, exporter, firm, corporation, broker, cooperative, |
3128 | public utility as defined in s. 366.02, rural electrification |
3129 | cooperative, municipality engaged in the business of providing |
3130 | electricity or other energy resources to the public, pipeline |
3131 | company, person transporting any energy resources as defined in |
3132 | subsection (2) (1), and person holding energy reserves for |
3133 | further production; however, "person" does not include persons |
3134 | exclusively engaged in the retail sale of petroleum products. |
3135 | Section 48. All of the powers, duties, functions, records, |
3136 | personnel, and property; unexpended balances of appropriations, |
3137 | allocations, and other funds; administrative authority; |
3138 | administrative rules; pending issues; and existing contracts of |
3139 | the state energy program in the Department of Environmental |
3140 | Protection, as authorized and governed by ss. 20.255, 288.041, |
3141 | 377.601-377.608, 377.703, and 377.801-377.806, Florida Statutes, |
3142 | are transferred by a type two transfer, pursuant to s. 20.06(2), |
3143 | Florida Statutes, to the Florida Energy and Climate Commission |
3144 | in the Executive Office of the Governor. |
3145 | Section 49. Section 377.603, Florida Statutes, is amended |
3146 | to read: |
3147 | 377.603 Energy data collection; powers and duties of the |
3148 | commission Department of Environmental Protection.-- |
3149 | (1) The commission may department shall collect data on |
3150 | the extraction, production, importation, exportation, |
3151 | refinement, transportation, transmission, conversion, storage, |
3152 | sale, or reserves of energy resources in this state in an |
3153 | efficient and expeditious manner. |
3154 | (2) The commission may department shall prepare periodic |
3155 | reports of energy data it collects. |
3156 | (3) The department shall prescribe and furnish forms for |
3157 | the collection of information as required by ss. 377.601-377.608 |
3158 | and shall consult with other state entities to assure that such |
3159 | data collected will meet their data requirements. |
3160 | (3)(4) The commission department may adopt and promulgate |
3161 | such rules and regulations as are necessary to carry out the |
3162 | provisions of ss. 377.601-377.608. Such rules shall be pursuant |
3163 | to chapter 120. |
3164 | (4)(5) The commission department shall maintain internal |
3165 | validation procedures to assure the accuracy of information |
3166 | received. |
3167 | Section 50. Section 377.604, Florida Statutes, is amended |
3168 | to read: |
3169 | 377.604 Required reports.--Every person who produces, |
3170 | imports, exports, refines, transports, transmits, converts, |
3171 | stores, sells, or holds known reserves of any form of energy |
3172 | resources used as fuel shall report to the commission, at the |
3173 | request of department at a frequency set, and in a manner |
3174 | prescribed, by the commission department, on forms provided by |
3175 | the commission department and prepared with the advice of |
3176 | representatives of the energy industry. Such forms shall be |
3177 | designed in such a manner as to indicate: |
3178 | (1) The identity of the person or persons making the |
3179 | report. |
3180 | (2) The quantity of energy resources extracted, produced, |
3181 | imported, exported, refined, transported, transmitted, |
3182 | converted, stored, or sold except at retail. |
3183 | (3) The quantity of energy resources known to be held in |
3184 | reserve in the state. |
3185 | (4) The identity of each refinery from which petroleum |
3186 | products have normally been obtained and the type and quantity |
3187 | of products secured from that refinery for sale or resale in |
3188 | this state. |
3189 | (5) Any other information which the commission department |
3190 | deems proper pursuant to the intent of ss. 377.601-377.608. |
3191 | Section 51. Section 377.605, Florida Statutes, is amended |
3192 | to read: |
3193 | 377.605 Use of existing information.--The commission may |
3194 | department shall utilize to the fullest extent possible any |
3195 | existing energy information already prepared for state or |
3196 | federal agencies. Every state, county, and municipal agency |
3197 | shall cooperate with the commission department and shall submit |
3198 | any information on energy to the commission department upon |
3199 | request. |
3200 | Section 52. Section 377.606, Florida Statutes, is amended |
3201 | to read: |
3202 | 377.606 Records of the commission department; limits of |
3203 | confidentiality.--The information or records of individual |
3204 | persons, as defined in this section herein, obtained by the |
3205 | commission department as a result of a report, investigation, or |
3206 | verification required by the commission department, shall be |
3207 | open to the public, except such information the disclosure of |
3208 | which would be likely to cause substantial harm to the |
3209 | competitive position of the person providing such information |
3210 | and which is requested to be held confidential by the person |
3211 | providing such information. Such proprietary information is |
3212 | confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1). |
3213 | Information reported by entities other than the commission |
3214 | department in documents or reports open to public inspection |
3215 | shall under no circumstances be classified as confidential by |
3216 | the commission department. Divulgence of proprietary information |
3217 | as is requested to be held confidential, except upon order of a |
3218 | court of competent jurisdiction or except to an officer of the |
3219 | state entitled to receive the same in his or her official |
3220 | capacity, shall be a misdemeanor of the second degree, |
3221 | punishable as provided in ss. 775.082 and 775.083. Nothing in |
3222 | this section herein shall be construed to prohibit the |
3223 | publication or divulgence by other means of data so classified |
3224 | as to prevent identification of particular accounts or reports |
3225 | made to the commission department in compliance with s. 377.603 |
3226 | or to prohibit the disclosure of such information to properly |
3227 | qualified legislative committees. The commission department |
3228 | shall establish a system which permits reasonable access to |
3229 | information developed. |
3230 | Section 53. Section 377.608, Florida Statutes, is amended |
3231 | to read: |
3232 | 377.608 Prosecution of cases by state attorney.--The state |
3233 | attorney shall prosecute all cases certified to him or her for |
3234 | prosecution by the commission department immediately upon |
3235 | receipt of the evidence transmitted by the commission |
3236 | department, or as soon thereafter as practicable. |
3237 | Section 54. Section 377.701, Florida Statutes, is amended |
3238 | to read: |
3239 | 377.701 Petroleum allocation.-- |
3240 | (1) The Florida Energy and Climate Commission Department |
3241 | of Environmental Protection shall assume the state's role in |
3242 | petroleum allocation and conservation, including the development |
3243 | of a fair and equitable petroleum plan. The commission |
3244 | department shall constitute the responsible state agency for |
3245 | performing the functions of any federal program delegated to the |
3246 | state, which relates to petroleum supply, demand, and |
3247 | allocation. |
3248 | (2) The commission department shall, in addition to |
3249 | assuming the duties and responsibilities provided by subsection |
3250 | (1), perform the following: |
3251 | (a) In projecting available supplies of petroleum, |
3252 | coordinate with the Department of Revenue to secure information |
3253 | necessary to assure the sufficiency and accuracy of data |
3254 | submitted by persons affected by any federal fuel allocation |
3255 | program. |
3256 | (b) Require such periodic reports from public and private |
3257 | sources as may be necessary to the fulfillment of its |
3258 | responsibilities under this act. Such reports may include: |
3259 | petroleum use; all sales, including end-user sales, except |
3260 | retail gasoline and retail fuel oil sales; inventories; expected |
3261 | supplies and allocations; and petroleum conservation measures. |
3262 | (c) In cooperation with the Department of Revenue and |
3263 | other relevant state agencies, provide for long-range studies |
3264 | regarding the usage of petroleum in the state in order to: |
3265 | 1. Comprehend the consumption of petroleum resources. |
3266 | 2. Predict future petroleum demands in relation to |
3267 | available resources. |
3268 | 3. Report the results of such studies to the Legislature. |
3269 | (3) For the purpose of determining accuracy of data, all |
3270 | state agencies shall timely provide the commission department |
3271 | with petroleum-use information in a format suitable to the needs |
3272 | of the allocation program. |
3273 | (4) A No state employee may not shall divulge or make |
3274 | known in any manner any proprietary information acquired under |
3275 | this act if the disclosure of such information would be likely |
3276 | to cause substantial harm to the competitive position of the |
3277 | person providing such information and if the person requests |
3278 | that such information be held confidential, except in accordance |
3279 | with a court order or in the publication of statistical |
3280 | information compiled by methods which do would not disclose the |
3281 | identity of individual suppliers or companies. Such proprietary |
3282 | information is confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. |
3283 | 119.07(1). Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to |
3284 | prevent inspection of reports by the Attorney General, members |
3285 | of the Legislature, and interested state agencies; however, such |
3286 | agencies and their employees and members are bound by the |
3287 | requirements set forth in this subsection. |
3288 | (5) Any person who willfully fails to submit information |
3289 | required by this act or submits false information or who |
3290 | violates any provision of this act commits is guilty of a |
3291 | misdemeanor of the first degree and shall be punished as |
3292 | provided in ss. 775.082 and 775.083. |
3293 | Section 55. Section 377.703, Florida Statutes, is amended |
3294 | to read: |
3295 | 377.703 Additional functions of the Florida Energy and |
3296 | Climate Commission Department of Environmental Protection; |
3297 | energy emergency contingency plan; federal and state |
3298 | conservation programs.-- |
3299 | (1) LEGISLATIVE INTENT.--Recognizing that energy supply |
3300 | and demand questions have become a major area of concern to the |
3301 | state which must be dealt with by effective and well-coordinated |
3302 | state action, it is the intent of the Legislature to promote the |
3303 | efficient, effective, and economical management of energy |
3304 | problems, centralize energy coordination responsibilities, |
3305 | pinpoint responsibility for conducting energy programs, and |
3306 | ensure the accountability of state agencies for the |
3307 | implementation of s. 377.601(2)(4), the state energy policy. It |
3308 | is the specific intent of the Legislature that nothing in this |
3309 | act shall in any way change the powers, duties, and |
3310 | responsibilities assigned by the Florida Electrical Power Plant |
3311 | Siting Act, part II of chapter 403, or the powers, duties, and |
3312 | responsibilities of the Florida Public Service Commission. |
3313 | (2) DEFINITIONS.-- |
3314 | (a) "Coordinate," "coordination," or "coordinating" means |
3315 | the examination and evaluation of state plans and programs and |
3316 | the providing of recommendations to the Cabinet, Legislature, |
3317 | and appropriate state agency on any measures deemed necessary to |
3318 | ensure that such plans and programs are consistent with state |
3319 | energy policy. |
3320 | (b) "Energy conservation" means increased efficiency in |
3321 | the utilization of energy. |
3322 | (c) "Energy emergency" means an actual or impending |
3323 | shortage or curtailment of usable, necessary energy resources, |
3324 | such that the maintenance of necessary services, the protection |
3325 | of public health, safety, and welfare, or the maintenance of |
3326 | basic sound economy is imperiled in any geographical section of |
3327 | the state or throughout the entire state. |
3328 | (d) "Energy source" means electricity, fossil fuels, solar |
3329 | power, wind power, hydroelectric power, nuclear power, or any |
3330 | other resource which has the capacity to do work. |
3331 | (e) "Facilities" means any building or structure not |
3332 | otherwise exempted by the provisions of this act. |
3333 | (f) "Fuel" means petroleum, crude oil, petroleum product, |
3334 | coal, natural gas, or any other substance used primarily for its |
3335 | energy content. |
3336 | (g) "Local government" means any county, municipality, |
3337 | regional planning agency, or other special district or local |
3338 | governmental entity the policies or programs of which may affect |
3339 | the supply or demand, or both, for energy in the state. |
3340 | (h) "Promotion" or "promote" means to encourage, aid, |
3341 | assist, provide technical and financial assistance, or otherwise |
3342 | seek to plan, develop, and expand. |
3343 | (i) "Regional planning agency" means those agencies |
3344 | designated as regional planning agencies by the Department of |
3345 | Community Affairs. |
3346 | (j) "Renewable energy resource" means any method, process, |
3347 | or substance the use of which does not diminish its availability |
3348 | or abundance, including, but not limited to, biomass conversion, |
3349 | geothermal energy, solar energy, wind energy, wood fuels derived |
3350 | from waste, ocean thermal gradient power, hydroelectric power, |
3351 | and fuels derived from agricultural products. |
3352 | (2)(3) FLORIDA ENERGY AND CLIMATE COMMISSION DEPARTMENT OF |
3353 | ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION; DUTIES.--The commission Department of |
3354 | Environmental Protection shall, in addition to assuming the |
3355 | duties and responsibilities provided by ss. 20.255 and 377.701, |
3356 | perform the following functions consistent with the development |
3357 | of a state energy policy: |
3358 | (a) The commission department shall assume the |
3359 | responsibility for development of an energy emergency |
3360 | contingency plan to respond to serious shortages of primary and |
3361 | secondary energy sources. Upon a finding by the Governor, |
3362 | implementation of any emergency program shall be upon order of |
3363 | the Governor that a particular kind or type of fuel is, or that |
3364 | the occurrence of an event which is reasonably expected within |
3365 | 30 days will make the fuel, in short supply. The commission |
3366 | department shall then respond by instituting the appropriate |
3367 | measures of the contingency plan to meet the given emergency or |
3368 | energy shortage. The Governor may utilize the provisions of s. |
3369 | 252.36(5) to carry out any emergency actions required by a |
3370 | serious shortage of energy sources. |
3371 | (b) The commission department shall be constitute the |
3372 | responsible state agency for performing or coordinating the |
3373 | functions of any federal energy programs delegated to the state, |
3374 | including energy supply, demand, conservation, or allocation. |
3375 | (c) The commission department shall analyze present and |
3376 | proposed federal energy programs and make recommendations |
3377 | regarding those programs to the Governor and the Legislature. |
3378 | (d) The commission department shall coordinate efforts to |
3379 | seek federal support or other support for state energy |
3380 | activities, including energy conservation, research, or |
3381 | development, and shall be the state agency responsible for the |
3382 | coordination of multiagency energy conservation programs and |
3383 | plans. |
3384 | (e) The commission department shall analyze energy data |
3385 | collected and prepare long-range forecasts of energy supply and |
3386 | demand in coordination with the Florida Public Service |
3387 | Commission, which shall have responsibility for electricity and |
3388 | natural gas forecasts. To this end, the forecasts shall contain: |
3389 | 1. An analysis of the relationship of state economic |
3390 | growth and development to energy supply and demand, including |
3391 | the constraints to economic growth resulting from energy supply |
3392 | constraints. |
3393 | 2. Plans for the development of renewable energy resources |
3394 | and reduction in dependence on depletable energy resources, |
3395 | particularly oil and natural gas, and an analysis of the extent |
3396 | to which renewable energy sources are being utilized in the |
3397 | state. |
3398 | 3. Consideration of alternative scenarios of statewide |
3399 | energy supply and demand for 5, 10, and 20 years, to identify |
3400 | strategies for long-range action, including identification of |
3401 | potential social, economic, and environmental effects. |
3402 | 4. An assessment of the state's energy resources, |
3403 | including examination of the availability of commercially |
3404 | developable and imported fuels, and an analysis of anticipated |
3405 | effects on the state's environment and social services resulting |
3406 | from energy resource development activities or from energy |
3407 | supply constraints, or both. |
3408 | (f) The commission department shall submit an annual |
3409 | report to make a report, as requested by the Governor and or the |
3410 | Legislature, reflecting its activities and making |
3411 | recommendations of policies for improvement of the state's |
3412 | response to energy supply and demand and its effect on the |
3413 | health, safety, and welfare of the people of Florida. The report |
3414 | shall include a report from the Florida Public Service |
3415 | Commission on electricity and natural gas and information on |
3416 | energy conservation programs conducted and underway under way in |
3417 | the past year and shall include recommendations for energy |
3418 | conservation programs for the state, including, but not limited |
3419 | to, the following factors: |
3420 | 1. Formulation of specific recommendations for improvement |
3421 | in the efficiency of energy utilization in governmental, |
3422 | residential, commercial, industrial, and transportation sectors. |
3423 | 2. Collection and dissemination of information relating to |
3424 | energy conservation. |
3425 | 3. Development and conduct of educational and training |
3426 | programs relating to energy conservation. |
3427 | 4. An analysis of the ways in which state agencies are |
3428 | seeking to implement s. 377.601(2)(4), the state energy policy, |
3429 | and recommendations for better fulfilling this policy. |
3430 | (g) The commission department has authority to adopt rules |
3431 | pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the |
3432 | provisions of this act. |
3433 | (h) The commission shall promote the development and use |
3434 | of renewable energy resources, in conformance with the |
3435 | provisions of chapter 187 and s. 377.601, by: |
3436 | 1. Establishing goals and strategies for increasing the |
3437 | use of solar energy in this state. |
3438 | 2. Aiding and promoting the commercialization of solar |
3439 | energy technology, in cooperation with the Florida Solar Energy |
3440 | Center, Enterprise Florida, Inc., and any other federal, state, |
3441 | or local governmental agency which may seek to promote research, |
3442 | development, and demonstration of solar energy equipment and |
3443 | technology. |
3444 | 3. Identifying barriers to greater use of solar energy |
3445 | systems in this state, and developing specific recommendations |
3446 | for overcoming identified barriers, with findings and |
3447 | recommendations to be submitted annually in the report to the |
3448 | Governor and Legislature required under paragraph (f). |
3449 | 4. In cooperation with the Department of Environmental |
3450 | Protection, the Department of Transportation, the Department of |
3451 | Community Affairs, Enterprise Florida, Inc., the Florida Solar |
3452 | Energy Center, and the Florida Solar Energy Industries |
3453 | Association, investigating opportunities, pursuant to the |
3454 | National Energy Policy Act of 1992, and the Housing and |
3455 | Community Development Act of 1992, and any subsequent federal |
3456 | legislation, for solar electric vehicles and other solar energy |
3457 | manufacturing, distribution, installation, and financing efforts |
3458 | which will enhance this state's position as the leader in solar |
3459 | energy research, development, and use. |
3460 | 5. Undertaking other initiatives to advance the |
3461 | development and use of renewable energy resources in this state. |
3462 |
|
3463 | In the exercise of its responsibilities under this paragraph, |
3464 | the commission department shall seek the assistance of the solar |
3465 | energy industry in this state and other interested parties and |
3466 | is authorized to enter into contracts, retain professional |
3467 | consulting services, and expend funds appropriated by the |
3468 | Legislature for such purposes. |
3469 | (i) The commission department shall promote energy |
3470 | conservation in all energy use sectors throughout the state and |
3471 | shall constitute the state agency primarily responsible for this |
3472 | function. To this end, the commission department shall |
3473 | coordinate the energy conservation programs of all state |
3474 | agencies and review and comment on the energy conservation |
3475 | programs of all state agencies. |
3476 | (j) The commission department shall serve as the state |
3477 | clearinghouse for indexing and gathering all information related |
3478 | to energy programs in state universities, in private |
3479 | universities, in federal, state, and local government agencies, |
3480 | and in private industry and shall prepare and distribute such |
3481 | information in any manner necessary to inform and advise the |
3482 | citizens of the state of such programs and activities. This |
3483 | shall include developing and maintaining a current index and |
3484 | profile of all research activities, which shall be identified by |
3485 | energy area and may include a summary of the project, the amount |
3486 | and sources of funding, anticipated completion dates, or, in |
3487 | case of completed research, conclusions, recommendations, and |
3488 | applicability to state government and private sector functions. |
3489 | The commission department shall coordinate, promote, and respond |
3490 | to efforts by all sectors of the economy to seek financial |
3491 | support for energy activities. The commission department shall |
3492 | provide information to consumers regarding the anticipated |
3493 | energy-use and energy-saving characteristics of products and |
3494 | services in coordination with any federal, state, or local |
3495 | governmental agencies as may provide such information to |
3496 | consumers. |
3497 | (k) The commission department shall coordinate energy- |
3498 | related programs of state government, including, but not limited |
3499 | to, the programs provided in this section. To this end, the |
3500 | commission department shall: |
3501 | 1. Provide assistance to other state agencies, counties, |
3502 | municipalities, and regional planning agencies to further and |
3503 | promote their energy planning activities. |
3504 | 2. Require, in cooperation with the Department of |
3505 | Management Services, all state agencies to operate state-owned |
3506 | and state-leased buildings in accordance with energy |
3507 | conservation standards as adopted by the Department of |
3508 | Management Services. Every 3 months, the Department of |
3509 | Management Services shall furnish the commission department data |
3510 | on agencies' energy consumption and emissions of greenhouse |
3511 | gases in a format prescribed by the commission mutually agreed |
3512 | upon by the two departments. |
3513 | 3. Promote the development and use of renewable energy |
3514 | resources, energy efficiency technologies, and conservation |
3515 | measures. |
3516 | 4. Promote the recovery of energy from wastes, including, |
3517 | but not limited to, the use of waste heat, the use of |
3518 | agricultural products as a source of energy, and recycling of |
3519 | manufactured products. Such promotion shall be conducted in |
3520 | conjunction with, and after consultation with, the Department of |
3521 | Environmental Protection and, the Florida Public Service |
3522 | Commission where electrical generation or natural gas is |
3523 | involved, and any other relevant federal, state, or local |
3524 | governmental agency having responsibility for resource recovery |
3525 | programs. |
3526 | (l) The commission department shall develop, coordinate, |
3527 | and promote a comprehensive research plan for state programs. |
3528 | Such plan shall be consistent with state energy policy and shall |
3529 | be updated on a biennial basis. |
3530 | (m) In recognition of the devastation to the economy of |
3531 | this state and the dangers to the health and welfare of |
3532 | residents of this state caused by severe hurricanes Hurricane |
3533 | Andrew, and the potential for such impacts caused by other |
3534 | natural disasters, the commission department shall include in |
3535 | its energy emergency contingency plan and provide to the Florida |
3536 | Building Commission Department of Community Affairs for |
3537 | inclusion in the Florida Energy Efficiency Code for Building |
3538 | Construction state model energy efficiency building code |
3539 | specific provisions to facilitate the use of cost-effective |
3540 | solar energy technologies as emergency remedial and preventive |
3541 | measures for providing electric power, street lighting, and |
3542 | water heating service in the event of electric power outages. |
3543 | (3)(4) The commission department shall be responsible for |
3544 | the administration of the Coastal Energy Impact Program provided |
3545 | for and described in Pub. L. No. 94-370, 16 U.S.C. s. 1456a. |
3546 | Section 56. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section |
3547 | 377.705, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
3548 | 377.705 Solar Energy Center; development of solar energy |
3549 | standards.-- |
3550 | (2) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT.-- |
3551 | (a) The Legislature recognizes that if present trends |
3552 | continue, Florida will increase present energy consumption |
3553 | sixfold by the year 2000. Because of this dramatic increase and |
3554 | because existing domestic conventional energy resources will not |
3555 | provide sufficient energy to meet the nation's future needs, new |
3556 | sources of energy must be developed and applied. One such |
3557 | source, solar energy, has been in limited use in Florida for 30 |
