Florida could soon ban local governments from creating policies that lower climate-warming pollution.<\/p>\n
The state legislature passed that measure, despite Tampa recently showing significant savings from such practices.<\/p>\n
Many Florida cities, like Tampa and Sarasota, have goals to achieve net-zero, which refers to a balance between the amount of warming pollution people produce and the amount removed from the atmosphere.<\/p>\n
ALSO READ: A Florida bill would prohibit local governments from eliminating their own fossil fuel use<\/a><\/p>\n But state lawmakers approved House Bill 1217<\/a>, which says net-zero policies, carbon taxes, and emission trading programs are bad for energy security and economic interests.<\/p>\n Tampa recently presented numbers showing the opposite.<\/p>\n The city would’ve saved $1.8 million for reduced energy consumption by using things like solar power, but because energy bills went up so much, partially due to the cost of fossil fuels, it only saved a fraction of that: $296,193.<\/p>\n Tampa used 9.3% less energy but saved only 1.2% on energy costs last year, according to reporting from WUSF<\/a>.<\/p>\n The measure awaits the governor’s signature.<\/p>\n ALSO READ: A look at the Florida Public Service Commission and the lawmaker who wants to revamp it<\/a><\/p>\n Because electric bills are so high these days, two Florida lawmakers on opposite sides of the aisle filed measures to reign-in the commission that regulates the cost of energy in the state. Neither passed.<\/p>\n The Florida Public Service Commission has been accused of rubber-stamping increases to residents’ energy bills.<\/p>\n Just last year, the PSC approved what\u2019s being called the highest rate increase in history for Florida Power and Light: $7 billion over the next four years.<\/p>\n Pensacola Republican Sen. Don Gaetz filed legislation<\/a> for the second time, trying to limit electric utilities from earning returns on equity that exceed the national average.<\/p>\n ALSO READ: A bill to make Florida electricity more affordable is being endorsed by clean energy advocates<\/a><\/p>\n He also wanted to expand the five-member commission to seven, to include a certified public accountant and a financial analyst.<\/p>\n