Florida Senate - 2022                             CS for SB 1678
       
       
        
       By the Committee on Regulated Industries; and Senators Gibson
       and Powell
       
       
       
       
       580-02616-22                                          20221678c1
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the Energy Equity Task Force;
    3         creating the task force adjunct to the Department of
    4         Agriculture and Consumer Services for a specified
    5         purpose; providing for the membership and duties of
    6         the task force; requiring the department to provide
    7         staffing and administrative support to the task force;
    8         requiring the task force to submit a report to certain
    9         officials by a specified date; providing for
   10         expiration of the task force; providing an effective
   11         date.
   12          
   13  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   14  
   15         Section 1. Energy Equity Task Force.—
   16         (1) The Energy Equity Task Force, a task force as defined
   17  in s. 20.03(8), Florida Statutes, is created adjunct to the
   18  Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to provide
   19  recommendations for fostering a fair and equitable transition of
   20  this state’s energy infrastructure to renewable energy
   21  technologies within minority, underserved, rural, and low-income
   22  communities. The task force shall comply with the requirements
   23  of s. 20.052, Florida Statutes.
   24         (2) The task force shall consist, at a minimum, of the
   25  following 11 members who reflect the ethnic and gender diversity
   26  of this state:
   27         (a) The following private citizen members appointed by the
   28  Commissioner of Agriculture:
   29         1. Four representatives from minority, underserved, rural,
   30  or low-income communities from different regions of this state.
   31         2. At least one environmental justice expert.
   32         3. At least one representative from the electrical workers
   33  profession.
   34         4. At least two energy industry liaisons.
   35         5. At least one representative from a statewide
   36  environmentally focused group.
   37         (b) One member appointed by the President of the Senate.
   38         (c) One member appointed by the Speaker of the House of
   39  Representatives.
   40         (3) The task force shall:
   41         (a) Recommend appropriate policies, including any necessary
   42  statutory changes, for the equitable siting of energy
   43  infrastructure throughout this state, including, but not limited
   44  to:
   45         1. The siting of utility-scale solar arrays in
   46  nonresidential neighborhoods, nonrural residential communities,
   47  and rural communities; and
   48         2. The siting of industrial solar array facility sites in a
   49  manner compatible with county or municipality comprehensive
   50  plans.
   51         (b) Examine strategies to assist minority, underserved,
   52  rural, and low-income communities in transitioning to energy
   53  efficiency, including energy-efficient appliances,
   54  weatherization, and other methods, to benefit from lower energy
   55  costs.
   56         (4) The department shall provide staffing and
   57  administrative support to the task force in performing its
   58  duties.
   59         (5) The task force shall submit a report of its
   60  recommendations to the Governor, the Commissioner of
   61  Agriculture, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
   62  House of Representatives by September 30, 2023, and this section
   63  shall expire upon submission of the report.
   64         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022.