3558 | years. Applications of incident solar energy, the use of solar |
3559 | radiation to provide energy for water heating, space heating, |
3560 | space cooling, and other uses, through suitable absorbing |
3561 | equipment on or near a residence or commercial structure, must |
3562 | be extensively expanded. Unfortunately, the initial costs with |
3563 | regard to the production of solar energy have been prohibitively |
3564 | expensive. However, Because of increases in the cost of |
3565 | conventional fuel, certain applications of solar energy are |
3566 | becoming competitive, particularly when life-cycle costs are |
3567 | considered. It is the intent of the Legislature in formulating a |
3568 | sound and balanced energy policy for the state to encourage the |
3569 | development of an alternative energy capability in the form of |
3570 | incident solar energy. |
3571 | Section 57. Section 377.801, Florida Statutes, is amended |
3572 | to read: |
3573 | 377.801 Short title.--Sections 377.801-377.806 may be |
3574 | cited as the "Florida Energy and Climate Protection Renewable |
3575 | Energy Technologies and Energy Efficiency Act." |
3576 | Section 58. Section 377.802, Florida Statutes, is amended |
3577 | to read: |
3578 | 377.802 Purpose.--This act is intended to provide |
3579 | incentives for Florida's citizens, businesses, school districts, |
3580 | and local governments to take action to diversify the state's |
3581 | energy supplies, reduce dependence on foreign oil, and mitigate |
3582 | the effects of climate change by providing funding for |
3583 | activities designed to achieve these goals. The grant programs |
3584 | in this act are intended matching grants to stimulate capital |
3585 | investment in the state and to enhance the market for and |
3586 | promote the statewide utilization of renewable energy |
3587 | technologies and technologies intended to diversify Florida's |
3588 | energy supplies, reduce dependence on foreign oil, and combat or |
3589 | limit climate change impacts. The targeted grants program is |
3590 | designed to advance the already growing establishment of |
3591 | renewable energy technologies in the state and encourage the use |
3592 | of other incentives such as tax exemptions and regulatory |
3593 | certainty to attract additional renewable energy technology |
3594 | producers, developers, and users to the state. This act is also |
3595 | intended to provide incentives for the purchase of energy- |
3596 | efficient appliances and rebates for solar energy equipment |
3597 | installations for residential and commercial buildings. |
3598 | Section 59. Section 377.803, Florida Statutes, is amended |
3599 | to read: |
3600 | 377.803 Definitions.--As used in ss. 377.801-377.806, the |
3601 | term: |
3602 | (1) "Act" means the Florida Energy and Climate Protection |
3603 | Renewable Energy Technologies and Energy Efficiency Act. |
3604 | (2) "Approved metering equipment" means a device capable |
3605 | of measuring the energy output of a solar thermal system that |
3606 | has been approved by the commission. |
3607 | (2)(3) "Commission" means the Florida Energy and Climate |
3608 | Public Service Commission. |
3609 | (4) "Department" means the Department of Environmental |
3610 | Protection. |
3611 | (3)(5) "Person" means an individual, partnership, joint |
3612 | venture, private or public corporation, association, firm, |
3613 | public service company, or any other public or private entity. |
3614 | (4)(6) "Renewable energy" means electrical, mechanical, or |
3615 | thermal energy produced from a method that uses one or more of |
3616 | the following fuels or energy sources: hydrogen, biomass, as |
3617 | defined in s. 366.91, solar energy, geothermal energy, wind |
3618 | energy, ocean energy, waste heat, or hydroelectric power. |
3619 | (5)(7) "Renewable energy technology" means any technology |
3620 | that generates or utilizes a renewable energy resource. |
3621 | (6)(8) "Solar energy system" means equipment that provides |
3622 | for the collection and use of incident solar energy for water |
3623 | heating, space heating or cooling, or other applications that |
3624 | would normally require a conventional source of energy such as |
3625 | petroleum products, natural gas, or electricity that performs |
3626 | primarily with solar energy. In other systems in which solar |
3627 | energy is used in a supplemental way, only those components that |
3628 | collect and transfer solar energy shall be included in this |
3629 | definition. |
3630 | (7)(9) "Solar photovoltaic system" means a device that |
3631 | converts incident sunlight into electrical current. |
3632 | (8)(10) "Solar thermal system" means a device that traps |
3633 | heat from incident sunlight in order to heat water. |
3634 | Section 60. Section 377.804, Florida Statutes, as amended |
3635 | by section 52 of chapter 2007-73, Laws of Florida, is amended to |
3636 | read: |
3637 | 377.804 Renewable Energy and Energy-Efficient Technologies |
3638 | Grants Program.-- |
3639 | (1) The Renewable Energy and Energy-Efficient Technologies |
3640 | Grants Program is established within the commission department |
3641 | to provide renewable energy matching grants for demonstration, |
3642 | commercialization, research, and development projects relating |
3643 | to renewable energy technologies and innovative technologies |
3644 | that significantly increase energy efficiency for vehicles and |
3645 | commercial buildings. |
3646 | (2) Matching grants for renewable energy technology |
3647 | demonstration, commercialization, research, and development |
3648 | projects described in subsection (1) may be made to any of the |
3649 | following: |
3650 | (a) Municipalities and county governments. |
3651 | (b) Established for-profit companies licensed to do |
3652 | business in the state. |
3653 | (c) Universities and colleges in the state. |
3654 | (d) Utilities located and operating within the state. |
3655 | (e) Not-for-profit organizations. |
3656 | (f) Other qualified persons, as determined by the |
3657 | commission department. |
3658 | (3) The commission department may adopt rules pursuant to |
3659 | ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to provide for application |
3660 | requirements, provide for ranking of applications, and |
3661 | administer the awarding of grants under this program. |
3662 | (4) Factors the commission department shall consider in |
3663 | awarding grants include, but are not limited to: |
3664 | (a) The availability of matching funds or other in-kind |
3665 | contributions applied to the total project from an applicant. |
3666 | The commission department shall give greater preference to |
3667 | projects that provide such matching funds or other in-kind |
3668 | contributions. |
3669 | (b) The degree to which the project stimulates in-state |
3670 | capital investment and economic development in metropolitan and |
3671 | rural areas, including the creation of jobs and the future |
3672 | development of a commercial market for renewable energy |
3673 | technologies. |
3674 | (c) The extent to which the proposed project has been |
3675 | demonstrated to be technically feasible based on pilot project |
3676 | demonstrations, laboratory testing, scientific modeling, or |
3677 | engineering or chemical theory that supports the proposal. |
3678 | (d) The degree to which the project incorporates an |
3679 | innovative new technology or an innovative application of an |
3680 | existing technology. |
3681 | (e) The degree to which a project generates thermal, |
3682 | mechanical, or electrical energy by means of a renewable energy |
3683 | resource that has substantial long-term production potential. |
3684 | (f) The degree to which a project demonstrates efficient |
3685 | use of energy and material resources. |
3686 | (g) The degree to which the project fosters overall |
3687 | understanding and appreciation of renewable energy technologies. |
3688 | (h) The ability to administer a complete project. |
3689 | (i) Project duration and timeline for expenditures. |
3690 | (j) The geographic area in which the project is to be |
3691 | conducted in relation to other projects. |
3692 | (k) The degree of public visibility and interaction. |
3693 | (5) The commission department shall solicit the expertise |
3694 | of other state agencies, Enterprise Florida, Inc., and state |
3695 | universities, and may solicit the expertise of other public and |
3696 | private entities it deems appropriate, in evaluating project |
3697 | proposals. State agencies shall cooperate with the commission |
3698 | Department of Environmental Protection and provide such |
3699 | assistance as requested. |
3700 | (6) The commission department shall coordinate and |
3701 | actively consult with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer |
3702 | Services during the review and approval process of grants |
3703 | relating to bioenergy projects for renewable energy technology, |
3704 | and the departments shall jointly determine the grant awards to |
3705 | these bioenergy projects. No grant funding shall be awarded to |
3706 | any bioenergy project without such joint approval. Factors for |
3707 | consideration in awarding grants may include, but are not |
3708 | limited to, the degree to which: |
3709 | (a) The project stimulates in-state capital investment and |
3710 | economic development in metropolitan and rural areas, including |
3711 | the creation of jobs and the future development of a commercial |
3712 | market for bioenergy. |
3713 | (b) The project produces bioenergy from Florida-grown |
3714 | crops or biomass. |
3715 | (c) The project demonstrates efficient use of energy and |
3716 | material resources. |
3717 | (d) The project fosters overall understanding and |
3718 | appreciation of bioenergy technologies. |
3719 | (e) Matching funds and in-kind contributions from an |
3720 | applicant are available. |
3721 | (f) The project duration and the timeline for expenditures |
3722 | are acceptable. |
3723 | (g) The project has a reasonable assurance of enhancing |
3724 | the value of agricultural products or will expand agribusiness |
3725 | in the state. |
3726 | (h) Preliminary market and feasibility research has been |
3727 | conducted by the applicant or others and shows there is a |
3728 | reasonable assurance of a potential market. |
3729 | (7) Each grant application shall be accompanied by an |
3730 | affidavit from the applicant attesting to the accuracy of the |
3731 | statements contained in the application. |
3732 | Section 61. Section 377.806, Florida Statutes, is amended |
3733 | to read: |
3734 | 377.806 Solar Energy System Incentives Program.-- |
3735 | (1) PURPOSE.--The Solar Energy System Incentives Program |
3736 | is established within the commission department to provide |
3737 | financial incentives for the purchase and installation of solar |
3738 | energy systems. Any resident of the state who purchases and |
3739 | installs a new solar energy system of 2 kilowatts or larger for |
3740 | a solar photovoltaic system, a solar energy system that provides |
3741 | at least 50 percent of a building's hot water consumption for a |
3742 | solar thermal system, or a solar thermal pool heater, from July |
3743 | 1, 2006, through June 30, 2010, is eligible for a rebate on a |
3744 | portion of the purchase price of that solar energy system. |
3745 | (2) SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM INCENTIVE.-- |
3746 | (a) Eligibility requirements.--A solar photovoltaic system |
3747 | qualifies for a rebate if: |
3748 | 1. The system is installed by a state-licensed master |
3749 | electrician, electrical contractor, or solar contractor. |
3750 | 2. The system complies with state interconnection |
3751 | standards as provided by the Florida Public Service Commission. |
3752 | 3. The system complies with all applicable building codes |
3753 | as defined by the Florida Building Code local jurisdictional |
3754 | authority. |
3755 | (b) Rebate amounts.--The rebate amount shall be set at $4 |
3756 | per watt based on the total wattage rating of the system. The |
3757 | maximum allowable rebate per solar photovoltaic system |
3758 | installation shall be as follows: |
3759 | 1. Twenty thousand dollars for a residence. |
3760 | 2. One hundred thousand dollars for a place of business, a |
3761 | publicly owned or operated facility, or a facility owned or |
3762 | operated by a private, not-for-profit organization, including |
3763 | condominiums or apartment buildings. |
3764 | (3) SOLAR THERMAL SYSTEM INCENTIVE.-- |
3765 | (a) Eligibility requirements.--A solar thermal system |
3766 | qualifies for a rebate if: |
3767 | 1. The system is installed by a state-licensed solar or |
3768 | plumbing contractor, or for the installation of standing seam |
3769 | hybrid thermal roofs, a roofing contractor. |
3770 | 2. The system complies with all applicable building codes |
3771 | as defined by the Florida Building Code local jurisdictional |
3772 | authority. |
3773 | (b) Rebate amounts.--Authorized rebates for installation |
3774 | of solar thermal systems shall be as follows: |
3775 | 1. Five hundred dollars for a residence. |
3776 | 2. Fifteen dollars per 1,000 Btu up to a maximum of $5,000 |
3777 | for a place of business, a publicly owned or operated facility, |
3778 | or a facility owned or operated by a private, not-for-profit |
3779 | organization, including condominiums or apartment buildings. Btu |
3780 | must be verified by approved metering equipment. |
3781 | (4) SOLAR THERMAL POOL HEATER INCENTIVE.-- |
3782 | (a) Eligibility requirements.--A solar thermal pool heater |
3783 | qualifies for a rebate if the system is installed by a state- |
3784 | licensed solar or plumbing contractor and the system complies |
3785 | with all applicable building codes as defined by the Florida |
3786 | Building Code local jurisdictional authority. |
3787 | (b) Rebate amount.--Authorized rebates for installation of |
3788 | solar thermal pool heaters shall be $100 per installation. |
3789 | (5) APPLICATION.--Application for a rebate must be made |
3790 | within 120 90 days after the purchase of the solar energy |
3791 | equipment. |
3792 | (6) REBATE AVAILABILITY.--The commission department shall |
3793 | determine and publish on a regular basis the amount of rebate |
3794 | funds remaining in each fiscal year. The total dollar amount of |
3795 | all rebates issued by the department is subject to the total |
3796 | amount of appropriations in any fiscal year for this program. If |
3797 | funds are insufficient during the current fiscal year, any |
3798 | requests for rebates received during that fiscal year may be |
3799 | processed during the following fiscal year. Requests for rebates |
3800 | received in a fiscal year that are processed during the |
3801 | following fiscal year shall be given priority over requests for |
3802 | rebates received during the following fiscal year. |
3803 | (7) RULES.--The commission department shall adopt rules |
3804 | pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to develop rebate |
3805 | applications and administer the issuance of rebates. |
3806 | Section 62. Section 377.808, Florida Statutes, is created |
3807 | to read: |
3808 | 377.808 Florida Green Government Grants Act.-- |
3809 | (1) This section may be cited as the "Florida Green |
3810 | Government Grants Act." |
3811 | (2) The Florida Energy and Climate Commission shall use |
3812 | funds specifically appropriated to award grants under this |
3813 | section to assist local governments, including municipalities, |
3814 | counties, and school districts, in the development and |
3815 | implementation of programs that achieve green standards. Green |
3816 | standards shall be determined by the commission and shall |
3817 | provide for cost-efficient solutions, reducing greenhouse gas |
3818 | emissions, improving quality of life, and strengthening the |
3819 | state's economy. |
3820 | (3) The commission shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter |
3821 | 120 to administer the grants provided for in this section. In |
3822 | accordance with the rules adopted by the commission under this |
3823 | section, the commission may provide grants from funds |
3824 | specifically appropriated for this purpose to local governments |
3825 | for the costs of achieving green standards, including necessary |
3826 | administrative expenses. The rules of the commission shall: |
3827 | (a) Designate one or more suitable green government |
3828 | standards frameworks from which local governments may develop a |
3829 | greening government initiative and from which projects may be |
3830 | eligible for funding pursuant to this section. |
3831 | (b) Require that projects that plan, design, construct, |
3832 | upgrade, or replace facilities reduce greenhouse gas emissions |
3833 | and be cost-effective, environmentally sound, permittable, and |
3834 | implementable. |
3835 | (c) Require local governments to match state funds with |
3836 | direct project cost sharing or in-kind services. |
3837 | (d) Provide for a scale of matching requirements for local |
3838 | governments on the basis of population in order to assist rural |
3839 | and undeveloped areas of the state with any financial burden of |
3840 | addressing climate change impacts. |
3841 | (e) Require grant applications to be submitted on |
3842 | appropriate forms developed and adopted by the commission with |
3843 | appropriate supporting documentation and require records to be |
3844 | maintained. |
3845 | (f) Establish a system to determine the relative priority |
3846 | of grant applications. The system shall consider greenhouse gas |
3847 | reductions, energy savings and efficiencies, and proven |
3848 | technologies. |
3849 | (g) Establish requirements for competitive procurement of |
3850 | engineering and construction services, materials, and equipment. |
3851 | (h) Provide for termination of grants when program |
3852 | requirements are not met. |
3853 | (4) Each local government is limited to not more than two |
3854 | grant applications during each application period announced by |
3855 | the commission. However, a local government may not have more |
3856 | than three active projects expending grant funds during any |
3857 | state fiscal year. |
3858 | (5) The commission shall perform an adequate overview of |
3859 | each grant, which may include technical review, site |
3860 | inspections, disbursement approvals, and auditing to |
3861 | successfully implement this section. |
3862 | Section 63. Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section |
3863 | 380.23, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
3864 | 380.23 Federal consistency.-- |
3865 | (3) Consistency review shall be limited to review of the |
3866 | following activities, uses, and projects to ensure that such |
3867 | activities, uses, and projects are conducted in accordance with |
3868 | the state's coastal management program: |
3869 | (c) Federally licensed or permitted activities affecting |
3870 | land or water uses when such activities are in or seaward of the |
3871 | jurisdiction of local governments required to develop a coastal |
3872 | zone protection element as provided in s. 380.24 and when such |
3873 | activities involve: |
3874 | 1. Permits and licenses required under the Rivers and |
3875 | Harbors Act of 1899, 33 U.S.C. ss. 401 et seq., as amended. |
3876 | 2. Permits and licenses required under the Marine |
3877 | Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972, 33 U.S.C. ss. |
3878 | 1401-1445 and 16 U.S.C. ss. 1431-1445, as amended. |
3879 | 3. Permits and licenses required under the Federal Water |
3880 | Pollution Control Act of 1972, 33 U.S.C. ss. 1251 et seq., as |
3881 | amended, unless such permitting activities have been delegated |
3882 | to the state pursuant to said act. |
3883 | 4. Permits and licenses relating to the transportation of |
3884 | hazardous substance materials or transportation and dumping |
3885 | which are issued pursuant to the Hazardous Materials |
3886 | Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C. ss. 1501 et seq., as amended, or |
3887 | 33 U.S.C. s. 1321, as amended. |
3888 | 5. Permits and licenses required under 15 U.S.C. ss. 717- |
3889 | 717w, 3301-3432, 42 U.S.C. ss. 7101-7352, and 43 U.S.C. ss. |
3890 | 1331-1356 for construction and operation of interstate gas |
3891 | pipelines and storage facilities. |
3892 | 6. Permits and licenses required for the siting and |
3893 | construction of any new electrical power plants as defined in s. |
3894 | 403.503(14)(13), as amended, and the licensing and relicensing |
3895 | of hydroelectric power plants under the Federal Power Act, 16 |
3896 | U.S.C. ss. 791a et seq., as amended. |
3897 | 7. Permits and licenses required under the Mining Law of |
3898 | 1872, 30 U.S.C. ss. 21 et seq., as amended; the Mineral Lands |
3899 | Leasing Act, 30 U.S.C. ss. 181 et seq., as amended; the Mineral |
3900 | Leasing Act for Acquired Lands, 30 U.S.C. ss. 351 et seq., as |
3901 | amended; the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, 43 U.S.C. |
3902 | ss. 1701 et seq., as amended; the Mining in the Parks Act, 16 |
3903 | U.S.C. ss. 1901 et seq., as amended; and the OCS Lands Act, 43 |
3904 | U.S.C. ss. 1331 et seq., as amended, for drilling, mining, |
3905 | pipelines, geological and geophysical activities, or rights-of- |
3906 | way on public lands and permits and licenses required under the |
3907 | Indian Mineral Development Act, 25 U.S.C. ss. 2101 et seq., as |
3908 | amended. |
3909 | 8. Permits and licenses for areas leased under the OCS |
3910 | Lands Act, 43 U.S.C. ss. 1331 et seq., as amended, including |
3911 | leases and approvals of exploration, development, and production |
3912 | plans. |
3913 | 9. Permits and licenses required under the Deepwater Port |
3914 | Act of 1974, 33 U.S.C. ss. 1501 et seq., as amended. |
3915 | 10. Permits required for the taking of marine mammals |
3916 | under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended, 16 |
3917 | U.S.C. s. 1374. |
3918 | Section 64. Subsection (20) of section 403.031, Florida |
3919 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
3920 | 403.031 Definitions.--In construing this chapter, or rules |
3921 | and regulations adopted pursuant hereto, the following words, |
3922 | phrases, or terms, unless the context otherwise indicates, have |
3923 | the following meanings: |
3924 | (20) "Electrical power plant" means, for purposes of this |
3925 | part of this chapter, any electrical generating facility that |
3926 | uses any process or fuel and that is owned or operated by an |
3927 | electric utility, as defined in s. 403.503(14)(13), and includes |
3928 | any associated facility that directly supports the operation of |
3929 | the electrical power plant. |
3930 | Section 65. Section 403.44, Florida Statutes, is created |
3931 | to read: |
3932 | 403.44 Florida Climate Protection Act.-- |
3933 | (1) The Legislature finds it is in the best interest of |
3934 | the state to document, to the greatest extent practicable, |
3935 | greenhouse gas emissions and to pursue a market-based emissions |
3936 | abatement program, such as cap and trade, to address greenhouse |
3937 | gas emissions reductions. |
3938 | (2) As used in this section, the term: |
3939 | (a) "Allowance" means a credit issued by the department |
3940 | through allotments or auction which represents an authorization |
3941 | to emit specific amounts of greenhouse gases, as further defined |
3942 | in department rule. |
3943 | (b) "Cap and trade" or "emissions trading" means an |
3944 | administrative approach used to control pollution by providing a |
3945 | limit on total allowable emissions, providing for allowances to |
3946 | emit pollutants, and providing for the transfer of the |
3947 | allowances among pollutant sources as a means of compliance with |
3948 | emission limits. |
3949 | (c) "Greenhouse gas" or "GHG" means carbon dioxide, |
3950 | methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases such as |
3951 | hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride. |
3952 | (d) "Leakage" means the offset of emission abatement that |
3953 | is achieved in one location subject to emission control |
3954 | regulation by increased emissions in unregulated locations. |
3955 | (e) "Major emitter" means an electric utility regulated |
3956 | under this chapter. |
3957 | (3) A major emitter shall be required to use The Climate |
3958 | Registry for purposes of emission registration and reporting. |
3959 | (4) The department shall establish the methodologies, |
3960 | reporting periods, and reporting systems that shall be used when |
3961 | major emitters report to The Climate Registry. The department |
3962 | may require the use of quality-assured data from continuous |
3963 | emissions monitoring systems. |
3964 | (5) The department may adopt rules for a cap-and-trade |
3965 | regulatory program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from major |
3966 | emitters. When developing the rules, the department shall |
3967 | consult with the Florida Energy and Climate Commission and the |
3968 | Florida Public Service Commission and may consult with the |
3969 | Governor's Action Team for Energy and Climate Change. The |
3970 | department shall not adopt rules until after January 1, 2010. |
3971 | The rules shall not become effective until ratified by the |
3972 | Legislature. |
3973 | (6) The rules of the cap-and-trade regulatory program |
3974 | shall include, but are not limited to: |
3975 | (a) A statewide limit or cap on the amount of greenhouse |
3976 | gases emitted by major emitters. |
3977 | (b) Methods, requirements, and conditions for allocating |
3978 | the cap among major emitters. |
3979 | (c) Methods, requirements, and conditions for emissions |
3980 | allowances and the process for issuing emissions allowances. |
3981 | (d) The relationship between allowances and the specific |
3982 | amounts of greenhouse gas emissions they represent. |
3983 | (e) The length of allowance periods and the time over |
3984 | which entities must account for emissions and surrender |
3985 | allowances equal to emissions. |
3986 | (f) The timeline of allowances from the initiation of the |
3987 | program through to 2050. |
3988 | (g) A process for the trade of allowances between major |
3989 | emitters, including a registry, tracking, or accounting system |
3990 | for such trades. |
3991 | (h) Cost containment mechanisms to reduce price and cost |
3992 | risks associated with the electric generation market in this |
3993 | state. Cost containment mechanisms to be considered for |
3994 | inclusion in the rules include, but are not limited to: |
3995 | 1. Allowing major emitters to borrow allowances from |
3996 | future time periods to meet their greenhouse gas emission |
3997 | limits. |
3998 | 2. Allowing major emitters to bank greenhouse gas emission |
3999 | reductions in the current year to be used to meet emission |
4000 | limits in future years. |
4001 | 3. Allowing major emitters to purchase emissions offsets |
