TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Coastal Florida cities and counties fighting the impacts of climate change may soon also face the rising tide of Tallahassee opposition.
More than a dozen cities and counties statewide have committed to bold net-zero or fully renewable energy policies, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to renewable energy sources. Most of these communities are coastal, directly facing sea-level rise, damaging hurricanes and sunny day flooding.
But a bill that passed Florida’s Legislature and is expected to be signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis would impose a sweeping ban on limiting greenhouse gases — a move some local governments say could undo years of progress.
“I wish Tallahassee would let us do the business of running government,” said Raquel Regalado, a Republican Miami-Dade County commissioner. “On an election year, I’m not surprised that there’s a net-zero bill that’ll be signed. People just want to say they’re against that.”