HM 7153

1	House Memorial
2	A memorial to the Congress of the United States, urging
3	Congress to support or initiate action that would allow
4	local governments to fully implement programs designed to
5	encourage voluntary energy conservation and efficiency,
6	renewable energy, and wind resistance improvements by
7	homeowners and businesses.
8
9	WHEREAS, utility bills represent a major expense for home
10	and business owners, and
11	WHEREAS, hurricanes and other wind storm events pose
12	significant threats to Florida citizens and property, and
13	WHEREAS, energy conservation and efficiency and reduced
14	reliance on fossil fuel energy generation enhance the welfare of
15	the public by reducing energy bills and diversifying energy
16	production, and
17	WHEREAS, wind storm protection reduces damage to the
18	improved property and property in the vicinity of the improved
19	property from hurricanes and other wind events, and
20	WHEREAS, the upfront costs of such improvements prevent
21	property owners from making otherwise cost-effective energy and
22	wind resistance improvements, and
23	WHEREAS, state and local governments have embraced programs
24	that allow local governments to facilitate the financing of
25	energy conservation and efficiency, renewable energy, and, in
26	Florida, wind resistance improvements because of the remarkable
27	potential to cut energy bills, increase homeowners' cash flow
28	for mortgage payments and other bills or investments, reduce
29	mortgage default risk, and potentially reduce property insurance
30	by reducing property damage risk by encouraging investment in
31	energy conservation and efficiency, renewable energy, and wind
32	resistance property improvements, and
33	WHEREAS, unemployment in Florida is at record levels, in
34	the construction sector in particular, and the State of Florida
35	anticipates that the implementation of such programs would
36	create employment opportunities for thousands of Florida
37	citizens, and
38	WHEREAS, the State of Florida has determined that reduced
39	reliance on fossil fuels for electrical generation and increased
40	wind resistance of Florida properties to wind storm events are
41	of benefit to the citizens of the State of Florida, and
42	WHEREAS, in Chapter 2010-139, Laws of Florida, now codified
43	in s. 163.08, Florida Statutes, the State of Florida authorized
44	local governments to create programs to promote the
45	implementation of energy conservation and efficiency, renewable
46	energy, and wind resistance measures at residential and
47	commercial properties, and
48	WHEREAS, such financing programs are an innovative local
49	government solution to assist property owners in financing
50	energy conservation and efficiency, renewable energy, and wind
51	resistance improvements to their homes and businesses on a
52	voluntary basis, and
53	WHEREAS, twenty-two other states have passed laws enabling
54	local governments to develop such programs, and
55	WHEREAS, despite such programs' potential to decrease the
56	burden of household expenses for Floridians who participate, the
57	Federal Housing Finance Agency and the Office of the Comptroller
58	of the Currency on July 6, 2010, issued statements that
59	immediately stalled implementation of such programs in Florida
60	and froze the progress of most existing similar programs
61	nationwide, and
62	WHEREAS, the Federal Housing Finance Agency's actions have
63	resulted in lawsuits around the nation, and Congressional action
64	would rapidly and efficiently resolve those disputes, NOW,
65	THEREFORE,
66
67	Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
68
69	That Congress is urged to quickly restore the potential of
70	job creation and economic development through voluntary state-
71	authorized energy conservation and efficiency, renewable energy,
72	and wind resistance programs by supporting the implementation of
73	these programs by local governments in Florida through
74	Congressional action that affirms the authority of local
75	governments to implement these programs in Florida pursuant to
76	Chapter 2010-139, Laws of Florida.
77	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
78	dispatched to the President of the United States, to the
79	President of the United States Senate, to the Speaker of the
80	United States House of Representatives, and to each member of
81	the Florida delegation to the United States Congress.

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