4002 | from other entities that produce verifiable reductions in |
4003 | unregulated greenhouse gas emissions or that produce verifiable |
4004 | reductions in greenhouse gas emissions through voluntary |
4005 | practices that capture and store greenhouse gases that otherwise |
4006 | would be released into the atmosphere. In considering this cost |
4007 | containment mechanism, the department shall identify sectors and |
4008 | activities outside of the capped sectors, including other state, |
4009 | federal, or international activities, and the conditions under |
4010 | which reductions there can be credited against emissions of |
4011 | capped entities in place of allowances issued by the department. |
4012 | The department shall also consider potential methods and their |
4013 | effectiveness to avoid double-incentivizing such activities. |
4014 | 4. Providing a safety valve mechanism to ensure that the |
4015 | market prices for allowances or offsets do not surpass a |
4016 | predetermined level compatible with the affordability of |
4017 | electric utility rates and the well-being of the state's |
4018 | economy. In considering this cost containment mechanism, the |
4019 | department shall evaluate different price levels for the safety |
4020 | valve and methods to change the price level over time to reflect |
4021 | changing state, federal, and international markets, regulatory |
4022 | environments, and technological advancements. |
4023 | |
4024 | In considering cost containment mechanisms for inclusion in the |
4025 | rules, the department shall evaluate the anticipated overall |
4026 | effect of each mechanism on the abatement of greenhouse gas |
4027 | emissions and on electricity ratepayers and the benefits and |
4028 | costs of each to the state's economy, and shall also consider |
4029 | the interrelationships between the mechanisms under |
4030 | consideration. |
4031 | (i) A process to allow the department to exercise its |
4032 | authority to discourage leakage of GHG emissions to neighboring |
4033 | states attributable to the implementation of this program. |
4034 | (j) Provisions for a trial period on the trading of |
4035 | allowances before full implementation of a trading system. |
4036 | (7) In recommending and evaluating proposed features of |
4037 | the cap-and-trade system, the following factors shall be |
4038 | considered: |
4039 | (a) The overall cost-effectiveness of the cap-and-trade |
4040 | system in combination with other policies and measures in |
4041 | meeting statewide targets. |
4042 | (b) Minimizing the administrative burden to the state of |
4043 | implementing, monitoring, and enforcing the program. |
4044 | (c) Minimizing the administrative burden on entities |
4045 | covered under the cap. |
4046 | (d) The impacts on electricity prices for consumers. |
4047 | (e) The specific benefits to the state's economy for early |
4048 | adoption of a cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gases in the |
4049 | context of federal climate change legislation and the |
4050 | development of new international compacts. |
4051 | (f) The specific benefits to the state's economy |
4052 | associated with the creation and sale of emissions offsets from |
4053 | economic sectors outside of the emissions cap. |
4054 | (g) The potential effects on leakage if economic activity |
4055 | relocates out of the state. |
4056 | (h) The effectiveness of the combination of measures in |
4057 | meeting identified targets. |
4058 | (i) The implications for near-term periods of long-term |
4059 | targets specified in the overall policy. |
4060 | (j) The overall costs and benefits of a cap-and-trade |
4061 | system to the state economy. |
4062 | (k) How to moderate impacts on low-income consumers that |
4063 | result from energy price increases. |
4064 | (l) Consistency of the program with other state and |
4065 | possible federal efforts. |
4066 | (m) The feasibility and cost-effectiveness of extending |
4067 | the program scope as broadly as possible among emitting |
4068 | activities and sinks in Florida. |
4069 | (n) Evaluation of the conditions under which Florida |
4070 | should consider linking its trading system to the systems of |
4071 | other states or other countries and how that might be affected |
4072 | by the potential inclusion in the rule of a safety valve. |
4073 | (8) Recognizing that the international, national, and |
4074 | neighboring state policies and the science of climate change |
4075 | will evolve, prior to submitting the proposed rules to the |
4076 | Legislature for consideration, the department shall submit the |
4077 | proposed rules to the Florida Energy and Climate Commission, |
4078 | which shall review the proposed rules and submit a report to the |
4079 | Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House |
4080 | of Representatives, and the department. The report shall |
4081 | address: |
4082 | (a) The overall cost-effectiveness of the proposed cap- |
4083 | and-trade system in combination with other policies and measures |
4084 | in meeting statewide targets. |
4085 | (b) The administrative burden to the state of |
4086 | implementing, monitoring, and enforcing the program. |
4087 | (c) The administrative burden on entities covered under |
4088 | the cap. |
4089 | (d) The impacts on electricity prices for consumers. |
4090 | (e) The specific benefits to the state's economy for early |
4091 | adoption of a cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gases in the |
4092 | context of federal climate change legislation and the |
4093 | development of new international compacts. |
4094 | (f) The specific benefits to the state's economy |
4095 | associated with the creation and sale of emissions offsets from |
4096 | economic sectors outside of the emissions cap. |
4097 | (g) The potential effects on leakage if economic activity |
4098 | relocates out of the state. |
4099 | (h) The effectiveness of the combination of measures in |
4100 | meeting identified targets. |
4101 | (i) The economic implications for near-term periods of |
4102 | short-term and long-term targets specified in the overall |
4103 | policy. |
4104 | (j) The overall costs and benefits of a cap-and-trade |
4105 | system to the economy of the state. |
4106 | (k) The impacts on low-income consumers that result from |
4107 | energy price increases. |
4108 | (l) The consistency of the program with other state and |
4109 | possible federal efforts. |
4110 | (m) The evaluation of the conditions under which the state |
4111 | should consider linking its trading system to the systems of |
4112 | other states or other countries and how that might be affected |
4113 | by the potential inclusion in the rule of a safety valve. |
4114 | (n) The timing and changes in the external environment, |
4115 | such as proposals by other states or implementation of a federal |
4116 | program that would spur reevaluation of the Florida program. |
4117 | (o) The conditions and options for eliminating the Florida |
4118 | program if a federal program were to supplant it. |
4119 | (p) The need for a regular reevaluation of the progress of |
4120 | other emitting regions of the country and of the world, and |
4121 | whether other regions are abating emissions in a commensurate |
4122 | manner. |
4123 | (q) The desirability of and possibilities of broadening |
4124 | the scope of the state's cap-and-trade system at a later date to |
4125 | include more emitting activities as well as sinks in Florida, |
4126 | the conditions that would need to be met to do so, and how the |
4127 | program would encourage these conditions to be met, including |
4128 | developing monitoring and measuring techniques for land use |
4129 | emissions and sinks, regulating sources upstream, and other |
4130 | considerations. |
4131 | Section 66. Section 403.502, Florida Statutes, is amended |
4132 | to read: |
4133 | 403.502 Legislative intent.--The Legislature finds that |
4134 | the present and predicted growth in electric power demands in |
4135 | this state requires the development of a procedure for the |
4136 | selection and utilization of sites for electrical generating |
4137 | facilities and the identification of a state position with |
4138 | respect to each proposed site and its associated facilities. The |
4139 | Legislature recognizes that the selection of sites and the |
4140 | routing of associated facilities, including transmission lines, |
4141 | will have a significant impact upon the welfare of the |
4142 | population, the location and growth of industry, and the use of |
4143 | the natural resources of the state. The Legislature finds that |
4144 | the efficiency of the permit application and review process at |
4145 | both the state and local level would be improved with the |
4146 | implementation of a process whereby a permit application would |
4147 | be centrally coordinated and all permit decisions could be |
4148 | reviewed on the basis of standards and recommendations of the |
4149 | deciding agencies. It is the policy of this state that, while |
4150 | recognizing the pressing need for increased power generation |
4151 | facilities, the state shall ensure through available and |
4152 | reasonable methods that the location and operation of electrical |
4153 | power plants will produce minimal adverse effects on human |
4154 | health, the environment, the ecology of the land and its |
4155 | wildlife, and the ecology of state waters and their aquatic life |
4156 | and will not unduly conflict with the goals established by the |
4157 | applicable local comprehensive plans. It is the intent to seek |
4158 | courses of action that will fully balance the increasing demands |
4159 | for electrical power plant location and operation with the broad |
4160 | interests of the public. Such action will be based on these |
4161 | premises: |
4162 | (1) To assure the citizens of Florida that operation |
4163 | safeguards are technically sufficient for their welfare and |
4164 | protection. |
4165 | (2) To effect a reasonable balance between the need for |
4166 | the facility and the environmental impact resulting from |
4167 | construction and operation of the facility, including air and |
4168 | water quality, fish and wildlife, and the water resources and |
4169 | other natural resources of the state. |
4170 | (3) To meet the need for electrical energy as established |
4171 | pursuant to s. 403.519. |
4172 | (4) To assure the citizens of Florida that renewable |
4173 | energy sources and technologies, as well as conservation |
4174 | measures, are utilized to the extent reasonably available. |
4175 | Section 67. Subsections (3) through (30) of section |
4176 | 403.503, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (4) |
4177 | through (31), respectively, present subsections (6), (8), (10), |
4178 | (13), (27), and (29) are amended, and a new subsection (3) is |
4179 | added to that section, to read: |
4180 | 403.503 Definitions relating to Florida Electrical Power |
4181 | Plant Siting Act.--As used in this act: |
4182 | (3) "Alternate corridor" means an area that is proposed by |
4183 | the applicant or a third party within which all or part of an |
4184 | associated electrical transmission line right-of-way is to be |
4185 | located and that is different from the preferred transmission |
4186 | line corridor proposed by the applicant. The width of the |
4187 | alternate corridor proposed for certification for an associated |
4188 | electrical transmission line may be the width of the proposed |
4189 | right-of-way or a wider boundary not to exceed a width of 1 |
4190 | mile. The area within the alternate corridor may be further |
4191 | restricted as a condition of certification. The alternate |
4192 | corridor may include alternate electrical substation sites if |
4193 | the applicant has proposed an electrical substation as part of |
4194 | the portion of the proposed electrical transmission line. |
4195 | (7)(6) "Associated facilities" means, for the purpose of |
4196 | certification, those onsite and offsite facilities which |
4197 | directly support the construction and operation of the |
4198 | electrical power plant such as electrical transmission lines, |
4199 | substations, and fuel unloading facilities; pipelines necessary |
4200 | for transporting fuel for the operation of the facility or other |
4201 | fuel transportation facilities; water or wastewater transport |
4202 | pipelines; construction, maintenance, and access roads; and |
4203 | railway lines necessary for transport of construction equipment |
4204 | or fuel for the operation of the facility. |
4205 | (9)(8) "Certification" means the written order of the |
4206 | board, or secretary when applicable, approving an application |
4207 | for the licensing of an electrical power plant, in whole or with |
4208 | such changes or conditions as the board may deem appropriate. |
4209 | (11)(10) "Corridor" means the proposed area within which |
4210 | an associated linear facility right-of-way is to be located. The |
4211 | width of the corridor proposed for certification as an |
4212 | associated facility, at the option of the applicant, may be the |
4213 | width of the right-of-way or a wider boundary, not to exceed a |
4214 | width of 1 mile. The area within the corridor in which a right- |
4215 | of-way may be located may be further restricted by a condition |
4216 | of certification. After all property interests required for the |
4217 | right-of-way have been acquired by the licensee, the boundaries |
4218 | of the area certified shall narrow to only that land within the |
4219 | boundaries of the right-of-way. The corridors proper for |
4220 | certification shall be those addressed in the application, in |
4221 | amendments to the application filed under s. 403.5064, and in |
4222 | notices of acceptance of proposed alternate corridors filed by |
4223 | an applicant and the department pursuant to s. 403.5271 as |
4224 | incorporated by reference in s. 403.5064(1)(b) for which the |
4225 | required information for the preparation of agency supplemental |
4226 | reports was filed. |
4227 | (14)(13) "Electrical power plant" means, for the purpose |
4228 | of certification, any steam or solar electrical generating |
4229 | facility using any process or fuel, including nuclear materials, |
4230 | except that this term does not include any steam or solar |
4231 | electrical generating facility of less than 75 megawatts in |
4232 | capacity unless the applicant for such a facility elects to |
4233 | apply for certification under this act. This term also includes |
4234 | the site; all associated facilities that will to be owned by the |
4235 | applicant that which are physically connected to the electrical |
4236 | power plant site; all associated facilities that or which are |
4237 | indirectly directly connected to the electrical power plant site |
4238 | by other proposed associated facilities that will to be owned by |
4239 | the applicant;, and associated transmission lines that will to |
4240 | be owned by the applicant which connect the electrical power |
4241 | plant to an existing transmission network or rights-of-way to of |
4242 | which the applicant intends to connect. At the applicant's |
4243 | option, this term may include any offsite associated facilities |
4244 | that which will not be owned by the applicant; offsite |
4245 | associated facilities that which are owned by the applicant but |
4246 | that which are not directly connected to the electrical power |
4247 | plant site; any proposed terminal or intermediate substations or |
4248 | substation expansions connected to the associated transmission |
4249 | line; or new transmission lines, upgrades, or improvements of an |
4250 | existing transmission line on any portion of the applicant's |
4251 | electrical transmission system necessary to support the |
4252 | generation injected into the system from the proposed electrical |
4253 | power plant. |
4254 | (28)(27) "Site" means any proposed location within which |
4255 | will be located wherein an electrical power plant's generating |
4256 | facility and onsite support facilities plant, or an electrical |
4257 | power plant alteration or addition of electrical generating |
4258 | facilities and onsite support facilities resulting in an |
4259 | increase in generating capacity, will be located, including |
4260 | offshore sites within state jurisdiction. |
4261 | (30)(29) "Ultimate site capacity" means the maximum gross |
4262 | generating capacity for a site as certified by the board, unless |
4263 | otherwise specified as net generating capacity. |
4264 | Section 68. Subsections (2) through (5), (9), and (11) of |
4265 | section 403.504, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
4266 | 403.504 Department of Environmental Protection; powers and |
4267 | duties enumerated.--The department shall have the following |
4268 | powers and duties in relation to this act: |
4269 | (2) To prescribe the form and content of the public |
4270 | notices and the notice of intent and the form, content, and |
4271 | necessary supporting documentation and studies to be prepared by |
4272 | the applicant for electrical power plant site certification |
4273 | applications. |
4274 | (3) To receive applications for electrical power plant |
4275 | site certifications and to determine the completeness and |
4276 | sufficiency thereof. |
4277 | (4) To make, or contract for, studies of electrical power |
4278 | plant site certification applications. |
4279 | (5) To administer the processing of applications for |
4280 | electric power plant site certifications and to ensure that the |
4281 | applications are processed as expeditiously as possible. |
4282 | (9) To determine whether an alternate corridor proposed |
4283 | for consideration under s. 403.5064(4) is acceptable issue final |
4284 | orders after receipt of the administrative law judge's order |
4285 | relinquishing jurisdiction pursuant to s. 403.508(6). |
4286 | (11) To administer and manage the terms and conditions of |
4287 | the certification order and supporting documents and records for |
4288 | the life of the electrical power plant facility. |
4289 | Section 69. Subsection (1) of section 403.506, Florida |
4290 | Statutes, is amended, and subsection (3) is added that section, |
4291 | to read: |
4292 | 403.506 Applicability, thresholds, and certification.-- |
4293 | (1) The provisions of this act shall apply to any |
4294 | electrical power plant as defined herein, except that the |
4295 | provisions of this act shall not apply to any electrical power |
4296 | plant or steam generating plant of less than 75 megawatts in |
4297 | gross capacity, including its associated facilities, or to any |
4298 | substation to be constructed as part of an associated |
4299 | transmission line unless the applicant has elected to apply for |
4300 | certification of such electrical power plant or substation under |
4301 | this act. The provisions of this act shall not apply to any unit |
4302 | capacity expansions expansion of 75 35 megawatts or less, in the |
4303 | aggregate, of an existing exothermic reaction cogeneration |
4304 | electrical generating facility unit that was exempt from this |
4305 | act when it was originally built; however, this exemption shall |
4306 | not apply if the unit uses oil or natural gas for purposes other |
4307 | than unit startup. No construction of any new electrical power |
4308 | plant or expansion in steam generating capacity as measured by |
4309 | an increase in the maximum electrical generator rating of any |
4310 | existing electrical power plant may be undertaken after October |
4311 | 1, 1973, without first obtaining certification in the manner as |
4312 | herein provided, except that this act shall not apply to any |
4313 | such electrical power plant which is presently operating or |
4314 | under construction or which has, upon the effective date of |
4315 | chapter 73-33, Laws of Florida, applied for a permit or |
4316 | certification under requirements in force prior to the effective |
4317 | date of such act. |
4318 | (3) An electric utility may obtain separate licenses, |
4319 | permits, and approvals for the construction of facilities |
4320 | necessary to construct an electrical power plant without first |
4321 | obtaining certification under this act if the utility intends to |
4322 | locate, license, and construct a proposed or expanded electrical |
4323 | power plant that uses nuclear materials as fuel. Such facilities |
4324 | may include, but are not limited to, access and onsite roads, |
4325 | rail lines, electrical transmission facilities to support |
4326 | construction, and facilities necessary for waterborne delivery |
4327 | of construction materials and project components. This exemption |
4328 | applies to such facilities regardless of whether the facilities |
4329 | are used for operation of the power plant. The applicant shall |
4330 | file with the department a statement that declares that the |
4331 | construction of such facilities is necessary for the timely |
4332 | construction of the proposed electrical power plant and |
4333 | identifies those facilities that the applicant intends to seek |
4334 | licenses for and construct prior to or separate from |
4335 | certification of the project. The facilities may be located |
4336 | within or off the site for the proposed electrical power plant. |
4337 | The filing of an application under this act shall not affect |
4338 | other applications for separate licenses which are pending at |
4339 | the time of filing the application. Furthermore, the filing of |
4340 | an application shall not prevent an electric utility from |
4341 | seeking separate licenses for facilities that are necessary to |
4342 | construct the electrical power plant. Licenses, permits, or |
4343 | approvals issued by any state, regional, or local agency for |
4344 | such facilities shall be incorporated by the department into a |
4345 | final certification upon completion of construction. Any |
4346 | facilities necessary for construction of the electrical power |
4347 | plant shall become part of the certified electrical power plant |
4348 | upon completion of the electrical power plant's construction. |
4349 | The exemption in this subsection shall not require or authorize |
4350 | agency rulemaking, and any action taken under this subsection |
4351 | shall not be subject to the provisions of chapter 120. This |
4352 | subsection shall be given retroactive effect and shall apply to |
4353 | applications filed after May 1, 2008. |
4354 | Section 70. Subsections (1) and (4) of section 403.5064, |
4355 | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
4356 | 403.5064 Application; schedules.-- |
4357 | (1) The formal date of filing of a certification |
4358 | application and commencement of the certification review process |
4359 | shall be when the applicant submits: |
4360 | (a) Copies of the certification application in a quantity |
4361 | and format as prescribed by rule to the department and other |
4362 | agencies identified in s. 403.507(2)(a). |
4363 | (b) A statement affirming that the applicant is opting to |
4364 | allow consideration of alternate corridors for an associated |
4365 | transmission line corridor. If alternate corridors are allowed, |
4366 | at the applicant's option, the portion of the application |
4367 | addressing associated transmission line corridors shall be |
4368 | processed under the schedule set forth in ss. 403.521-403.526, |
4369 | 403.527(4), and 403.5271, including the opportunity for the |
4370 | filing of alternate corridors by third parties; however, if such |
4371 | alternate corridors are filed, the certification hearing shall |
4372 | not be rescheduled as allowed by s. 403.5271(1)(b). |
4373 | (c)(b) The application fee specified under s. 403.518 to |
4374 | the department. |
4375 | (4) Within 7 days after the filing of an application, the |
4376 | department shall prepare a proposed schedule of dates for |
4377 | determination of completeness, submission of statements of |
4378 | issues, submittal of final reports, and other significant dates |
4379 | to be followed during the certification process, including dates |
4380 | for filing notices of appearance to be a party pursuant to s. |
4381 | 403.508(3). If the application includes one or more associated |
4382 | transmission line corridors, at the request of the applicant |
4383 | filed concurrently with the application, the department shall |
4384 | use the application processing schedule set forth in ss. |
4385 | 403.521-403.526, 403.527(4), and 403.5271 for the associated |
4386 | transmission line corridors, including the opportunity for the |
4387 | filing and review of alternate corridors, if a party proposes |
4388 | alternate transmission line corridor routes for consideration no |
4389 | later than 165 days before the scheduled certification hearing. |
4390 | Notwithstanding an applicant's option for the transmission line |
4391 | corridor portion of its application to be processed under the |
4392 | proposed schedule, only one certification hearing shall be held |
4393 | for the entire plant in accordance with s. 403.508(2). The |
4394 | proposed This schedule shall be timely provided by the |
4395 | department to the applicant, the administrative law judge, all |
4396 | agencies identified pursuant to subsection (2), and all parties. |
4397 | Within 7 days after the filing of the proposed schedule, the |
4398 | administrative law judge shall issue an order establishing a |
4399 | schedule for the matters addressed in the department's proposed |
4400 | schedule and other appropriate matters, if any. |
4401 | Section 71. Subsection (1) of section 403.5065, Florida |
4402 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
4403 | 403.5065 Appointment of administrative law judge; powers |
4404 | and duties.-- |
4405 | (1) Within 7 days after receipt of an application, the |
4406 | department shall request the Division of Administrative Hearings |
4407 | to designate an administrative law judge to conduct the hearings |
4408 | required by this act. The division director shall designate an |
4409 | administrative law judge within 7 days after receipt of the |
4410 | request from the department. In designating an administrative |
4411 | law judge for this purpose, the division director shall, |
4412 | whenever practicable, assign an administrative law judge who has |
4413 | had prior experience or training in electrical power plant site |
4414 | certification proceedings. Upon being advised that an |
4415 | administrative law judge has been appointed, the department |
4416 | shall immediately file a copy of the application and all |
4417 | supporting documents with the designated administrative law |
4418 | judge, who shall docket the application. |
4419 | Section 72. Subsection (3) of section 403.50663, Florida |
4420 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
4421 | 403.50663 Informational public meetings.-- |
4422 | (3) A local government or regional planning council that |
4423 | intends to conduct an informational public meeting must provide |
