Florida Governor Crist Hosts Governors Roundtable Discussion On Alternative Energy

December 13, 2007 -- TAMPA – Florida Governor Charlie Crist today hosted three other Governors in Tampa for the Governor’s Summit on Alternative Transportation Fuels and Advanced Vehicles. The summit is part of the National Governors Association’s Securing a Clean Energy Future (SCEF) initiative and highlighted opportunities and challenges Governors and states face in increasing the production and use of alternative transportation fuels.

“In Florida we are working to increase our energy efficiency and our use and production of ethanol and other alternative fuels for our vehicles,” Governor Crist said. “As we learn from the successes of other states, we strengthen Florida’s position as a leader in reducing carbon emissions and addressing global climate change.”

The roundtable discussion included Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, chair of the National Governors Association, as well as Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius and Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer. Each Governor provided information about clean energy initiatives in their states.

The roundtable discussion kicked off a two-day summit that also brought together Governors’ energy and transportation advisors, state energy officials and other clean energy stakeholders to learn about the most effective tools and policies for advancing the use of clean fuels and vehicle technologies. Participants also explored ways to develop the necessary infrastructure to support this technology.

In November, Governor Crist led a trade mission to Brazil, Florida’s number-one international merchandise trade partner. Brazil is the world’s leading producer and consumer of ethanol, which, in Brazil, is made from sugarcane. During the trade mission, Florida business and state leaders explored strategies for expanding the role of Florida’s sugarcane industry in renewable energy production. The Brazil mission generated more than $300 million in sales and anticipated sales, including a $182 million deal with Controlsud International Group that will facilitate a plant being built for Renewable Fuels of Tallahassee LLC, to convert garbage to energy and help decrease the amount of landfill waste in Florida.

About Governor Crist’s Climate Change Initiatives

During the Serve to Preserve Summit on Global Climate Change, Governor Crist outlined details about his plan to reduce Florida’s greenhouse-gas emissions and increase energy efficiency. Three executive orders signed by Governor Crist at the Serve to Preserve Summit on Global Climate Change call for developing a carbon scorecard for all state agencies and making state buildings and vehicles more energy efficient. One establishes the 21-member Governor’s Action Team on Energy and Climate Change that will work to strengthen existing public-private partnerships and voluntary industry participation through programs such as DEP’s Green Lodging Program.

The Governor’s plan reduces statewide greenhouse-gas emissions to 2000 levels by 2017, to 1990 levels by 2025, and by 80 percent of 1990 levels by 2050 through increased energy efficiency and use of renewable energy. To achieve target reductions, Florida will adopt maximum allowable greenhouse-gas emissions and a 15-percent increase in energy efficiency for new building construction and appliances sold in the state. Governor Crist has also requested that the Public Service Commission adopt a 20 percent Renewable Portfolio Standard, with a strong focus on solar and wind energy.

For more information about Governor Crist’s actions to address global climate change, please visit www.MyFloridaClimate.com or www.flgov.com.

Source: Florida Governor

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