4424 | notice of the meeting to all parties not less than 5 days prior |
4425 | to the meeting and to the general public in accordance with s. |
4426 | 403.5115(5). The expense for such notice is eligible for |
4427 | reimbursement under s. 403.518(2)(c)1. |
4428 | Section 73. Section 403.50665, Florida Statutes, is |
4429 | amended to read: |
4430 | 403.50665 Land use consistency.-- |
4431 | (1) The applicant shall include in the application a |
4432 | statement on the consistency of the site and or any directly |
4433 | associated facilities that constitute a "development," as |
4434 | defined in s. 380.04, with existing land use plans and zoning |
4435 | ordinances that were in effect on the date the application was |
4436 | filed and a full description of such consistency. This |
4437 | information shall include an identification of those associated |
4438 | facilities that the applicant believes are exempt from the |
4439 | requirements of land use plans and zoning ordinances under the |
4440 | provisions of the Local Government Comprehensive Planning and |
4441 | Land Development Regulation Act provisions of chapter 163 and s. |
4442 | 380.04(3). |
4443 | (2)(a) Within 45 days after the filing of the application, |
4444 | each local government shall file a determination with the |
4445 | department, the applicant, the administrative law judge, and all |
4446 | parties on the consistency of the site, and or any directly |
4447 | associated facilities that are not exempt from the requirements |
4448 | of land use plans and zoning ordinances under chapter 163 and s. |
4449 | 380.04(3), with existing land use plans and zoning ordinances |
4450 | that were in effect on the date the application was filed, based |
4451 | on the information provided in the application. However, this |
4452 | requirement does not apply to any new electrical generation unit |
4453 | proposed to be constructed and operated on the site of a |
4454 | previously certified electrical power plant or on the site of a |
4455 | power plant that was not previously certified that will be |
4456 | wholly contained within the boundaries of the existing site. |
4457 | (b) The local government may issue its determination up to |
4458 | 55 35 days later if the application has been determined |
4459 | incomplete based in whole or in part upon a local government |
4460 | request for has requested additional information on land use and |
4461 | zoning consistency as part of the local government's statement |
4462 | on completeness of the application submitted pursuant to s. |
4463 | 403.5066(1)(a). Incompleteness of information necessary for a |
4464 | local government to evaluate an application may be claimed by |
4465 | the local government as cause for a statement of inconsistency |
4466 | with existing land use plans and zoning ordinances. |
4467 | (c) Notice of the consistency determination shall be |
4468 | published in accordance with the requirements of s. 403.5115. |
4469 | (3)(a) If the local government issues a determination that |
4470 | the proposed site and any nonexempt associated facilities are |
4471 | electrical power plant is not consistent or in compliance with |
4472 | local land use plans and zoning ordinances, the applicant may |
4473 | apply to the local government for the necessary local approval |
4474 | to address the inconsistencies identified in the local |
4475 | government's determination. |
4476 | (b) If the applicant makes such an application to the |
4477 | local government, the time schedules under this act shall be |
4478 | tolled until the local government issues its revised |
4479 | determination on land use and zoning or the applicant otherwise |
4480 | withdraws its application to the local government. |
4481 | (c) If the applicant applies to the local government for |
4482 | necessary local land use or zoning approval, the local |
4483 | government shall commence a proceeding to consider the |
4484 | application for land use or zoning approval within 45 days after |
4485 | receipt of the complete request and shall issue a revised |
4486 | determination within 30 days following the conclusion of that |
4487 | local proceeding., and The time schedules and notice |
4488 | requirements under this act shall apply to such revised |
4489 | determination. |
4490 | (4) If any substantially affected person wishes to dispute |
4491 | the local government's determination, he or she shall file a |
4492 | petition with the designated administrative law judge department |
4493 | within 21 days after the publication of notice of the local |
4494 | government's determination. If a hearing is requested, the |
4495 | provisions of s. 403.508(1) shall apply. |
4496 | (5) The dates in this section may be altered upon |
4497 | agreement between the applicant, the local government, and the |
4498 | department pursuant to s. 403.5095. |
4499 | (6) If it is determined by the local government that the |
4500 | proposed site or nonexempt directly associated facility does |
4501 | conform with existing land use plans and zoning ordinances in |
4502 | effect as of the date of the application and no petition has |
4503 | been filed, the responsible zoning or planning authority shall |
4504 | not thereafter change such land use plans or zoning ordinances |
4505 | so as to foreclose construction and operation of the proposed |
4506 | site or directly associated facilities unless certification is |
4507 | subsequently denied or withdrawn. |
4508 | (7) The issue of land use and zoning consistency for any |
4509 | proposed alternate intermediate electrical substation which is |
4510 | proposed as part of an alternate electrical transmission line |
4511 | corridor which is accepted by the applicant and the department |
4512 | under s. 403.5271(1)(b) shall be addressed in the supplementary |
4513 | report prepared by the local government on the proposed |
4514 | alternate corridor and shall be considered as an issue at any |
4515 | final certification hearing. If such a proposed alternate |
4516 | intermediate electrical substation is determined not to be |
4517 | consistent with local land use plans and zoning ordinances, then |
4518 | that alternate intermediate electrical substation shall not be |
4519 | certified. |
4520 | Section 74. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section |
4521 | 403.507, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
4522 | 403.507 Preliminary statements of issues, reports, project |
4523 | analyses, and studies.-- |
4524 | (2)(a) No later than 100 days after the certification |
4525 | application has been determined complete, the following agencies |
4526 | shall prepare reports as provided below and shall submit them to |
4527 | the department and the applicant, unless a final order denying |
4528 | the determination of need has been issued under s. 403.519: |
4529 | 1. The Department of Community Affairs shall prepare a |
4530 | report containing recommendations which address the impact upon |
4531 | the public of the proposed electrical power plant, based on the |
4532 | degree to which the electrical power plant is consistent with |
4533 | the applicable portions of the state comprehensive plan, |
4534 | emergency management, and other such matters within its |
4535 | jurisdiction. The Department of Community Affairs may also |
4536 | comment on the consistency of the proposed electrical power |
4537 | plant with applicable strategic regional policy plans or local |
4538 | comprehensive plans and land development regulations. |
4539 | 2. The water management district shall prepare a report as |
4540 | to matters within its jurisdiction, including but not limited |
4541 | to, the impact of the proposed electrical power plant on water |
4542 | resources, regional water supply planning, and district-owned |
4543 | lands and works. |
4544 | 3. Each local government in whose jurisdiction the |
4545 | proposed electrical power plant is to be located shall prepare a |
4546 | report as to the consistency of the proposed electrical power |
4547 | plant with all applicable local ordinances, regulations, |
4548 | standards, or criteria that apply to the proposed electrical |
4549 | power plant, including any applicable local environmental |
4550 | regulations adopted pursuant to s. 403.182 or by other means. |
4551 | 4. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission shall |
4552 | prepare a report as to matters within its jurisdiction. |
4553 | 5. Each regional planning council shall prepare a report |
4554 | containing recommendations that address the impact upon the |
4555 | public of the proposed electrical power plant, based on the |
4556 | degree to which the electrical power plant is consistent with |
4557 | the applicable provisions of the strategic regional policy plan |
4558 | adopted pursuant to chapter 186 and other matters within its |
4559 | jurisdiction. |
4560 | 6. The Department of Transportation shall address the |
4561 | impact of the proposed electrical power plant on matters within |
4562 | its jurisdiction. |
4563 | Section 75. Subsection (1), paragraph (a) of subsection |
4564 | (2), and paragraph (f) of subsection (3) of section 403.508, |
4565 | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
4566 | 403.508 Land use and certification hearings, parties, |
4567 | participants.-- |
4568 | (1)(a) Within 5 days after the filing of If a petition for |
4569 | a hearing on land use has been filed pursuant to s. 403.50665, |
4570 | the designated administrative law judge shall schedule conduct a |
4571 | land use hearing to be conducted in the county of the proposed |
4572 | site or directly associated facility that is not exempt from the |
4573 | requirements of land use plans and zoning ordinances under |
4574 | chapter 163 and s. 380.04(3), as applicable, as expeditiously as |
4575 | possible, but not later than 30 days after the designated |
4576 | administrative law judge's department's receipt of the petition. |
4577 | The place of such hearing shall be as close as possible to the |
4578 | proposed site or directly associated facility. If a petition is |
4579 | filed, the hearing shall be held regardless of the status of the |
4580 | completeness of the application. However, incompleteness of |
4581 | information necessary for a local government to evaluate an |
4582 | application may be claimed by the local government as cause for |
4583 | a statement of inconsistency with existing land use plans and |
4584 | zoning ordinances under s. 403.50665. |
4585 | (b) Notice of the land use hearing shall be published in |
4586 | accordance with the requirements of s. 403.5115. |
4587 | (c) The sole issue for determination at the land use |
4588 | hearing shall be whether or not the proposed site or nonexempt |
4589 | associated facility is consistent and in compliance with |
4590 | existing land use plans and zoning ordinances. If the |
4591 | administrative law judge concludes that the proposed site or |
4592 | nonexempt associated facility is not consistent or in compliance |
4593 | with existing land use plans and zoning ordinances, the |
4594 | administrative law judge shall receive at the hearing evidence |
4595 | on, and address in the recommended order any changes to or |
4596 | approvals or variances under, the applicable land use plans or |
4597 | zoning ordinances which will render the proposed site or |
4598 | nonexempt associated facility consistent and in compliance with |
4599 | the local land use plans and zoning ordinances. |
4600 | (d) The designated administrative law judge's recommended |
4601 | order shall be issued within 30 days after completion of the |
4602 | hearing and shall be reviewed by the board within 60 days after |
4603 | receipt of the recommended order by the board. |
4604 | (e) If it is determined by the board that the proposed |
4605 | site or nonexempt associated facility does conform with existing |
4606 | land use plans and zoning ordinances in effect as of the date of |
4607 | the application, or as otherwise provided by this act, the |
4608 | responsible zoning or planning authority shall not thereafter |
4609 | change such land use plans or zoning ordinances so as to |
4610 | foreclose construction and operation of the proposed electrical |
4611 | power plant on the proposed site or directly associated |
4612 | facilities unless certification is subsequently denied or |
4613 | withdrawn. |
4614 | (f) If it is determined by the board that the proposed |
4615 | site or nonexempt associated facility does not conform with |
4616 | existing land use plans and zoning ordinances, the board may, if |
4617 | it determines after notice and hearing and upon consideration of |
4618 | the recommended order on land use and zoning issues that it is |
4619 | in the public interest to authorize the use of the land as a |
4620 | site for a site or associated facility an electrical power |
4621 | plant, authorize a variance or other necessary approval to the |
4622 | adopted land use plan and zoning ordinances required to render |
4623 | the proposed site or associated facility consistent with local |
4624 | land use plans and zoning ordinances. The board's action shall |
4625 | not be controlled by any other procedural requirements of law. |
4626 | In the event a variance or other approval is denied by the |
4627 | board, it shall be the responsibility of the applicant to make |
4628 | the necessary application for any approvals determined by the |
4629 | board as required to make the proposed site or associated |
4630 | facility consistent and in compliance with local land use plans |
4631 | and zoning ordinances. No further action may be taken on the |
4632 | complete application until the proposed site or associated |
4633 | facility conforms to the adopted land use plan or zoning |
4634 | ordinances or the board grants relief as provided under this |
4635 | act. |
4636 | (2)(a) A certification hearing shall be held by the |
4637 | designated administrative law judge no later than 265 days after |
4638 | the application is filed with the department. The certification |
4639 | hearing shall be held at a location in proximity to the proposed |
4640 | site. At the conclusion of the certification hearing, the |
4641 | designated administrative law judge shall, after consideration |
4642 | of all evidence of record, submit to the board a recommended |
4643 | order no later than 45 days after the filing of the hearing |
4644 | transcript. |
4645 | (3) |
4646 | (f) Any agency, including those whose properties or works |
4647 | are being affected pursuant to s. 403.509(5)(4), shall be made a |
4648 | party upon the request of the department or the applicant. |
4649 | Section 76. Subsection (3) of section 403.509, Florida |
4650 | Statutes, is amended, subsection (4) is renumbered as subsection |
4651 | (5), a new subsection (4) is added to that section, and |
4652 | subsection (5) is renumbered as subsection (6) and amended, to |
4653 | read: |
4654 | 403.509 Final disposition of application.-- |
4655 | (3) In determining whether an application should be |
4656 | approved in whole, approved with modifications or conditions, or |
4657 | denied, the board, or secretary when applicable, shall consider |
4658 | whether, and the extent to which, the location, construction, |
4659 | and operation of the electrical power plant and directly |
4660 | associated facilities and their construction and operation will: |
4661 | (a) Provide reasonable assurance that operational |
4662 | safeguards are technically sufficient for the public welfare and |
4663 | protection. |
4664 | (b) Comply with applicable nonprocedural requirements of |
4665 | agencies. |
4666 | (c) Be consistent with applicable local government |
4667 | comprehensive plans and land development regulations. |
4668 | (d) Meet the electrical energy needs of the state in an |
4669 | orderly, reliable, and timely fashion. |
4670 | (e) Effect a reasonable balance between the need for the |
4671 | facility as established pursuant to s. 403.519 and the impacts |
4672 | upon air and water quality, fish and wildlife, water resources, |
4673 | and other natural resources of the state resulting from the |
4674 | construction and operation of the facility. |
4675 | (f) Minimize, through the use of reasonable and available |
4676 | methods, the adverse effects on human health, the environment, |
4677 | and the ecology of the land and its wildlife and the ecology of |
4678 | state waters and their aquatic life. |
4679 | (g) Serve and protect the broad interests of the public. |
4680 | (4)(a) Any transmission line corridor certified by the |
4681 | board, or secretary if applicable, shall meet the criteria of |
4682 | this section. When more than one transmission line corridor is |
4683 | proper for certification under s. 403.503(11) and meets the |
4684 | criteria of this section, the board, or secretary if applicable, |
4685 | shall certify the transmission line corridor that has the least |
4686 | adverse impact regarding the criteria in subsection (3), |
4687 | including costs. |
4688 | (b) If the board, or secretary if applicable, finds that |
4689 | an alternate corridor rejected pursuant to s. 403.5271 as |
4690 | incorporated by reference in s. 403.5064(1)(b) meets the |
4691 | criteria of subsection (3) and has the least adverse impact |
4692 | regarding the criteria in subsection (3), the board, or |
4693 | secretary if applicable, shall deny certification or shall allow |
4694 | the applicant to submit an amended application to include the |
4695 | corridor. |
4696 | (c) If the board, or secretary if applicable, finds that |
4697 | two or more of the corridors that comply with subsection (3) |
4698 | have the least adverse impacts regarding the criteria in |
4699 | subsection (3), including costs, and that the corridors are |
4700 | substantially equal in adverse impacts regarding the criteria in |
4701 | subsection (3), including costs, the board, or secretary if |
4702 | applicable, shall certify the corridor preferred by the |
4703 | applicant if the corridor is one proper for certification under |
4704 | s. 403.503(11). |
4705 | (6)(5) For certifications issued by the board in regard to |
4706 | the properties and works of any agency which is a party to the |
4707 | certification hearing, the board shall have the authority to |
4708 | decide issues relating to the use, the connection thereto, or |
4709 | the crossing thereof, for the electrical power plant and |
4710 | directly associated facilities and to direct any such agency to |
4711 | execute, within 30 days after the entry of certification, the |
4712 | necessary license or easement for such use, connection, or |
4713 | crossing, subject only to the conditions set forth in such |
4714 | certification. For certifications issued by the department in |
4715 | regard to the properties and works of any agency that is a party |
4716 | to the proceeding, any stipulation filed pursuant to s. |
4717 | 403.508(6)(a) must include a stipulation regarding any issues |
4718 | relating to the use, the connection thereto, or the crossing |
4719 | thereof, for the electrical power plant. Any agency stipulating |
4720 | to the use of, connection to, or crossing of its property must |
4721 | agree to execute, within 30 days after the entry of |
4722 | certification, the necessary license or easement for such use, |
4723 | connection, or crossing, subject only to the conditions set |
4724 | forth in such certification. |
4725 | Section 77. Subsections (1) and (6) of section 403.511, |
4726 | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
4727 | 403.511 Effect of certification.-- |
4728 | (1) Subject to the conditions set forth therein, any |
4729 | certification shall constitute the sole license of the state and |
4730 | any agency as to the approval of the location of the site and |
4731 | any associated facility and the construction and operation of |
4732 | the proposed electrical power plant, except for the issuance of |
4733 | department licenses required under any federally delegated or |
4734 | approved permit program and except as otherwise provided in |
4735 | subsection (4). |
4736 | (6) No term or condition of an electrical power plant a |
4737 | site certification shall be interpreted to supersede or control |
4738 | the provisions of a final operation permit for a major source of |
4739 | air pollution issued by the department pursuant to s. 403.0872 |
4740 | to a facility certified under this part. |
4741 | Section 78. Subsection (1) of section 403.5112, Florida |
4742 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
4743 | 403.5112 Filing of notice of certified corridor route.-- |
4744 | (1) Within 60 days after certification of an a directly |
4745 | associated linear facility pursuant to this act, the applicant |
4746 | shall file, in accordance with s. 28.222, with the department |
4747 | and the clerk of the circuit court for each county through which |
4748 | the corridor will pass, a notice of the certified route. |
4749 | Section 79. Section 403.5113, Florida Statutes, is amended |
4750 | to read: |
4751 | 403.5113 Postcertification amendments and review.-- |
4752 | (1) POSTCERTIFICATION AMENDMENTS.-- |
4753 | (a) If, subsequent to certification by the board, a |
4754 | licensee proposes any material change to the application and |
4755 | revisions or amendments thereto, as certified, the licensee |
4756 | shall submit a written request for amendment and a description |
4757 | of the proposed change to the application to the department. |
4758 | Within 30 days after the receipt of the request for the |
4759 | amendment, the department shall determine whether the proposed |
4760 | change to the application requires a modification of the |
4761 | conditions of certification. |
4762 | (b)(2) If the department concludes that the change would |
4763 | not require a modification of the conditions of certification, |
4764 | the department shall provide written notification of the |
4765 | approval of the proposed amendment to the licensee, all |
4766 | agencies, and all other parties. |
4767 | (c)(3) If the department concludes that the change would |
4768 | require a modification of the conditions of certification, the |
4769 | department shall provide written notification to the licensee |
4770 | that the proposed change to the application requires a request |
4771 | for modification pursuant to s. 403.516. |
4772 | (2)(4) POSTCERTIFICATION REVIEW.--Postcertification |
4773 | submittals filed by the licensee with one or more agencies are |
4774 | for the purpose of monitoring for compliance with the issued |
4775 | certification and must be reviewed by the agencies on an |
4776 | expedited and priority basis because each facility certified |
4777 | under this act is a critical infrastructure facility. In no |
4778 | event shall a postcertification review be completed in more than |
4779 | 90 days after complete information is submitted to the reviewing |
4780 | agencies. |
4781 | Section 80. Section 403.5115, Florida Statutes, is amended |
4782 | to read: |
4783 | 403.5115 Public notice.-- |
4784 | (1) The following notices are to be published by the |
4785 | applicant for all applications: |
4786 | (a) Notice of the filing of a notice of intent under s. |
4787 | 403.5063, which shall be published within 21 days after the |
4788 | filing of the notice. The notice shall be published as specified |
4789 | by subsection (2), except that the newspaper notice shall be |
4790 | one-fourth page in size in a standard size newspaper or one-half |
4791 | page in size in a tabloid size newspaper. |
4792 | (b) Notice of filing of the application, which shall |
4793 | include a description of the proceedings required by this act, |
4794 | within 21 days after the date of the application filing. Such |
4795 | notice shall give notice of the provisions of s. 403.511(1) and |
4796 | (2). |
4797 | (c) If applicable, notice of the land use determination |
4798 | made pursuant to s. 403.50665(2)(1) within 21 days after the |
4799 | deadline for the filing of the determination is filed. |
4800 | (d) If applicable, notice of the land use hearing, which |
4801 | shall be published as specified in subsection (2), no later than |
4802 | 15 days before the hearing. |
4803 | (e) Notice of the certification hearing and notice of the |
4804 | deadline for filing notice of intent to be a party, which shall |
4805 | be published as specified in subsection (2), at least 65 days |
4806 | before the date set for the certification hearing. If one or |
4807 | more alternate corridors have been accepted for consideration, |
4808 | the notice of the certification hearing shall include a map of |
4809 | all corridors proposed for certification. |
4810 | (f) Notice of revised deadline for filing alternate |
4811 | corridors if the certification hearing is rescheduled to a date |
4812 | other than as published in the notice of filing of the |
4813 | application. This notice shall be published at least 185 days |
4814 | before the rescheduled certification hearing and as specified in |
4815 | subsection (2), except no map is required and the size of the |
4816 | notice shall be no smaller than 6 square inches. |
4817 | (g)(f) Notice of the cancellation of the certification |
4818 | hearing, if applicable, no later than 3 days before the date of |
4819 | the originally scheduled certification hearing. The newspaper |
4820 | notice shall be one-fourth page in size in a standard-size |
4821 | newspaper or one-half page in size in a tabloid-size newspaper. |
4822 | (h)(g) Notice of modification when required by the |
4823 | department, based on whether the requested modification of |
4824 | certification will significantly increase impacts to the |
4825 | environment or the public. Such notice shall be published as |
4826 | specified under subsection (2): |
4827 | 1. Within 21 days after receipt of a request for |
4828 | modification. The newspaper notice shall be of a size as |
4829 | directed by the department commensurate with the scope of the |
4830 | modification. |
4831 | 2. If a hearing is to be conducted in response to the |
4832 | request for modification, then notice shall be published no |
4833 | later than 30 days before the hearing. |
4834 | (h) Notice of a supplemental application, which shall be |
4835 | published as specified in paragraph (b) and subsection (2). |
4836 | (i) Notice of existing site certification pursuant to s. |
4837 | 403.5175. Notices shall be published as specified in paragraph |
4838 | (b) and subsection (2). |
4839 | (2) Notices provided by the applicant shall be published |
4840 | in newspapers of general circulation within the county or |
4841 | counties in which the proposed electrical power plant will be |
4842 | located. The newspaper notices, unless otherwise specified, |
4843 | shall be at least one-half page in size in a standard size |
4844 | newspaper or a full page in a tabloid size newspaper. These |
4845 | notices shall include a map generally depicting the project and |
4846 | all associated facilities corridors. A newspaper of general |
4847 | circulation shall be the newspaper which has the largest daily |
4848 | circulation in that county and has its principal office in that |
4849 | county. If the newspaper with the largest daily circulation has |
4850 | its principal office outside the county, the notices shall |
4851 | appear in both the newspaper having the largest circulation in |
4852 | that county and in a newspaper authorized to publish legal |
4853 | notices in that county. |
4854 | (3) All notices published by the applicant shall be paid |
4855 | for by the applicant and shall be in addition to the application |
4856 | fee. |
4857 | (4) The department shall arrange for publication of the |
4858 | following notices in the manner specified by chapter 120 and |
4859 | provide copies of those notices to any persons who have |
4860 | requested to be placed on the departmental mailing list for this |
4861 | purpose: |
4862 | (a) Notice of the filing of the notice of intent within 15 |
4863 | days after receipt of the notice. |
4864 | (b) Notice of the filing of the application, no later than |
4865 | 21 days after the application filing. |
4866 | (c) Notice of the land use determination made pursuant to |
4867 | s. 403.50665(2)(1) within 21 days after the determination is |
4868 | filed. |
4869 | (d) Notice of the land use hearing before the |
4870 | administrative law judge, if applicable, no later than 15 days |
4871 | before the hearing. |
4872 | (e) Notice of the land use hearing before the board, if |
4873 | applicable. |
4874 | (f) Notice of the certification hearing at least 45 days |
4875 | before the date set for the certification hearing. |
4876 | (g) Notice of the revised deadline for filing alternate |
4877 | corridors if the certification hearing is rescheduled to a date |
4878 | other than as published in the notice of filing of the |
4879 | application. This notice shall be published at least 185 days |
4880 | before the rescheduled certification hearing. |
4881 | (h)(g) Notice of the cancellation of the certification |
4882 | hearing, if applicable, no later than 3 days prior to the date |
4883 | of the originally scheduled certification hearing. |
4884 | (i)(h) Notice of the hearing before the board, if |
4885 | applicable. |
4886 | (j)(i) Notice of stipulations, proposed agency action, or |
4887 | petitions for modification. |
4888 | (5) A local government or regional planning council that |
4889 | proposes to conduct an informational public meeting pursuant to |
4890 | s. 403.50663 must publish notice of the meeting in a newspaper |
4891 | of general circulation within the county or counties in which |
4892 | the proposed electrical power plant will be located no later |
4893 | than 7 days prior to the meeting. A newspaper of general |
4894 | circulation shall be the newspaper that has the largest daily |
4895 | circulation in that county and has its principal office in that |
4896 | county. If the newspaper with the largest daily circulation has |
4897 | its principal office outside the county, the notices shall |
4898 | appear in both the newspaper having the largest circulation in |
4899 | that county and in a newspaper authorized to publish legal |
4900 | notices in that county. |
4901 | (6)(a) A good faith effort shall be made by the applicant |
4902 | to provide direct written notice of the filing of an application |
4903 | for certification by United States mail or hand delivery no |
4904 | later than 45 days after filing of the application to all local |
4905 | landowners whose property, as noted in the most recent local |
4906 | government tax records, and residences are located within the |
4907 | following distances of the proposed project: |
4908 | 1. Three miles of the proposed main site boundaries of the |
4909 | proposed electrical power plant. |
4910 | 2. One-quarter mile for a transmission line corridor that |
4911 | only includes a transmission line as defined by s. 403.522(22). |
4912 | 3. One-quarter mile for all other linear associated |
4913 | facilities extending away from the main site boundary except for |
4914 | a transmission line corridor that includes a transmission line |
4915 | that operates below those defined by s. 403.522(22). |
4916 | (b) No later than 60 days from the filing of an |
4917 | application for certification, the applicant shall file a list |
4918 | with the department's Siting Coordination Office of landowners |
4919 | and residences that were notified. |
4920 | (7)(a) A good faith effort shall be made by the proponent |
4921 | of an alternate corridor that includes a transmission line, as |
4922 | defined by s. 403.522(22), to provide direct written notice of |
4923 | the filing of an alternate corridor for certification by United |
4924 | States mail or hand delivery of the filing of no later than 30 |
4925 | days after filing of the alternate corridor to all local |
4926 | landowners whose property, as noted in the most recent local |
4927 | government tax records, and residences, are located within one- |
4928 | quarter mile of the proposed boundaries of a transmission line |
4929 | corridor that includes a transmission line as defined by s. |
4930 | 403.522(22). |
4931 | (b) No later than 45 days from the filing of an alternate |
4932 | corridor for certification, the proponent of an alternate |
4933 | corridor shall file a list with the department's Siting |
4934 | Coordination Office of landowners and residences that were |
4935 | notified. |
4936 | Section 81. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section |
4937 | 403.516, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
4938 | 403.516 Modification of certification.-- |
4939 | (1) A certification may be modified after issuance in any |
4940 | one of the following ways: |
4941 | (b)1. The department may modify specific conditions of a |
4942 | site certification which are inconsistent with the terms of any |
4943 | federally delegated or approved permit for the certified |
4944 | electrical power plant. |
4945 | 2. Such modification may be made without further notice if |
4946 | the matter has been previously noticed under the requirements |
4947 | for any federally delegated or approved permit program. |
4948 | Section 82. Paragraphs (a) and (c) of subsection (1) of |
4949 | section 403.517, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
4950 | 403.517 Supplemental applications for sites certified for |
4951 | ultimate site capacity.-- |
4952 | (1)(a) Supplemental applications may be submitted for |
4953 | certification of the construction and operation of electrical |
4954 | power plants to be located at sites which have been previously |
4955 | certified for an ultimate site capacity pursuant to this act. |
4956 | Supplemental applications shall be limited to electrical power |
4957 | plants using the fuel type previously certified for that site. |
4958 | Such applications shall include all new directly associated |
4959 | facilities that support the construction and operation of the |
4960 | electrical power plant. |
4961 | (c) The time limits for the processing of a complete |
4962 | supplemental application shall be designated by the department |
4963 | commensurate with the scope of the supplemental application, but |
4964 | shall not exceed any time limitation governing the review of |
4965 | initial applications for site certification pursuant to this |
4966 | act, it being the legislative intent to provide shorter time |
4967 | limitations for the processing of supplemental applications for |
4968 | electrical power plants to be constructed and operated at sites |
4969 | which have been previously certified for an ultimate site |
4970 | capacity. |
4971 | Section 83. Subsections (1), (2), and (3) of section |
4972 | 403.5175, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
4973 | 403.5175 Existing electrical power plant site |
4974 | certification.-- |
4975 | (1) An electric utility that owns or operates an existing |
4976 | electrical power plant as defined in s. 403.503(14)(13) may |
4977 | apply for certification of an existing power plant and its site |
4978 | in order to obtain all agency licenses necessary to ensure |
4979 | compliance with federal or state environmental laws and |
4980 | regulation using the centrally coordinated, one-stop licensing |
4981 | process established by this part. An application for site |
4982 | certification under this section must be in the form prescribed |
4983 | by department rule. Applications must be reviewed and processed |
4984 | using the same procedural steps and notices as for an |
4985 | application for a new facility, except that a determination of |
4986 | need by the Public Service Commission is not required. |
4987 | (2) An application for certification under this section |
4988 | must include: |
4989 | (a) A description of the site and existing power plant |
4990 | installations and associated facilities; |
4991 | (b) A description of all proposed changes or alterations |
4992 | to the site and or electrical power plant, including all new |
4993 | associated facilities that are the subject of the application; |
4994 | (c) A description of the environmental and other impacts |
4995 | caused by the existing utilization of the site and directly |
4996 | associated facilities, and the operation of the electrical power |
4997 | plant that is the subject of the application, and of the |
4998 | environmental and other benefits, if any, to be realized as a |
4999 | result of the proposed changes or alterations if certification |
5000 | is approved and such other information as is necessary for the |
5001 | reviewing agencies to evaluate the proposed changes and the |
5002 | expected impacts; |
5003 | (d) The justification for the proposed changes or |
5004 | alterations; |
5005 | (e) Copies of all existing permits, licenses, and |
5006 | compliance plans authorizing utilization of the site and |
5007 | directly associated facilities or operation of the electrical |
5008 | power plant that is the subject of the application. |
5009 | (3) The land use and zoning determination requirements of |
5010 | s. 403.50665 do not apply to an application under this section |
5011 | if the applicant does not propose to expand the boundaries of |
5012 | the existing site or to add additional offsite associated |
5013 | facilities that are not exempt from the provisions of s. |
5014 | 403.50665. If the applicant proposes to expand the boundaries of |
5015 | the existing site or to add additional offsite associated |
5016 | facilities that are not exempt from the provisions of s. |
5017 | 403.50665 to accommodate portions of the electrical generating |
5018 | facility plant or associated facilities, a land use and zoning |
5019 | determination shall be made as specified in s. 403.50665; |
5020 | provided, however, that the sole issue for determination is |
5021 | whether the proposed site expansion or additional nonexempt |
5022 | associated facilities are is consistent and in compliance with |
5023 | the existing land use plans and zoning ordinances. |
5024 | Section 84. Section 403.518, Florida Statutes, is amended |
5025 | to read: |
5026 | 403.518 Fees; disposition.--The department shall charge |
5027 | the applicant the following fees, as appropriate, which, unless |
5028 | otherwise specified, shall be paid into the Florida Permit Fee |
5029 | Trust Fund: |
5030 | (1) A fee for a notice of intent pursuant to s. 403.5063, |
5031 | in the amount of $2,500, to be submitted to the department at |
5032 | the time of filing of a notice of intent. The notice-of-intent |
5033 | fee shall be used and disbursed in the same manner as the |
5034 | application fee. |
5035 | (2) An application fee, which shall not exceed $200,000. |
5036 | The fee shall be fixed by rule on a sliding scale related to the |
5037 | size, type, ultimate site capacity, or increase in electrical |
5038 | generating capacity proposed by the application. |
5039 | (a) Sixty percent of the fee shall go to the department to |
5040 | cover any costs associated with coordinating the review and |
5041 | acting upon the application, to cover any field services |
5042 | associated with monitoring construction and operation of the |
5043 | facility, and to cover the costs of the public notices published |
5044 | by the department. |
5045 | (b) The following percentages shall be transferred to the |
5046 | Operating Trust Fund of the Division of Administrative Hearings |
5047 | of the Department of Management Services: |
5048 | 1. Five percent to compensate expenses from the initial |
5049 | exercise of duties associated with the filing of an application. |
5050 | 2. An additional 5 percent if a land use hearing is held |
5051 | pursuant to s. 403.508. |
5052 | 3. An additional 10 percent if a certification hearing is |
5053 | held pursuant to s. 403.508. |
5054 | (c)1. Upon written request with proper itemized accounting |
5055 | within 90 days after final agency action by the board or |
5056 | department or withdrawal of the application, the agencies that |
5057 | prepared reports pursuant to s. 403.507 or participated in a |
5058 | hearing pursuant to s. 403.508 may submit a written request to |
5059 | the department for reimbursement of expenses incurred during the |
5060 | certification proceedings. The request shall contain an |
5061 | accounting of expenses incurred which may include time spent |
5062 | reviewing the application, preparation of any studies required |
5063 | of the agencies by this act, agency travel and per diem to |
5064 | attend any hearing held pursuant to this act, and for any agency |
5065 | or local government's or regional planning council's provision |
5066 | of notice of public meetings or hearings required as a result of |
5067 | the application for certification. The department shall review |
5068 | the request and verify that the expenses are valid. Valid |
5069 | expenses shall be reimbursed; however, in the event the amount |
5070 | of funds available for reimbursement is insufficient to provide |
5071 | for full compensation to the agencies requesting reimbursement, |
5072 | reimbursement shall be on a prorated basis. |
5073 | 2. If the application review is held in abeyance for more |
5074 | than 1 year, the agencies may submit a request for |
5075 | reimbursement. This time period shall be measured from the date |
5076 | the applicant has provided written notification to the |
5077 | department that it desires to have the application review |
5078 | process placed on hold. The fee disbursement shall be processed |
5079 | in accordance with subparagraph 1. |
5080 | (d) If any sums are remaining, the department shall retain |
5081 | them for its use in the same manner as is otherwise authorized |
5082 | by this act; provided, however, that if the certification |
5083 | application is withdrawn, the remaining sums shall be refunded |
5084 | to the applicant within 90 days after the submittal of the |
5085 | written notification of withdrawal. |
5086 | (3)(a) A certification modification fee, which shall not |
5087 | exceed $30,000. The department shall establish rules for |
5088 | determining such a fee based on the number of agencies involved |
5089 | in the review, equipment redesign, change in site size, type, |
5090 | increase in generating capacity proposed, or change in an |
5091 | associated linear facility location. |
5092 | (b) The fee shall be submitted to the department with a |
5093 | petition for modification pursuant to s. 403.516. This fee shall |
5094 | be established, disbursed, and processed in the same manner as |
5095 | the application fee in subsection (2), except that the Division |
5096 | of Administrative Hearings shall not receive a portion of the |
5097 | fee unless the petition for certification modification is |
5098 | referred to the Division of Administrative Hearings for hearing. |
5099 | If the petition is so referred, only $10,000 of the fee shall be |
5100 | transferred to the Operating Trust Fund of the Division of |
5101 | Administrative Hearings of the Department of Management |
5102 | Services. |
5103 | (4) A supplemental application fee, not to exceed $75,000, |
5104 | to cover all reasonable expenses and costs of the review, |
5105 | processing, and proceedings of a supplemental application. This |
5106 | fee shall be established, disbursed, and processed in the same |
5107 | manner as the certification application fee in subsection (2). |
5108 | (5) An existing site certification application fee, not to |
5109 | exceed $200,000, to cover all reasonable costs and expenses of |
5110 | the review processing and proceedings for certification of an |
5111 | existing power plant site under s. 403.5175. This fee must be |
5112 | established, disbursed, and processed in the same manner as the |
5113 | certification application fee in subsection (2). |
5114 | (6) An application fee for an alternate corridor filed |
5115 | pursuant to s. 403.5064(4). The application fee shall be $750 |
5116 | per mile for each mile of the alternate corridor located within |
5117 | an existing electric transmission line right-of-way or within an |
5118 | existing right-of-way for a road, highway, railroad, or other |
5119 | aboveground linear facility, or $1,000 per mile for each mile of |
5120 | an electric transmission line corridor proposed to be located |
5121 | outside the existing right-of-way. |
5122 | Section 85. Paragraphs (a) and (e) of subsection (4) of |
5123 | section 403.519, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
5124 | 403.519 Exclusive forum for determination of need.-- |
5125 | (4) In making its determination on a proposed electrical |
5126 | power plant using nuclear materials or synthesis gas produced by |
5127 | integrated gasification combined cycle power plant as fuel, the |
5128 | commission shall hold a hearing within 90 days after the filing |
5129 | of the petition to determine need and shall issue an order |
5130 | granting or denying the petition within 135 days after the date |
5131 | of the filing of the petition. The commission shall be the sole |
5132 | forum for the determination of this matter and the issues |
5133 | addressed in the petition, which accordingly shall not be |
5134 | reviewed in any other forum, or in the review of proceedings in |
5135 | such other forum. In making its determination to either grant or |
5136 | deny the petition, the commission shall consider the need for |
5137 | electric system reliability and integrity, including fuel |
5138 | diversity, the need for base-load generating capacity, the need |
5139 | for adequate electricity at a reasonable cost, and whether |
5140 | renewable energy sources and technologies, as well as |
5141 | conservation measures, are utilized to the extent reasonably |
5142 | available. |
5143 | (a) The applicant's petition shall include: |
5144 | 1. A description of the need for the generation capacity. |
5145 | 2. A description of how the proposed nuclear or integrated |
5146 | gasification combined cycle power plant will enhance the |
5147 | reliability of electric power production within the state by |
5148 | improving the balance of power plant fuel diversity and reducing |
5149 | Florida's dependence on fuel oil and natural gas. |
5150 | 3. A description of and a nonbinding estimate of the cost |
5151 | of the nuclear or integrated gasification combined cycle power |
5152 | plant, including any costs associated with new, expanded, or |
5153 | relocated electrical transmission lines or facilities of any |
5154 | size that are necessary to serve the nuclear power plant. |
5155 | 4. The annualized base revenue requirement for the first |
5156 | 12 months of operation of the nuclear or integrated gasification |
5157 | combined cycle power plant. |
5158 | 5. Information on whether there were any discussions with |
5159 | any electric utilities regarding ownership of a portion of the |
5160 | nuclear or integrated gasification combined cycle power plant by |
5161 | such electric utilities. |
5162 | (e) After a petition for determination of need for a |
5163 | nuclear or integrated gasification combined cycle power plant |
5164 | has been granted, the right of a utility to recover any costs |
5165 | incurred prior to commercial operation, including, but not |
5166 | limited to, costs associated with the siting, design, licensing, |
5167 | or construction of the plant and new, expanded, or relocated |
5168 | electrical transmission lines or facilities of any size that are |
5169 | necessary to serve the nuclear power plant, shall not be subject |
5170 | to challenge unless and only to the extent the commission finds, |
5171 | based on a preponderance of the evidence adduced at a hearing |
5172 | before the commission under s. 120.57, that certain costs were |
5173 | imprudently incurred. Proceeding with the construction of the |
5174 | nuclear or integrated gasification combined cycle power plant |
5175 | following an order by the commission approving the need for the |
5176 | nuclear or integrated gasification combined cycle power plant |
5177 | under this act shall not constitute or be evidence of |
5178 | imprudence. Imprudence shall not include any cost increases due |
5179 | to events beyond the utility's control. Further, a utility's |
5180 | right to recover costs associated with a nuclear or integrated |
5181 | gasification combined cycle power plant may not be raised in any |
5182 | other forum or in the review of proceedings in such other forum. |
5183 | Costs incurred prior to commercial operation shall be recovered |
5184 | pursuant to chapter 366. |
5185 | Section 86. Subsection (1) of section 403.5252, Florida |
5186 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
5187 | 403.5252 Determination of completeness.-- |
5188 | (1)(a) Within 30 days after the filing distribution of an |
5189 | application, the affected agencies shall file a statement with |
5190 | the department containing the recommendations of each agency |
5191 | concerning the completeness of the application for |
5192 | certification. |
5193 | (b) Within 37 7 days after the filing receipt of the |
5194 | application completeness statements of each agency, the |
5195 | department shall file a statement with the Division of |
5196 | Administrative Hearings, with the applicant, and with all |
5197 | parties declaring its position with regard to the completeness |
5198 | of the application. The statement of the department shall be |
5199 | based upon its consultation with the affected agencies. |
5200 | Section 87. Subsection (1) and paragraph (a) of subsection |
5201 | (2) of section 403.526, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
5202 | 403.526 Preliminary statements of issues, reports, and |
5203 | project analyses; studies.-- |
5204 | (1) Each affected agency that is required to file a report |
5205 | in accordance with this section shall submit a preliminary |
5206 | statement of issues to the department and all parties no later |
5207 | than the submittal of each agency's recommendation that the |
5208 | application is complete 50 days after the filing of the |
5209 | application. Such statements of issues shall be made available |
5210 | to each local government for use as information for public |
5211 | meetings held under s. 403.5272. The failure to raise an issue |
5212 | in this preliminary statement of issues does not preclude the |
5213 | issue from being raised in the agency's report. |
5214 | (2)(a) No later than 90 days after the filing of the |
5215 | application, the following agencies shall prepare reports as |
5216 | provided below, unless a final order denying the determination |
5217 | of need has been issued under s. 403.537 and shall submit them |
5218 | to the department and the applicant no later than 90 days after |
5219 | the filing of the application: |
5220 | 1. The department shall prepare a report as to the impact |
5221 | of each proposed transmission line or corridor as it relates to |
5222 | matters within its jurisdiction. |
5223 | 2. Each water management district in the jurisdiction of |
5224 | which a proposed transmission line or corridor is to be located |
5225 | shall prepare a report as to the impact on water resources and |
5226 | other matters within its jurisdiction. |
5227 | 3. The Department of Community Affairs shall prepare a |
5228 | report containing recommendations which address the impact upon |
5229 | the public of the proposed transmission line or corridor, based |
5230 | on the degree to which the proposed transmission line or |
5231 | corridor is consistent with the applicable portions of the state |
5232 | comprehensive plan, emergency management, and other matters |
5233 | within its jurisdiction. The Department of Community Affairs may |
5234 | also comment on the consistency of the proposed transmission |
5235 | line or corridor with applicable strategic regional policy plans |
5236 | or local comprehensive plans and land development regulations. |
5237 | 4. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission shall |
5238 | prepare a report as to the impact of each proposed transmission |
5239 | line or corridor on fish and wildlife resources and other |
5240 | matters within its jurisdiction. |
5241 | 5. Each local government shall prepare a report as to the |
5242 | impact of each proposed transmission line or corridor on matters |
5243 | within its jurisdiction, including the consistency of the |
5244 | proposed transmission line or corridor with all applicable local |
5245 | ordinances, regulations, standards, or criteria that apply to |
5246 | the proposed transmission line or corridor, including local |
5247 | comprehensive plans, zoning regulations, land development |
5248 | regulations, and any applicable local environmental regulations |
5249 | adopted pursuant to s. 403.182 or by other means. A change by |
5250 | the responsible local government or local agency in local |
5251 | comprehensive plans, zoning ordinances, or other regulations |
5252 | made after the date required for the filing of the local |
5253 | government's report required by this section is not applicable |
5254 | to the certification of the proposed transmission line or |
5255 | corridor unless the certification is denied or the application |
5256 | is withdrawn. |
5257 | 6. Each regional planning council shall present a report |
5258 | containing recommendations that address the impact upon the |
5259 | public of the proposed transmission line or corridor based on |
5260 | the degree to which the transmission line or corridor is |
5261 | consistent with the applicable provisions of the strategic |
5262 | regional policy plan adopted under chapter 186 and other impacts |
5263 | of each proposed transmission line or corridor on matters within |
5264 | its jurisdiction. |
5265 | 7. The Department of Transportation shall prepare a report |
5266 | as to the impact of the proposed transmission line or corridor |
5267 | on state roads, railroads, airports, aeronautics, seaports, and |
5268 | other matters within its jurisdiction. |
5269 | 8. The commission shall prepare a report containing its |
5270 | determination under s. 403.537, and the report may include the |
5271 | comments from the commission with respect to any other subject |
5272 | within its jurisdiction. |
5273 | 9. Any other agency, if requested by the department, shall |
5274 | also perform studies or prepare reports as to subjects within |
5275 | the jurisdiction of the agency which may potentially be affected |
5276 | by the proposed transmission line. |
5277 | Section 88. Subsection (4) and paragraph (a) of subsection |
5278 | (6) of section 403.527, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
5279 | 403.527 Certification hearing, parties, participants.-- |
5280 | (4)(a) One public hearing where members of the public who |
5281 | are not parties to the certification hearing may testify shall |
5282 | be held in conjunction with the certification hearing within the |
5283 | boundaries of each county, at the option of any local |
5284 | government. |
5285 | (b) Upon the request of the local government, one public |
5286 | hearing where members of the public who are not parties to the |
5287 | certification hearing and who reside within the jurisdiction of |
5288 | the local government may testify shall be held within the |
5289 | boundaries of each county in which a local government that made |
5290 | such a request is located. |
5291 | (c)(a) A local government shall notify the administrative |
5292 | law judge and all parties not later than 50 21 days after the |
5293 | filing of the application has been determined complete as to |
5294 | whether the local government wishes to have a public hearing |
5295 | within the boundaries of its county. If a filing for an |
5296 | alternate corridor is accepted for consideration under s. |
5297 | 403.5271(1) by the department and the applicant, any newly |
5298 | affected local government must notify the administrative law |
5299 | judge and all parties not later than 10 days after the data |
5300 | concerning the alternate corridor has been determined complete |
5301 | as to whether the local government wishes to have such a public |
5302 | hearing. The local government is responsible for providing the |
5303 | location of the public hearing if held separately from the |
5304 | certification hearing. |
5305 | (d)(b) Within 5 days after notification, the |
5306 | administrative law judge shall determine the date of the public |
5307 | hearing, which shall be held before or during the certification |
5308 | hearing. If two or more local governments within one county |
5309 | request a public hearing, the hearing shall be consolidated so |
5310 | that only one public hearing is held in any county. The location |
5311 | of a consolidated hearing shall be determined by the |
5312 | administrative law judge. |
5313 | (e)(c) If a local government does not request a public |
5314 | hearing within 50 21 days after the filing of the application |
5315 | has been determined complete, members of the public who are not |
5316 | parties to the certification hearing and who reside persons |
5317 | residing within the jurisdiction of the local government may |
5318 | testify during the that portion of the certification hearing |
5319 | held under paragraph (b) at which public testimony is heard. |
5320 | (6)(a) No later than 29 25 days before the certification |
5321 | hearing, the department or the applicant may request that the |
5322 | administrative law judge cancel the certification hearing and |
5323 | relinquish jurisdiction to the department if all parties to the |
5324 | proceeding stipulate that there are no disputed issues of |
5325 | material fact or law to be raised at the certification hearing. |
5326 | Section 89. Paragraphs (b), (c), and (e) of subsection (1) |
5327 | of section 403.5271, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
5328 | 403.5271 Alternate corridors.-- |
5329 | (1) No later than 45 days before the originally scheduled |
5330 | certification hearing, any party may propose alternate |
5331 | transmission line corridor routes for consideration under the |
5332 | provisions of this act. |
5333 | (b)1. Within 7 days after receipt of the notice, the |
5334 | applicant and the department shall file with the administrative |
5335 | law judge and all parties a notice of acceptance or rejection of |
5336 | a proposed alternate corridor for consideration. If the |
5337 | alternate corridor is rejected by the applicant or the |
5338 | department, the certification hearing and the public hearings |
5339 | shall be held as scheduled. If both the applicant and the |
5340 | department accept a proposed alternate corridor for |
5341 | consideration, the certification hearing and the public hearings |
5342 | shall be rescheduled, if necessary. If a filing for an alternate |
5343 | corridor is accepted for consideration by the department and the |
5344 | applicant, any newly affected local government must notify the |
5345 | administrative law judge and all parties not later than 10 days |
5346 | after the data concerning the alternate corridor has been |
5347 | determined complete as to whether the local government wishes to |
5348 | have such a public hearing. The local government is responsible |
5349 | for providing the location of the public hearing if held |
5350 | separately from the certification hearing. The provisions of s. |
5351 | 403.527(4)(b) and (c) shall apply. Notice of the local hearings |
5352 | shall be published in accordance with s. 403.5363. |
5353 | 2. If rescheduled, the certification hearing shall be held |
5354 | no more than 90 days after the previously scheduled |
5355 | certification hearing, unless the data submitted under paragraph |
5356 | (d) is determined to be incomplete, in which case the |
5357 | rescheduled certification hearing shall be held no more than 105 |
5358 | days after the previously scheduled certification hearing. If |
5359 | additional time is needed due to the alternate corridor crossing |
5360 | a local government jurisdiction that was not previously |
5361 | affected, the remainder of the schedule listed below shall be |
5362 | appropriately adjusted by the administrative law judge to allow |
5363 | that local government to prepare a report pursuant to s. |
5364 | 403.526(2)(a)5. Notice that the certification hearing has been |
5365 | deferred due to the acceptance of the alternate corridor shall |
5366 | be published in accordance with s. 403.5363. |
5367 | (c) Notice of the filing of the alternate corridor, of the |
5368 | revised time schedules, of the deadline for newly affected |
5369 | persons and agencies to file notice of intent to become a party, |
5370 | of the rescheduled hearing date, and of the proceedings shall be |
5371 | published by the alternate proponent in accordance with s. |
5372 | 403.5363(2). If the notice is not timely published or does not |
5373 | meet the notice requirements, the alternate shall be deemed |
5374 | withdrawn. |
5375 | (e)1. Reviewing agencies shall advise the department of |
5376 | any issues concerning completeness no later than 15 days after |
5377 | the submittal of the data required by paragraph (d). Within 22 |
5378 | days after receipt of the data, the department shall issue a |
5379 | determination of completeness. |
5380 | 2. If the department determines that the data required by |
5381 | paragraph (d) is not complete, the party proposing the alternate |
5382 | corridor must file such additional data to correct the |
5383 | incompleteness. This additional data must be submitted within 14 |
5384 | days after the determination by the department. |
5385 | 3. Reviewing agencies may advise the department of any |
5386 | issues concerning completeness of the additional data within 10 |
5387 | days after the filing by the party proposing the alternate |
5388 | corridor. If the department, within 14 days after receiving the |
5389 | additional data, determines that the data remains incomplete, |
5390 | the incompleteness of the data is deemed a withdrawal of the |
5391 | proposed alternate corridor. The department may make its |
5392 | determination based on recommendations made by other affected |
5393 | agencies. |
5394 | Section 90. Subsection (3) of section 403.5272, Florida |
5395 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
5396 | 403.5272 Informational public meetings.-- |
5397 | (3) A local government or regional planning council that |
5398 | intends to conduct an informational public meeting must provide |
5399 | notice of the meeting, with notice sent to all parties listed in |
5400 | s. 403.527(2)(a), not less than 15 5 days before the meeting and |
5401 | to the general public in accordance with s. 403.5363(4). |
5402 | Section 91. Subsection (1) of section 403.5312, Florida |
5403 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
5404 | 403.5312 Filing of notice of certified corridor route.-- |
5405 | (1) Within 60 days after certification of a directly |
5406 | associated transmission line under ss. 403.501-403.518 or a |
5407 | transmission line corridor under ss. 403.52-403.5365, the |
5408 | applicant shall file with the department and, in accordance with |
5409 | s. 28.222, with the clerk of the circuit court for each county |
5410 | through which the corridor will pass, a notice of the certified |
5411 | route. |
5412 | Section 92. Section 403.5363, Florida Statutes, is amended |
5413 | to read: |
5414 | 403.5363 Public notices; requirements.-- |
5415 | (1)(a) The applicant shall arrange for the publication of |
5416 | the notices specified in paragraph (b). |
5417 | 1. The notices shall be published in newspapers of general |
5418 | circulation within counties crossed by the transmission line |
5419 | corridors proper for certification. The required newspaper |
5420 | notices for filing of an application and for the certification |
5421 | hearing shall be one-half page in size in a standard-size |
5422 | newspaper or a full page in a tabloid-size newspaper and |
5423 | published in a section of the newspaper other than the section |
5424 | for legal notices. These two notices must include a map |
5425 | generally depicting all transmission corridors proper for |
5426 | certification. A newspaper of general circulation shall be the |
5427 | newspaper within a county crossed by a transmission line |
5428 | corridor proper for certification which newspaper has the |
5429 | largest daily circulation in that county and has its principal |
5430 | office in that county. If the newspaper having the largest daily |
5431 | circulation has its principal office outside the county, the |
5432 | notices must appear in both the newspaper having the largest |
5433 | circulation in that county and in a newspaper authorized to |
5434 | publish legal notices in that county. |
5435 | 2. The department shall adopt rules specifying the content |
5436 | of the newspaper notices. |
5437 | 3. All notices published by the applicant shall be paid |
5438 | for by the applicant and shall be in addition to the application |
5439 | fee. |
5440 | (b) Public notices that must be published under this |
5441 | section include: |
5442 | 1. The notice of the filing of an application, which must |
5443 | include a description of the proceedings required by this act. |
5444 | The notice must describe the provisions of s. 403.531(1) and (2) |
5445 | and give the date by which notice of intent to be a party or a |
5446 | petition to intervene in accordance with s. 403.527(2) must be |
5447 | filed. This notice must be published no more than 21 days after |
5448 | the application is filed. The notice shall, at a minimum, be |
5449 | one-half page in size in a standard-size newspaper or a full |
5450 | page in a tabloid-size newspaper. The notice must include a map |
5451 | generally depicting all transmission corridors proper for |
5452 | certification. |
5453 | 2. The notice of the certification hearing and any other |
5454 | public hearing held permitted under s. 403.527(4). The notice |
5455 | must include the date by which a person wishing to appear as a |
5456 | party must file the notice to do so. The notice of the |
5457 | originally scheduled certification hearing must be published at |
5458 | least 65 days before the date set for the certification hearing. |
5459 | The notice shall meet the size and map requirements set forth in |
5460 | subparagraph 1. |
5461 | 3. The notice of the cancellation of the certification |
5462 | hearing under s. 403.527(6), if applicable. The notice must be |
5463 | published at least 3 days before the date of the originally |
5464 | scheduled certification hearing. The notice shall, at a minimum, |
5465 | be one-fourth page in size in a standard-size newspaper or one- |
5466 | half page in a tabloid-size newspaper. The notice shall not |
5467 | require a map to be included. |
5468 | 4. The notice of the deferment of the certification |
5469 | hearing due to the acceptance of an alternate corridor under s. |
5470 | 403.5272(1)(b)2. The notice must be published at least 7 days |
5471 | before the date of the originally scheduled certification |
5472 | hearing. The notice shall, at a minimum, be one-eighth page in |
5473 | size in a standard-size newspaper or one-fourth page in a |
5474 | tabloid-size newspaper. The notice shall not require a map to be |
5475 | included. |
5476 | 5. If the notice of the rescheduled certification hearing |
5477 | required of an alternate proponent under s. 403.5271(1)(c) is |
5478 | not timely published or does not meet the notice requirements |
5479 | such that an alternate corridor is withdrawn under the |
5480 | provisions of s. 403.5271(1)(c), the notice of the rescheduled |
5481 | hearing and any local hearings shall be provided by the |
5482 | applicant at least 30 days prior to the rescheduled |
5483 | certification hearing. |
5484 | 6.4. The notice of the filing of a proposal to modify the |
5485 | certification submitted under s. 403.5315, if the department |
5486 | determines that the modification would require relocation or |
5487 | expansion of the transmission line right-of-way or a certified |
5488 | substation. |
5489 | (2)(a) Each The proponent of an alternate corridor shall |
5490 | arrange for newspaper notice of the publication of the filing of |
5491 | the proposal for an alternate corridor. If there is more than |
5492 | one alternate proponent, the proponents may jointly publish |
5493 | notice, so long as the content requirements below are met and |
5494 | the maps are legible. |
5495 | (b) The notice shall specify, the revised time schedules, |
5496 | the date by which newly affected persons or agencies may file |
5497 | the notice of intent to become a party, and the date of the |
5498 | rescheduled hearing, and the date of any public hearing held |
5499 | under s. 403.5271(1)(b)1. |
5500 | (c) A notice listed in this subsection must be published |
5501 | in a newspaper of general circulation within the county or |
5502 | counties crossed by the proposed alternate corridor and comply |
5503 | with the content, size, and map requirements set forth in this |
5504 | section paragraph (1)(a). |
5505 | (d) The notice of the alternate corridor proposal must be |
5506 | published not less than 45 50 days before the rescheduled |
5507 | certification hearing. |
5508 | (3) The department shall arrange for the publication of |
5509 | the following notices in the manner specified by chapter 120: |
5510 | (a) The notice of the filing of an application and the |
5511 | date by which a person intending to become a party must file a |
5512 | petition to intervene or a notice of intent to be a party. The |
5513 | notice must be published no later than 21 days after the |
5514 | application has been filed. |
5515 | (b) The notice of any administrative hearing for |
5516 | certification, if applicable. The notice must be published not |
5517 | less than 65 days before the date set for a hearing, except that |
5518 | notice for a rescheduled certification hearing after acceptance |
5519 | of an alternative corridor must be published not less than 50 |
5520 | days before the date set for the hearing. |
5521 | (c) The notice of the cancellation of a certification |
5522 | hearing under s. 403.527(6), if applicable. The notice must be |
5523 | published not later than 7 days before the date of the |
5524 | originally scheduled certification hearing. |
5525 | (d) The notice of the deferment of the certification |
5526 | hearing due to the acceptance of an alternate corridor under s. |
5527 | 403.5271(1)(b)2. The notice must be published at least 7 days |
5528 | before the date of the originally scheduled certification |
5529 | hearing. |
5530 | (e)(d) The notice of the hearing before the siting board, |
5531 | if applicable. |
5532 | (f)(e) The notice of stipulations, proposed agency action, |
5533 | or a petition for modification. |
5534 | (4) A local government or regional planning council that |
5535 | proposes to conduct an informational public meeting pursuant to |
5536 | s. 403.5272 must publish notice of the meeting in a newspaper of |
5537 | general circulation within the county or counties in which the |
5538 | proposed electrical transmission line will be located no later |
5539 | than 7 days prior to the meeting. A newspaper of general |
5540 | circulation shall be the newspaper that has the largest daily |
5541 | circulation in that county and has its principal office in that |
5542 | county. If the newspaper with the largest daily circulation has |
5543 | its principal office outside the county, the notices shall |
5544 | appear in both the newspaper having the largest circulation in |
5545 | that county and in a newspaper authorized to publish legal |
5546 | notices in that county. |
5547 | (5)(a) A good faith effort shall be made by the applicant |
5548 | to provide direct notice of the filing of an application for |
5549 | certification by United States mail or hand delivery no later |
5550 | than 45 days after filing of the application to all local |
5551 | landowners whose property, as noted in the most recent local |
5552 | government tax records, and residences are located within one- |
5553 | quarter mile of the proposed boundaries of a transmission line |
5554 | corridor that only includes a transmission line as defined by s. |
5555 | 403.522(22). |
5556 | (b) No later than 60 days after the filing of an |
5557 | application for certification, the applicant shall file a list |
5558 | with the department's Siting Coordination Office of landowners |
5559 | and residences that were notified. |
5560 | (6)(a) A good faith effort shall be made by the proponent |
5561 | of an alternate corridor that includes a transmission line, as |
5562 | defined by s. 403.522(22), to provide direct notice of the |
5563 | filing of an alternate corridor for certification by United |
5564 | States mail or hand delivery of the filing no later than 30 days |
5565 | after filing of the alternate corridor to all local landowners |
5566 | whose property, as noted in the most recent local government tax |
5567 | records, and residences are located within one-quarter mile of |
5568 | the proposed boundaries of a transmission line corridor that |
5569 | includes a transmission line as defined by s. 403.522(22). |
5570 | (b) No later than 45 days after the filing of an alternate |
5571 | corridor for certification, the proponent of an alternate |
5572 | corridor shall file a list with the department's Siting |
5573 | Coordination Office of landowners and residences that were |
5574 | notified. |
5575 | Section 93. Paragraphs (d) and (e) of subsection (1) of |
5576 | section 403.5365, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
5577 | 403.5365 Fees; disposition.--The department shall charge |
5578 | the applicant the following fees, as appropriate, which, unless |
5579 | otherwise specified, shall be paid into the Florida Permit Fee |
5580 | Trust Fund: |
5581 | (1) An application fee. |
5582 | (d)1. Upon written request with proper itemized accounting |
5583 | within 90 days after final agency action by the siting board or |
5584 | the department or the written notification of the withdrawal of |
5585 | the application, the agencies that prepared reports under s. |
5586 | 403.526 or s. 403.5271 or participated in a hearing under s. |
5587 | 403.527 or s. 403.5271 may submit a written request to the |
5588 | department for reimbursement of expenses incurred during the |
5589 | certification proceedings. The request must contain an |
5590 | accounting of expenses incurred, which may include time spent |
5591 | reviewing the application, preparation of any studies required |
5592 | of the agencies by this act, agency travel and per diem to |
5593 | attend any hearing held under this act, and for the local |
5594 | government or regional planning council providing additional |
5595 | notice of the informational public meeting. The department shall |
5596 | review the request and verify whether a claimed expense is |
5597 | valid. Valid expenses shall be reimbursed; however, if the |
5598 | amount of funds available for reimbursement is insufficient to |
5599 | provide for full compensation to the agencies, reimbursement |
5600 | shall be on a prorated basis. |
5601 | 2. If the application review is held in abeyance for more |
5602 | than 1 year, the agencies may submit a request for reimbursement |
5603 | under subparagraph 1. This time period shall be measured from |
5604 | the date the applicant has provided written notification to the |
5605 | department that it desires to have the application review |
5606 | process placed on hold. The fee disbursement shall be processed |
5607 | in accordance with subparagraph 1. |
5608 | (e) If any sums are remaining, the department shall retain |
5609 | them for its use in the same manner as is otherwise authorized |
5610 | by this section; however, if the certification application is |
5611 | withdrawn, the remaining sums shall be refunded to the applicant |
5612 | within 90 days after submittal of the written notification of |
5613 | withdrawal. |
5614 | Section 94. Section 403.7055, Florida Statutes, is created |
5615 | to read: |
5616 | 403.7055 Methane capture.-- |
5617 | (1) Each county is encouraged to form multicounty regional |
5618 | solutions to the capture and reuse or sale of methane gas from |
5619 | landfills and wastewater treatment facilities. |
5620 | (2) The department shall provide planning guidelines and |
5621 | technical assistance to each county to develop and implement |
5622 | such multicounty efforts. |
5623 | Section 95. Section 403.7032, Florida Statutes, is created |
5624 | to read |
5625 | 403.7032 Recycling.-- |
5626 | (1) The Legislature finds that the failure or inability to |
5627 | economically recover material and energy resources from solid |
5628 | waste results in the unnecessary waste and depletion of our |
5629 | natural resources. As the state continues to grow, so will the |
5630 | potential amount of discarded material that must be treated and |
5631 | disposed of, necessitating the improvement of solid waste |
5632 | collection and disposal. Therefore, the maximum recycling and |
5633 | reuse of such resources are considered high-priority goals of |
5634 | the state. |
5635 | (2) By the year 2020, the long-term goal for the recycling |
5636 | efforts of state and local governmental entities, private |
5637 | companies and organizations, and the general public is to reduce |
5638 | the amount of recyclable solid waste disposed of in waste |
5639 | management facilities, landfills, or incineration facilities by |
5640 | a statewide average of at least 75 percent. However, any solid |
5641 | waste used for the production of renewable energy shall count |
5642 | toward the long term recycling goal as set forth in this |
5643 | section. |
5644 | (3) The Department of Environmental Protection shall |
5645 | develop a comprehensive recycling program that is designed to |
5646 | achieve the percentage under subsection (2) and submit the |
5647 | program to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the |
5648 | House of Representatives by January 1, 2010. The program may not |
5649 | be implemented until approved by the Legislature. The program |
5650 | must be developed in coordination with input from state and |
5651 | local entities, private businesses, and the public. Under the |
5652 | program, recyclable materials shall include, but are not limited |
5653 | to, metals, paper, glass, plastic, textile, rubber materials, |
5654 | and mulch. Components of the program shall include, but are not |
5655 | limited to: |
5656 | (a) Programs to identify environmentally preferable |
5657 | purchasing practices to encourage the purchase of recycled, |
5658 | durable, and less toxic goods. |
5659 | (b) Programs to educate students in grades K-12 in the |
5660 | benefits of, and proper techniques for, recycling. |
5661 | (c) Programs for statewide recognition of successful |
5662 | recycling efforts by schools, businesses, public groups, and |
5663 | private citizens. |
5664 | (d) Programs for municipalities and counties to develop |
5665 | and implement efficient recycling efforts to return valuable |
5666 | materials to productive use, conserve energy, and protect |
5667 | natural resources. |
5668 | (e) Programs by which the department can provide technical |
5669 | assistance to municipalities and counties in support of their |
5670 | recycling efforts. |
5671 | (f) Programs to educate and train the public in proper |
5672 | recycling efforts; |
5673 | (g) Evaluation of how financial assistance can best be |
5674 | provided to municipalities and counties in support of their |
5675 | recycling efforts. |
5676 | (h) Evaluation of why existing waste management and |
5677 | recycling programs in the state have not been better used. |
5678 | Section 96. Section 403.7033, Florida Statutes, is created |
5679 | to read: |
5680 | 403.7033 Departmental analysis of particular recyclable |
5681 | materials.--The Legislature finds that prudent regulation of |
5682 | recyclable materials is crucial to the ongoing welfare of |
5683 | Florida's ecology and economy. As such, the Department of |
5684 | Environmental Protection shall undertake an analysis of the need |
5685 | for new or different regulation of auxiliary containers, |
5686 | wrappings, or disposable plastic bags used by consumers to carry |
5687 | products from retail establishments. The analysis shall include |
5688 | input from state and local government agencies, stakeholders, |
5689 | private businesses, and citizens, and shall evaluate the |
5690 | efficacy and necessity of both statewide and local regulation of |
5691 | these materials. To ensure consistent and effective |
5692 | implementation, the department shall submit a report with |
5693 | conclusions and recommendations to the Legislature no later than |
5694 | February 1, 2010. Until such time that the Legislature adopts |
5695 | the recommendations of the department, no local government, |
5696 | local governmental agency, or state government agency may enact |
5697 | any rule, regulation, or ordinance regarding use, disposition, |
5698 | sale, prohibition, restriction, or tax of such auxiliary |
5699 | containers, wrappings, or disposable plastic bags. |
5700 | Section 97. 403.706 Local government solid waste |
5701 | responsibilities.-- |
5702 | (2)(a) Each county shall implement a recyclable materials |
5703 | recycling program. Counties and municipalities are encouraged to |
5704 | form cooperative arrangements for implementing recycling |
5705 | programs. |
5706 | (b) Such programs shall be designed to recover a |
5707 | significant portion of at least four of the following materials |
5708 | from the solid waste stream prior to final disposal at a solid |
5709 | waste disposal facility and to offer these materials for |
5710 | recycling: newspaper, aluminum cans, steel cans, glass, plastic |
5711 | bottles, cardboard, office paper, and yard trash. Local |
5712 | governments which operate permitted waste-to-energy facilities |
5713 | may retrieve ferrous and nonferrous metal as a byproduct of |
5714 | combustion. |
5715 | (c) Local governments are encouraged to separate all |
5716 | plastics, metal, and all grades of paper for recycling prior to |
5717 | final disposal and are further encouraged to recycle yard trash |
5718 | and other mechanically treated solid waste into compost |
5719 | available for agricultural and other acceptable uses. |
5720 | (d) By July 1, 2010, each county shall develop and |
5721 | implement a plan to achieve a goal to compost is encouraged to |
5722 | consider plans for composting or mulching of organic materials |
5723 | that would otherwise be disposed of in a landfill. The goal |
5724 | shall provide that up to 10 percent and no less than 5 percent |
5725 | of organic material would be composted within the county and the |
5726 | municipalities within its boundaries. The department may reduce |
5727 | or modify the compost goal if the county demonstrates to the |
5728 | department that achievement of the goal would be impractical |
5729 | given the county's unique demographic, urban density, or |
5730 | inability to separate normally compostable material from the |
5731 | solid waste stream. The composting plan is or mulching plans are |
5732 | encouraged to address partnership with the private sector. |
5733 | (e) Each county is encouraged to consider plans for |
5734 | mulching organic materials that would otherwise be disposed of |
5735 | in a landfill. The mulching plans are encouraged to address |
5736 | partnership with the private sector. |
5737 | Section 98. Subsection (6) of section 403.814, Florida |
5738 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
5739 | 403.814 General permits; delegation.-- |
5740 | (6) Construction and maintenance of electric transmission |
5741 | or distribution lines in wetlands by electric utilities, as |
5742 | defined in s. 366.02, shall be authorized by general permit |
5743 | provided the following provisions are implemented: |
5744 | (a) All permanent fill shall be at grade. Fill shall be |
5745 | limited to that necessary for the electrical support structures, |
5746 | towers, poles, guy wires, stabilizing backfill, and at-grade |
5747 | access roads limited to 20-foot widths; and |
5748 | (b) The permittee may utilize access and work areas |
5749 | limited to the following: a linear access area of up to 25 feet |
5750 | wide between electrical support structures, an access area of up |
5751 | to 25 feet wide to electrical support structures from the edge |
5752 | of the right-of-way, and a work area around the electrical |
5753 | support structures, towers, poles, and guy wires. These areas |
5754 | may be cleared to ground, including removal of stumps as |
5755 | necessary; and |
5756 | (c) Vegetation within wetlands may be cut or removed no |
5757 | lower than the soil surface under the conductor, and 20 feet to |
5758 | either side of the outermost conductor, while maintaining the |
5759 | remainder of the project right-of-way within the wetland by |
5760 | selectively clearing vegetation which has an expected mature |
5761 | height above 14 feet. Brazilian pepper, Australian pine, and |
5762 | melaleuca shall be eradicated throughout the wetland portion of |
5763 | the right-of-way; and |
5764 | (d) Erosion control methods shall be implemented as |
5765 | necessary to ensure that state water quality standards for |
5766 | turbidity are met. Diversion and impoundment of surface waters |
5767 | shall be minimized; and |
5768 | (e) The proposed construction and clearing shall not |
5769 | adversely affect threatened and endangered species; and |
5770 | (f) The proposed construction and clearing shall not |
5771 | result in a permanent change in existing ground surface |
5772 | elevation; and |
5773 | (g) Where fill is placed in wetlands, the clearing to |
5774 | ground of forested wetlands is restricted to 4.0 acres per 10- |
5775 | mile section of the project, with no more than one impact site |
5776 | exceeding 0.5 acres. The impact site which exceeds 0.5 acres |
5777 | shall not exceed 2.0 acres. The total forested wetland clearing |
5778 | to the ground per 10-mile section shall not exceed 15 acres. The |
5779 | 10-mile sections shall be measured from the beginning to the |
5780 | terminus, or vice versa, and the section shall not end in a |
5781 | wetland; and |
5782 | (h) The general permit authorized by this subsection shall |
5783 | not apply in forested wetlands located within 550 feet from the |
5784 | shoreline of a named water body designated as an Outstanding |
5785 | Florida Water; and |
5786 | (i) This subsection also applies to transmission lines and |
5787 | appurtenances certified under part II of this chapter. However, |
5788 | the criteria of the general permit shall not affect the |
5789 | authority of the siting board to condition certification of |
5790 | transmission lines as authorized under part II of this chapter. |
5791 |
|
5792 | Maintenance of existing electric lines and clearing of |
5793 | vegetation in wetlands conducted without the placement of |
5794 | structures in wetlands or other dredge and fill activities does |
5795 | not require an individual or general construction permit. For |
5796 | the purpose of this subsection, wetlands shall mean the landward |
5797 | extent of waters of the state regulated under s. 403.927 ss. |
5798 | 403.91-403.929 and isolated and nonisolated wetlands regulated |
5799 | under part IV of chapter 373. The provisions provided in this |
5800 | subsection apply to the permitting requirements of the |
5801 | department, any water management district, and any local |
5802 | government implementing part IV of chapter 373 or part VIII of |
5803 | this chapter. |
5804 | Section 99. Section 489.145, Florida Statutes, is amended |
5805 | to read: |
5806 | 489.145 Guaranteed energy, water, and wastewater |
5807 | performance savings contracting.-- |
5808 | (1) SHORT TITLE.--This section may be cited as the |
5809 | "Guaranteed Energy, Water, and Wastewater Performance Savings |
5810 | Contracting Act." |
5811 | (2) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.--The Legislature finds that |
5812 | investment in energy, water, and wastewater efficiency and |
5813 | conservation measures in agency facilities can reduce the amount |
5814 | of energy and water consumed and wastewater produced and produce |
5815 | immediate and long-term savings. It is the policy of this state |
5816 | to encourage each agency agencies to invest in energy, water, |
5817 | and wastewater efficiency and conservation measures that reduce |
5818 | energy consumption, produce a cost savings for the agency, and |
5819 | improve the quality of indoor air in public facilities and to |
5820 | operate, maintain, and, when economically feasible, build or |
5821 | renovate existing agency facilities in such a manner as to |
5822 | minimize energy and water consumption and wastewater production |
5823 | and maximize energy, water, and wastewater savings. It is |
5824 | further the policy of this state to encourage agencies to |
5825 | reinvest any energy savings resulting from energy, water, and |
5826 | wastewater efficiency and conservation measures in additional |
5827 | energy, water, and wastewater efficiency and conservation |
5828 | measures efforts. |
5829 | (3) DEFINITIONS.--As used in this section, the term: |
5830 | (a) "Agency" means the state, a municipality, or a |
5831 | political subdivision. |
5832 | (b) "Energy, water, and wastewater efficiency and |
5833 | conservation measure" means a training program incidental to the |
5834 | contract, facility alteration, or equipment purchase to be used |
5835 | in new construction, including an addition to an existing |
5836 | facilities or infrastructure facility, which reduces energy or |
5837 | water consumption, wastewater production, or energy-related |
5838 | operating costs and includes, but is not limited to: |
5839 | 1. Insulation of the facility structure and systems within |
5840 | the facility. |
5841 | 2. Storm windows and doors, caulking or weatherstripping, |
5842 | multiglazed windows and doors, heat-absorbing, or heat- |
5843 | reflective, glazed and coated window and door systems, |
5844 | additional glazing, reductions in glass area, and other window |
5845 | and door system modifications that reduce energy consumption. |
5846 | 3. Automatic energy control systems. |
5847 | 4. Heating, ventilating, or air-conditioning system |
5848 | modifications or replacements. |
5849 | 5. Replacement or modifications of lighting fixtures to |
5850 | increase the energy efficiency of the lighting system, which, at |
5851 | a minimum, must conform to the applicable state or local |
5852 | building code. |
5853 | 6. Energy recovery systems. |
5854 | 7. Cogeneration systems that produce steam or forms of |
5855 | energy such as heat, as well as electricity, for use primarily |
5856 | within a facility or complex of facilities. |
5857 | 8. Energy conservation measures that reduce British |
5858 | thermal units (Btu), kilowatts (kW), or kilowatt hours (kWh) |
5859 | consumed or provide long-term operating cost reductions or |
5860 | significantly reduce Btu consumed. |
5861 | 9. Renewable energy systems, such as solar, biomass, or |
5862 | wind systems. |
5863 | 10. Devices that reduce water consumption or sewer |
5864 | charges. |
5865 | 11. Energy storage systems, such as fuel cells and thermal |
5866 | storage. |
5867 | 12. Energy-generating generating technologies, such as |
5868 | microturbines. |
5869 | 13. Any other repair, replacement, or upgrade of existing |
5870 | equipment. |
5871 | (c) "Energy, water, or wastewater cost savings" means a |
5872 | measured reduction in the cost of fuel, energy or water |
5873 | consumption, wastewater production, and stipulated operation and |
5874 | maintenance created from the implementation of one or more |
5875 | energy, water, or wastewater efficiency or conservation measures |
5876 | when compared with an established baseline for the previous cost |
5877 | of fuel, energy or water consumption, wastewater production, and |
5878 | stipulated operation and maintenance. |
5879 | (d) "Guaranteed energy, water, and wastewater performance |
5880 | savings contract" means a contract for the evaluation, |
5881 | recommendation, and implementation of energy, water, or |
5882 | wastewater efficiency or conservation measures, which, at a |
5883 | minimum, shall include: |
5884 | 1. The design and installation of equipment to implement |
5885 | one or more of such measures and, if applicable, operation and |
5886 | maintenance of such measures. |
5887 | 2. The amount of any actual annual savings that meet or |
5888 | exceed total annual contract payments made by the agency for the |
5889 | contract and may include allowable cost avoidance if determined |
5890 | appropriate by the Chief Financial Officer. |
5891 | 3. The finance charges incurred by the agency over the |
5892 | life of the contract. |
5893 | (e) "Guaranteed energy, water, and wastewater performance |
5894 | savings contractor" means a person or business that is licensed |
5895 | under chapter 471, chapter 481, or this chapter, and is |
5896 | experienced in the analysis, design, implementation, or |
5897 | installation of energy, water, and wastewater efficiency and |
5898 | conservation measures through energy performance contracts. |
5899 | (f) "Investment grade energy audit" means a detailed |
5900 | energy, water, and wastewater audit, along with an accompanying |
5901 | analysis of proposed energy, water, and wastewater conservation |
5902 | measures, and their costs, savings, and benefits prior to entry |
5903 | into an energy savings contract. |
5904 | (4) PROCEDURES.-- |
5905 | (a) An agency may enter into a guaranteed energy, water, |
5906 | and wastewater performance savings contract with a guaranteed |
5907 | energy, water, and wastewater performance savings contractor to |
5908 | significantly reduce energy or water consumption, wastewater |
5909 | production, or energy-related operating costs of an agency |
5910 | facility through one or more energy, water, or wastewater |
5911 | efficiency or conservation measures. |
5912 | (b) Before design and installation of energy, water, or |
5913 | wastewater efficiency and conservation measures, the agency must |
5914 | obtain from a guaranteed energy, water, and wastewater |
5915 | performance savings contractor a report that summarizes the |
5916 | costs associated with the energy, water, or wastewater |
5917 | efficiency and conservation measures or energy-related |
5918 | operational cost saving measures and provides an estimate of the |
5919 | amount of the energy cost savings. The agency and the guaranteed |
5920 | energy, water, and wastewater performance savings contractor may |
5921 | enter into a separate agreement to pay for costs associated with |
5922 | the preparation and delivery of the report; however, payment to |
5923 | the contractor shall be contingent upon the report's projection |
5924 | of energy, water, and wastewater cost savings being equal to or |
5925 | greater than the total projected costs of the design and |
5926 | installation of the report's energy conservation measures. |
5927 | (c) The agency may enter into a guaranteed energy, water, |
5928 | and wastewater performance savings contract with a guaranteed |
5929 | energy, water, and wastewater performance savings contractor if |
5930 | the agency finds that the amount the agency would spend on the |
5931 | energy, water, and wastewater efficiency and conservation |
5932 | measures will not likely exceed the amount of the energy cost |
5933 | savings for up to 20 years from the date of installation, based |
5934 | on the life cycle cost calculations provided in s. 255.255, if |
5935 | the recommendations in the report were followed and if the |
5936 | qualified provider or providers give a written guarantee that |
5937 | the energy cost savings will meet or exceed the costs of the |
5938 | system. However, actual computed cost savings must meet or |
5939 | exceed the estimated cost savings provided in each agency's |
5940 | program approval. Baseline adjustments used in calculations must |
5941 | be specified in the contract. The contract may provide for |
5942 | installment payments for a period not to exceed 20 years. |
5943 | (d) A guaranteed energy, water, and wastewater performance |
5944 | savings contractor must be selected in compliance with s. |
5945 | 287.055; except that if fewer than three firms are qualified to |
5946 | perform the required services, the requirement for agency |
5947 | selection of three firms, as provided in s. 287.055(4)(b), and |
5948 | the bid requirements of s. 287.057 do not apply. |
5949 | (e) Before entering into a guaranteed energy, water, and |
5950 | wastewater performance savings contract, an agency must provide |
5951 | published notice of the meeting in which it proposes to award |
5952 | the contract, the names of the parties to the proposed contract, |
5953 | and the contract's purpose. |
5954 | (f) A guaranteed energy, water, and wastewater performance |
5955 | savings contract may provide for financing, including tax-exempt |
5956 | financing, by a third party. The contract for third-party third |
5957 | party financing may be separate from the energy, water, and |
5958 | wastewater performance contract. A separate contract for third- |
5959 | party third party financing under this paragraph must include a |
5960 | provision that the third-party third party financier must not be |
5961 | granted rights or privileges that exceed the rights and |
5962 | privileges available to the guaranteed energy, water, and |
5963 | wastewater performance savings contractor. |
5964 | (g) Financing for guaranteed energy, water, and wastewater |
5965 | performance savings contracts may be provided under the |
5966 | authority of s. 287.064. |
5967 | (h) The Office of the Chief Financial Officer shall review |
5968 | proposals from state agencies to ensure that the most effective |
5969 | financing is being used. |
5970 | (i) Annually, the agency that has entered into the |
5971 | contract shall provide the Department of Management Services and |
5972 | the Chief Financial Officer the measurement and verification |
5973 | report required by the contract to validate that savings have |
5974 | occurred. |
5975 | (j)(g) In determining the amount the agency will finance |
5976 | to acquire the energy, water, and wastewater efficiency and |
5977 | conservation measures, the agency may reduce such amount by the |
5978 | application of any grant moneys, rebates, or capital funding |
5979 | available to the agency for the purpose of buying down the cost |
5980 | of the guaranteed energy, water, and wastewater performance |
5981 | savings contract. However, in calculating the life cycle cost as |
5982 | required in paragraph (c), the agency shall not apply any |
5983 | grants, rebates, or capital funding. |
5984 | (5) CONTRACT PROVISIONS.-- |
5985 | (a) A guaranteed energy, water, and wastewater performance |
5986 | savings contract must include a written guarantee that may |
5987 | include, but is not limited to the form of, a letter of credit, |
5988 | insurance policy, or corporate guarantee by the guaranteed |
5989 | energy, water, and wastewater performance savings contractor |
5990 | that annual energy cost savings will meet or exceed the |
5991 | amortized cost of energy, water, and wastewater efficiency and |
5992 | conservation measures. |
5993 | (b) The guaranteed energy, water, and wastewater |
5994 | performance savings contract must provide that all payments, |
5995 | except obligations on termination of the contract before its |
5996 | expiration, may be made over time, but not to exceed 20 years |
5997 | from the date of complete installation and acceptance by the |
5998 | agency, and that the annual savings are guaranteed to the extent |
5999 | necessary to make annual payments to satisfy the guaranteed |
6000 | energy, water, and wastewater performance savings contract. |
6001 | (c) The guaranteed energy, water, and wastewater |
6002 | performance savings contract must require that the guaranteed |
6003 | energy, water, and wastewater performance savings contractor to |
6004 | whom the contract is awarded provide a 100-percent public |
6005 | construction bond to the agency for its faithful performance, as |
6006 | required by s. 255.05. |
6007 | (d) The guaranteed energy, water, and wastewater |
6008 | performance savings contract may contain a provision allocating |
6009 | to the parties to the contract any annual energy cost savings |
6010 | that exceed the amount of the energy cost savings guaranteed in |
6011 | the contract. |
6012 | (e) The guaranteed energy, water, and wastewater |
6013 | performance savings contract shall require the guaranteed |
6014 | energy, water, and wastewater performance savings contractor to |
6015 | provide to the agency an annual reconciliation of the guaranteed |
6016 | energy or associated cost savings. If the reconciliation reveals |
6017 | a shortfall in annual energy or associated cost savings, the |
6018 | guaranteed energy, water, and wastewater performance savings |
6019 | contractor is liable for such shortfall. If the reconciliation |
6020 | reveals an excess in annual energy cost savings, the excess |
6021 | savings may be allocated under paragraph (d) but may not be used |
6022 | to cover potential energy or associated cost savings shortages |
6023 | in subsequent contract years. |
6024 | (f) The guaranteed energy, water, and wastewater |
6025 | performance savings contract must provide for payments of not |
6026 | less than one-twentieth of the price to be paid within 2 years |
6027 | from the date of the complete installation and acceptance by the |
6028 | agency using straight-line amortization for the term of the |
6029 | loan, and the remaining costs to be paid at least quarterly, not |
6030 | to exceed a 20-year term, based on life cycle cost calculations. |
6031 | (g) The guaranteed energy, water, and wastewater |
6032 | performance savings contract may extend beyond the fiscal year |
6033 | in which it becomes effective; however, the term of any contract |
6034 | expires at the end of each fiscal year and may be automatically |
6035 | renewed annually for up to 20 years, subject to the agency |
6036 | making sufficient annual appropriations based upon continued |
6037 | realized energy, water, and wastewater savings. |
6038 | (h) The guaranteed energy, water, and wastewater |
6039 | performance savings contract must stipulate that it does not |
6040 | constitute a debt, liability, or obligation of the state. |
6041 | (6) PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION AND CONTRACT REVIEW.--The |
6042 | Department of Management Services, with the assistance of the |
6043 | Office of the Chief Financial Officer, shall may, within |
6044 | available resources, provide technical content assistance to |
6045 | state agencies contracting for energy, water, and wastewater |
6046 | efficiency and conservation measures and engage in other |
6047 | activities considered appropriate by the department for |
6048 | promoting and facilitating guaranteed energy, water, and |
6049 | wastewater performance contracting by state agencies. The |
6050 | Department of Management Services shall review the investment- |
6051 | grade audit for each proposed project and certify that the cost |
6052 | savings are appropriate and sufficient for the term of the |
6053 | contract. The Office of the Chief Financial Officer, with the |
6054 | assistance of the Department of Management Services, shall may, |
6055 | within available resources, develop model contractual and |
6056 | related documents for use by state agencies. Prior to entering |
6057 | into a guaranteed energy, water, and wastewater performance |
6058 | savings contract, any contract or lease for third-party |
6059 | financing, or any combination of such contracts, a state agency |
6060 | shall submit such proposed contract or lease to the Office of |
6061 | the Chief Financial Officer for review and approval. A proposed |
6062 | contract or lease shall include: |
6063 | (a) Supporting information required by s. 216.023(4)(a)9. |
6064 | in ss. 287.063(5) and 287.064(11). For contracts approved under |
6065 | this section, the criteria may, add a minimum, include the |
6066 | specification of a benchmark cost of capital and minimum real |
6067 | rate of return on energy, water, or wastewater savings against |
6068 | which proposals shall be evaluated. |
6069 | (b) Documentation supporting recurring funds requirements |
6070 | in ss. 287.063(5) and 287.064(11). |
6071 | (c) Approval by the head of the agency or his or her |
6072 | designee. |
6073 | (d) An agency measurement and verification plan to monitor |
6074 | cost savings. |
6075 | (7) FUNDING SUPPORT.--For purposes of consolidated |
6076 | financing of deferred payment commodity contracts under this |
6077 | section by an agency, any such contract must be supported from |
6078 | available funds appropriated to the agency in an appropriation |
6079 | category, as defined in chapter 216, that the Chief Financial |
6080 | Officer has determined is appropriate or that the Legislature |
6081 | has designated for payment of the obligation incurred under this |
6082 | section. |
6083 | |
6084 | The Office of the Chief Financial Officer shall not approve any |
6085 | contract submitted under this section from a state agency that |
6086 | does not meet the requirements of this section. |
6087 | Section 100. Section 526.06, Florida Statutes, is amended |
6088 | to read: |
6089 | 526.06 Mixing, blending, compounding, or adulteration of |
6090 | liquid fuels of same manufacturer prohibited; sale of gasoline |
6091 | blended with ethanol gasohol.--It is unlawful for any person to |
6092 | mix, blend, compound, or adulterate the liquid fuel, lubricating |
6093 | oil, grease, or similar product of a manufacturer or distributor |
6094 | with a liquid fuel, lubricating oil, grease, or similar product |
6095 | of the same manufacturer or distributor of a character or nature |
6096 | different from the character or nature of the liquid fuel, |
6097 | lubricating oil, grease, or similar product so mixed, blended, |
6098 | compounded, or adulterated, and expose for sale, offer for sale, |
6099 | or sell the same as the unadulterated product of such |
6100 | manufacturer or distributor or as the unadulterated product of |
6101 | any other manufacturer or distributor. However, nothing in this |
6102 | chapter shall be construed to prevent the lawful owner of such |
6103 | products from applying his, her, or its own trademark, trade |
6104 | name, or symbol to any product or material. Ethanol-blended |
6105 | Alcohol-blended fuels which contain 90 percent unleaded gasoline |
6106 | and up to 10 percent denatured ethanol by volume ethyl alcohol |
6107 | of a minimum of 198 proof and a maximum 50 parts per million of |
6108 | acetic acid, commonly known as "gasohol," may be sold at retail |
6109 | service stations for use in motor vehicles, as long as the |
6110 | gasoline component complies with current state specifications, |
6111 | until the American Society for Testing and Materials approves |
6112 | specifications for gasohol. To provide retail service stations |
6113 | flexibility during the transition period to ethanol-blended |
6114 | fuels, the T50 and TV/L specifications for gasoline containing |
6115 | between 9 and 10 percent ethanol shall be applied to all |
6116 | gasoline containing between 1 and 10 percent ethanol by volume |
6117 | provided the last three or fewer deliveries contained between 9 |
6118 | and 10 percent ethanol by volume. If there is no reasonable |
6119 | availability of ethanol or the price of ethanol exceeds the |
6120 | price of gasoline, the T50 and TV/L specifications for gasoline |
6121 | containing between 9 and 10 percent ethanol shall be applicable |
6122 | for gasoline containing between 1 and 10 percent ethanol for up |
6123 | to three deliveries of fuel. |
6124 | Section 101. Section 526.201, Florida Statutes, is created |
6125 | to read: |
6126 | 526.201 Short title.--Sections 526.201-526.207 may be |
6127 | cited as the "Florida Renewable Fuel Standard Act." |
6128 | Section 102. Section 526.202, Florida Statutes, is created |
6129 | to read: |
6130 | 526.202 Legislative findings.--The Legislature finds it is |
6131 | vital to the public interest and to the state's economy to |
6132 | establish a market and the necessary infrastructure for |
6133 | renewable fuels in this state by requiring that all gasoline |
6134 | offered for sale in this state include a percentage of |
6135 | agriculturally derived, denatured ethanol. The Legislature |
6136 | further finds that the use of renewable fuel reduces greenhouse |
6137 | gas emissions and dependence on imports of foreign oil, improves |
6138 | the health and quality of life for Floridians, and stimulates |
6139 | economic development and the creation of a sustainable industry |
6140 | that combines agricultural production with state-of-the-art |
6141 | technology. |
6142 | Section 103. Section 526.203, Florida Statutes, is created |
6143 | to read: |
6144 | 526.203 Renewable fuel standard.-- |
6145 | (1) DEFINITIONS.--As used in this act: |
6146 | (a) "Blender," "importer," "terminal supplier," and |
6147 | "wholesaler" are defined as provided in s. 206.01. |
6148 | (b) "Blended gasoline" means a mixture of 90 to 91 percent |
6149 | gasoline and 9 to 10 percent fuel ethanol, by volume, that meets |
6150 | the specifications as adopted by the department. The fuel |
6151 | ethanol portion may be derived from any agricultural source. |
6152 | (c) "Fuel ethanol" means an anhydrous denatured alcohol |
6153 | produced by the conversion of carbohydrates that meets the |
6154 | specifications as adopted by the department. |
6155 | (d) "Unblended gasoline" means gasoline that has not been |
6156 | blended with fuel ethanol and that meets the specifications as |
6157 | adopted by the department. |
6158 | (2) FUEL STANDARD.--Beginning December 31, 2010, all |
6159 | gasoline sold or offered for sale in Florida by a terminal |
6160 | supplier, importer, blender, or wholesaler shall be blended |
6161 | gasoline. |
6162 | (3) EXEMPTIONS.--The requirements of this act do not apply |
6163 | to the following: |
6164 | (a) Fuel used in aircraft. |
6165 | (b) Fuel sold for use in boats and similar watercraft. |
6166 | (c) Fuel sold to a blender. |
6167 | (d) Fuel sold for use in collector vehicles or vehicles |
6168 | eligible to be licensed as collector vehicles, off-road |
6169 | vehicles, motorcycles, or small engines. |
6170 | (e) Fuel unable to comply due to requirements of the |
6171 | United States Environmental Protection Agency. |
6172 | (f) Fuel transferred between terminals. |
6173 | (g) Fuel exported from the state in accordance with s. |
6174 | 206.052. |
6175 | (h) Fuel qualifying for any exemption in accordance with |
6176 | chapter 206. |
6177 | (i) Fuel for a railroad locomotive. |
6178 | (j) Fuel for equipment, including vehicle or vessel, |
6179 | covered by a warranty that would be voided, if explicitly stated |
6180 | in writing by the vehicle or vessel manufacturer, if the |
6181 | equipment were to be operated using fuel meeting the |
6182 | requirements of subsection (2). |
6183 |
|
6184 | All records of sale of unblended gasoline shall include the |
6185 | following statement: "Unblended gasoline may be sold only for |
6186 | the purposes authorized under s. 526.203(3), F.S." |
6187 | (4) REPORT.--Pursuant to s. 206.43, each terminal |
6188 | supplier, importer, blender, and wholesaler shall include in its |
6189 | report to the Department of Revenue the number of gallons of |
6190 | blended and unblended gasoline sold. The Department of Revenue |
6191 | shall provide a monthly summary report to the department. |
6192 | Section 104. Section 526.204, Florida Statutes, is created |
6193 | to read: |
6194 | 526.204 Waivers and suspensions.-- |
6195 | (1) If a terminal supplier, importer, blender, or |
6196 | wholesaler is unable to obtain fuel ethanol or blended gasoline |
6197 | at the same or lower price as unblended gasoline, then the sale |
6198 | or delivery of unblended gasoline by the terminal supplier, |
6199 | importer, blender, or wholesaler shall not be deemed a violation |
6200 | of this act. The terminal supplier, importer, blender, or |
6201 | wholesaler shall, upon request of the department, provide the |
6202 | required documentation regarding the sales transaction and price |
6203 | of fuel ethanol, blended gasoline, and unblended gasoline to the |
6204 | department. |
6205 | (2) To account for supply disruptions and ensure reliable |
6206 | supplies of motor fuels in the state, the requirements of this |
6207 | act shall be suspended when the provisions of s. 252.36(2) in |
6208 | any area of the state are in effect plus an additional 30 days. |
6209 | Section 105. Section 526.205, Florida Statutes, is created |
6210 | to read: |
6211 | 526.205 Enforcement; extensions.-- |
6212 | (1) Unless a waiver or suspension pursuant to s. 526.204 |
6213 | applies, or an extension has been granted pursuant to subsection |
6214 | (3), it shall be unlawful for a terminal supplier, importer, |
6215 | blender, or wholesaler to sell or distribute, or offer for sale |
6216 | or distribution, any gasoline which fails to meet the |
6217 | requirements of this act. |
6218 | (2) Upon a determination by the department of a violation |
6219 | of this act, the department shall enter an order imposing one or |
6220 | more of the following penalties: |
6221 | (a) Issuance of a warning letter. |
6222 | (b) Imposition of an administrative fine of not more than |
6223 | $1,000 per violation for a first-time offender. For a second- |
6224 | time or repeat offender, or any person who is shown to have |
6225 | willfully and intentionally violated any provision of this act, |
6226 | the administrative fine shall not exceed $5,000 per violation. |
6227 | When imposing any fine under this section, the department shall |
6228 | consider the monetary benefit to the violator as a result of |
6229 | noncompliance, whether the violation was committed willfully, |
6230 | and the compliance record of the violator. All funds recovered |
6231 | by the department shall be deposited into the General Inspection |
6232 | Trust Fund. |
6233 | (3) Any terminal supplier, importer, blender, or |
6234 | wholesaler may apply to the department by September 30, 2010, |
6235 | for an extension of time to comply with the requirements of this |
6236 | act. The application for an extension must demonstrate that the |
6237 | applicant has made a good faith effort to comply with the |
6238 | requirements but has been unable to do so for reasons beyond the |
6239 | applicant's control, such as delays in receiving governmental |
6240 | permits. The department shall review each application and make a |
6241 | determination as to whether the failure to comply was beyond the |
6242 | control of the applicant. If the department determines that the |
6243 | applicant made a good faith effort to comply, but was unable to |
6244 | do so for reasons beyond the applicant's control, the department |
6245 | shall grant an extension of time determined necessary for the |
6246 | applicant to comply. |
6247 | Section 106. Section 526.206, Florida Statutes, is created |
6248 | to read: |
6249 | 526.206 Rules.--The Department of Revenue and the |
6250 | Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services are authorized |
6251 | to adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to |
6252 | implement the provisions of this act. |
6253 | Section 107. Section 526.207, Florida Statutes, is created |
6254 | to read: |
6255 | 526.207 Studies and reports.-- |
6256 | (1) The Florida Energy and Climate Commission shall |
6257 | conduct a study to evaluate and recommend the life-cycle |
6258 | greenhouse gas emissions associated with all renewable fuels, |
6259 | including, but not limited to, biodiesel, renewable diesel, |
6260 | biobutanol, and ethanol derived from any source. In addition, |
6261 | the commission shall evaluate and recommend a requirement that |
6262 | all renewable fuels introduced into commerce in the state, as a |
6263 | result of the renewable fuel standard, shall reduce the life- |
6264 | cycle greenhouse gas emissions by an average percentage. The |
6265 | commission may also evaluate and recommend any benefits |
6266 | associated with the creation, banking, transfer, and sale of |
6267 | credits among fuel refiners, blenders, and importers. |
6268 | (2) The Florida Energy and Climate Commission shall submit |
6269 | a report containing specific recommendations to the President of |
6270 | the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives no |
6271 | later than December 31, 2010. |
6272 | Section 108. Paragraph (a) of subsection (6) of section |
6273 | 553.73, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
6274 | 553.73 Florida Building Code.-- |
6275 | (6)(a) The commission, by rule adopted pursuant to ss. |
6276 | 120.536(1) and 120.54, shall update the Florida Building Code |
6277 | every 3 years. When updating the Florida Building Code, the |
6278 | commission shall select the most current version of the |
6279 | International Building Code, the International Fuel Gas Code, |
6280 | the International Mechanical Code, the International Plumbing |
6281 | Code, and the International Residential Code, all of which are |
6282 | adopted by the International Code Council, and the National |
6283 | Electrical Code, which is adopted by the National Fire |
6284 | Protection Association, to form the foundation codes of the |
6285 | updated Florida Building Code, if the version has been adopted |
6286 | by the applicable model code entity and made available to the |
6287 | public at least 6 months prior to its selection by the |
6288 | commission. The commission shall select the most current version |
6289 | of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) as a |
6290 | foundation code; however, the IECC shall be modified by the |
6291 | commission to maintain the efficiencies of the Florida Energy |
6292 | Efficiency Code for Building Construction adopted and amended |
6293 | pursuant to s. 553.901. |
6294 | Section 109. Section 553.9061, Florida Statutes, is |
6295 | created to read: |
6296 | 553.9061 Scheduled increases in thermal efficiency |
6297 | standards.-- |
6298 | (1) The purpose of this section is to establish a schedule |
6299 | of increases in the energy performance of buildings subject to |
6300 | the Florida Energy Efficiency Code for Building Construction. |
6301 | The Florida Building Commission shall: |
6302 | (a) Include the necessary provisions by the 2010 edition |
6303 | of the Florida Energy Efficiency Code for Building Construction |
6304 | to increase the energy performance of new buildings by at least |
6305 | 20 percent as compared to the energy efficiency provisions of |
6306 | the 2007 Florida Building Code adopted October 31, 2007. |
6307 | (b) Increase energy efficiency requirements by the 2013 |
6308 | edition of the Florida Energy Efficiency Code for Building |
6309 | Construction by at least 30 percent as compared to the energy |
6310 | efficiency provisions of the 2007 Florida Building Code adopted |
6311 | October 31, 2007. |
6312 | (c) Increase energy efficiency requirements by the 2016 |
6313 | edition of the Florida Energy Efficiency Code for Building |
6314 | Construction by at least 40 percent as compared to the energy |
6315 | efficiency provisions of the 2007 Florida Building Code adopted |
6316 | October 31, 2007. |
6317 | (d) Increase energy efficiency requirements by the 2019 |
6318 | edition of the Florida Energy Efficiency Code for Building |
6319 | Construction by at least 50 percent as compared to the energy |
6320 | efficiency provisions of the 2007 Florida Building Code adopted |
6321 | October 31, 2007. |
6322 | (2) The Florida Building Commission shall identify within |
6323 | code support and compliance documentation the specific building |
6324 | options and elements available to meet the energy performance |
6325 | goals established in subsection (1). Energy-efficiency |
6326 | performance options and elements include, but are not limited |
6327 | to: |
6328 | (a) Solar water heating. |
6329 | (b) Energy-efficient appliances. |
6330 | (c) Energy-efficient windows, doors, and skylights. |
6331 | (d) Low solar-absorption roofs, also known as "cool |
6332 | roofs." |
6333 | (e) Enhanced ceiling and wall insulation. |
6334 | (f) Reduced-leak duct systems. |
6335 | (g) Programmable thermostats. |
6336 | (h) Energy-efficient lighting systems. |
6337 | (3) The Florida Building Commission shall, prior to |
6338 | implementing the goals established in subsection (1), adopt by |
6339 | rule and implement a cost-effectiveness test for proposed |
6340 | increases in energy efficiency. The cost-effectiveness test |
6341 | shall measure cost-effectiveness and shall ensure that energy |
6342 | efficiency increases result in a positive net financial impact. |
6343 | Section 110. Subsection (1) of section 553.909, Florida |
6344 | Statutes, is amended, subsections (3) and (4) are renumbered as |
6345 | subsections (6) and (7), respectively, and new subsections (3), |
6346 | (4), and (5) are added to that section, to read: |
6347 | 553.909 Setting requirements for appliances; exceptions.-- |
6348 | (1) The Florida Energy Efficiency Code for Building |
6349 | Construction shall set the minimum requirements for commercial |
6350 | or residential swimming pool pumps, swimming pool water heaters, |
6351 | and heat traps and thermostat settings for water heaters used to |
6352 | heat potable water sold for residential use. The code shall |
6353 | further establish the minimum acceptable standby loss for |
6354 | electric water heaters and the minimum recovery efficiency and |
6355 | standby loss for water heaters fueled by natural gas or |
6356 | liquefied petroleum gas. |
6357 | (3) Commercial or residential swimming pool pumps or water |
6358 | heaters sold after July 1, 2011, shall comply with the |
6359 | requirements of this subsection. Natural gas pool heaters shall |
6360 | not be equipped with constantly burning pilots. Heat pump pool |
6361 | heaters shall have a coefficient of performance at low |
6362 | temperature of not less than 4.0. The thermal efficiency of gas- |
6363 | fired pool heaters and oil-fired pool heaters shall not be less |
6364 | than 78 percent. All pool heaters shall have a readily |
6365 | accessible on-off switch that is mounted outside the heater and |
6366 | that allows shutting off the heater without adjusting the |
6367 | thermostat setting. |
6368 | (4) Pool pump motors shall not be split-phase, shaded- |
6369 | pole, or capacitor start-induction run types. Residential pool |
6370 | pumps and pool pumps motors with a total horsepower of 1 HP or |
6371 | more shall have the capability of operating at two or more |
6372 | speeds with a low speed having a rotation rate that is no more |
6373 | than one-half of the motor's maximum rotation rate. Residential |
6374 | pool pump motor controls shall have the capability of operating |
6375 | the pool pump at a minimum of two speeds. The default |
6376 | circulation speed shall be the residential filtration speed, |
6377 | with a higher speed override capability being for a temporary |
6378 | period not to exceed one normal cycle or 120 minutes, whichever |
6379 | is less. Except that circulation speed for solar pool heating |
6380 | systems shall be permitted to run at higher speeds during |
6381 | periods of usable solar heat gain. |
6382 | (5) Portable electric spas standby power shall not be |
6383 | greater than 5(V2/3) watts where V = the total volume, in |
6384 | gallons, when spas are measured in accordance with the spa |
6385 | industry test protocol. |
6386 | (6)(3) The Florida Energy Efficiency Code for Building |
6387 | Construction may include standards for other appliances and |
6388 | energy-using systems if they are determined by the department to |
6389 | have a significant impact on the energy use of the building and |
6390 | if they are cost-effective to the consumer. |
6391 | (7)(4) If the provisions of this section are preempted in |
6392 | part by federal standards, those provisions not preempted shall |
6393 | apply. |
6394 | Section 111. (1) By July 1, 2009, the Agency for |
6395 | Enterprise Information Technology shall define objective |
6396 | standards for: |
6397 | (a) Measuring data center energy consumption and |
6398 | efficiency, including, but not limited to, airflow and cooling, |
6399 | power consumption and distribution, and environmental control |
6400 | systems in a data center facility. |
6401 | (b) Calculating total cost of ownership of energy- |
6402 | efficient information technology products, including initial |
6403 | purchase, installation, ongoing operation and maintenance, and |
6404 | disposal costs over the life cycle of the product. |
6405 | (2) State shared resource data centers and other data |
6406 | centers that the Agency for Enterprise Information Technology |
6407 | has determined will be recipients for consolidating data |
6408 | centers, which are designated by the Agency for Enterprise |
6409 | Information Technology, shall evaluate their data center |
6410 | facilities for energy efficiency using the standards established |
6411 | in this section. |
6412 | (a) Results of these evaluations shall be reported to the |
6413 | Agency for Enterprise Information Technology, the President of |
6414 | the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. |
6415 | Reports shall enable the tracking of energy performance over |
6416 | time and comparisons between facilities. |
6417 | (b) By December 31, 2010, and bi-annually thereafter, the |
6418 | Agency for Enterprise Information Technology shall submit to the |
6419 | Legislature recommendations for reducing energy consumption and |
6420 | improving the energy efficiency of state data centers. |
6421 | (3) The primary means of achieving maximum energy savings |
6422 | across all state data centers and computing facilities shall be |
6423 | the consolidation of data centers and computing facilities as |
6424 | determined by the Agency for Enterprise Information Technology. |
6425 | State data centers and computing facilities in the state data |
6426 | center system shall be established as an enterprise information |
6427 | technology service as defined in s. 282.0041. The Agency for |
6428 | Enterprise Information Technology shall make recommendations on |
6429 | consolidating state data centers and computing facilities, |
6430 | pursuant to s. 282.0056, by December 31, 2009. |
6431 | (4) When the total cost of ownership of an energy- |
6432 | efficient product is less than or equal to the cost of the |
6433 | existing data center facility or infrastructure, technical |
6434 | specifications for energy-efficient products should be |
6435 | incorporated in the plans and processes for replacing, |
6436 | upgrading, or expanding data center facilities or |
6437 | infrastructure, including, but not limited to, network, storage, |
6438 | or computer equipment and software. |
6439 | Section 112. Section 1004.648, Florida Statutes, is |
6440 | created to read: |
6441 | 1004.648 Florida Energy Systems Consortium.-- |
6442 | (1) There is created the Florida Energy Systems Consortium |
6443 | to promote collaboration among experts in the State University |
6444 | System for the purposes of sharing energy-related expertise and |
6445 | assisting in the development and implementation of a |
6446 | comprehensive, long-term, environmentally compatible, |
6447 | sustainable, and efficient energy strategic plan for the state. |
6448 | (2) The consortium shall focus on the research and |
6449 | development of innovative energy systems that will lead to |
6450 | alternative energy strategies, improved energy efficiencies, and |
6451 | expanded economic development for the state. |
6452 | (3) The consortium shall consist of the state universities |
6453 | as identified under s. 1000.21(6). |
6454 | (4) The consortium shall be administered at the University |
6455 | of Florida by a director who shall be appointed by the President |
6456 | of the University of Florida. |
6457 | (5) The director, whose office shall be located at the |
6458 | University of Florida, shall report to the Florida Energy and |
6459 | Climate Commission created pursuant to s. 377.6015. |
6460 | (6) The oversight board shall consist of the Vice |
6461 | President for Research or other appropriate representative |
6462 | appointed by the university president of each member of the |
6463 | consortium. |
6464 | (7) The oversight board shall be responsible for the |
6465 | technical performance and financial management of the |
6466 | consortium. |
6467 | (8) In performing its responsibilities, the consortium |
6468 | shall collaborate with the oversight board and may also |
6469 | collaborate with industry and other affected parties. |
6470 | (9) Through collaborative research and development across |
6471 | the State University System and the industry, the goal of the |
6472 | consortium is to become a world leader in energy research, |
6473 | education, technology, and energy systems analysis. In so doing, |
6474 | the consortium shall: |
6475 | (a) Coordinate and initiate increased collaborative |
6476 | interdisciplinary energy research among the universities and the |
6477 | energy industry. |
6478 | (b) Assist in the creation and development of a Florida- |
6479 | based energy technology industry through efforts that would |
6480 | expedite commercialization of innovative energy technologies by |
6481 | taking advantage of the energy expertise within the State |
6482 | University System, high-technology incubators, industrial parks, |
6483 | and industry-driven research centers. |
6484 | (c) Provide a state resource for objective energy systems |
6485 | analysis. |
6486 | (d) Develop education and outreach programs to prepare a |
6487 | qualified energy workforce and informed public. Specifically, |
6488 | the faculty associated with the consortium shall coordinate a |
6489 | statewide workforce development initiative focusing on college- |
6490 | level degrees, technician training, and public and commercial |
6491 | sectors awareness. The consortium shall develop specific |
6492 | programs targeted at preparing graduates who have a background |
6493 | in energy, continuing education courses for technical and |
6494 | nontechnical professionals, and modules, laboratories, and |
6495 | courses to be shared among the universities. Additionally, the |
6496 | consortium shall work with the Florida Community College System |
6497 | using the Florida Advanced Technological Education Center for |
6498 | the coordination and design of industry-specific training |
6499 | programs for technicians. |
6500 | (10) The consortium shall solicit and leverage state, |
6501 | federal, and private funds for the purpose of conducting |
6502 | education, research, and development in the area of sustainable |
6503 | energy. |
6504 | (11) The oversight board, in consultation with the Florida |
6505 | Energy and Climate Commission, shall ensure that the consortium: |
6506 | (a) Maintains accurate records of any funds received by |
6507 | the consortium. |
6508 | (b) Meets financial and technical performance |
6509 | expectations, which may include external technical reviews as |
6510 | required. |
6511 | (12) The steering committee shall consist of the |
6512 | university representatives included in the Centers of Excellence |
6513 | proposals for the Florida Energy Systems Consortium and the |
6514 | Center of Excellence in Ocean Energy Technology-Phase II which |
6515 | were reviewed during the 2007-2008 fiscal year by the Florida |
6516 | Technology, Research, and Scholarship Board created in s. |
6517 | 1004.226(4); a university representative appointed by the |
6518 | President of Florida International University; and the Florida |
6519 | Energy and Climate Commission. The steering committee shall be |
6520 | responsible for establishing and ensuring the success of the |
6521 | consortium's mission under subsection (9). |
6522 | (13) By November 1 of each year, the consortium shall |
6523 | submit an annual report to the Governor, the President of the |
6524 | Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the |
6525 | Florida Energy and Climate Commission regarding its activities, |
6526 | including, but not limited to, education and research related |
6527 | to, and the development and deployment of, alternative energy |
6528 | technologies. |
6529 | Section 113. Woody biomass economic study.--The Department |
6530 | of Agriculture and Consumer Services, in conjunction with the |
6531 | Department of Environmental Protection, shall conduct an |
6532 | economic impact analysis on the effects of granting financial |
6533 | incentives to energy producers who use woody biomass as fuel, |
6534 | including an analysis of effects on wood supply and prices and |
6535 | impacts on current markets and forest sustainability. The |
6536 | departments shall prepare and submit a report on the results of |
6537 | the analysis to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and |
6538 | the Speaker of the House of Representatives no later than March |
6539 | 1, 2010. |
6540 | Section 114. The Public Service Commission shall analyze |
6541 | utility revenue decoupling and provide a report and |
6542 | recommendations to the Governor, the President of the Senate, |
6543 | and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by January 1, |
6544 | 2009. |
6545 | Section 115. Motor vehicle emissions standards.--If the |
6546 | Department of Environmental Protection proposes to adopt the |
6547 | California motor vehicle emission standards, such standards |
6548 | shall not be implemented until ratified by the Legislature. If |
6549 | the department proposes to modify its rule adopting the |
6550 | California motor vehicle emission standards, such rule |
6551 | modifications shall not be implemented until ratified by the |
6552 | Legislature. |
6553 | Section 116. The Department of Education and the |
6554 | Department of Environmental Protection shall, in coordination |
6555 | with representatives of the business community, the |
6556 | environmental community, and the energy community, develop a |
6557 | program to provide awards or recognition for outstanding efforts |
6558 | or achievements concerning conservation, reductions in energy |
6559 | and water use, green cleaning solutions, green pest management, |
6560 | recycling efforts, and curriculum development that is consistent |
6561 | with efforts that enhance the quality of education while |
6562 | preserving the environment. Entities that are eligible for such |
6563 | an award or recognition include students, classes, teachers, |
6564 | schools, or district school boards. The Legislature encourages |
6565 | the Department of Education and the Department of Environmental |
6566 | Protection to form partnerships with the private sector to help |
6567 | fund the program. |
6568 | Section 117. Section 377.901, Florida Statutes, is |
6569 | repealed. |
6570 | Section 118. Except as otherwise expressly provided in |
6571 | this act, this act shall take effect July 1, 2008. |