Charlie Crist signs off on Sustainability

Thanks to Jennifer McCharen with the Jacksonville Carbon Neutral Initiative for sending me copies of the executive orders signed by Charlie Crist this week in Miami.

Wow.

It's impressive. It's exciting. It makes one wonder how they're going to actually do it. It also makes one wonder how many lobbyists are going to fight against them.

Here's the skinny:

The State of Florida Partners with the United Kingdom:

1. We will partner in discussing and promoting concepts for a post 2012 climate
   regime that builds upon and broadens Kyoto Protocol in order to protect the
   planet's climate systems by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases.


2. We will aim to increase climate-friendly commerce between the United Kingdom
   and Florida to bolster our respective economic positions while mutually
   benefitting each partner. Areas of particular emphasis will include trade
   opportunities in renewable and other advanced energy technologies, products that
   promote increased energy efficiency throughout the economy, and renewable energy
   feedstocks.


3. We will aim to improve our public policies that reduce global emissions of
   greenhouse gases. Our policy focus will include market-based incentives
   that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase our respective reliance on
   renewable energy sources, and increase the energy security of each
   partner. We will explore possible linkages between carbon markets in
   Florida and the United Kingdom.


4. We will aim to improve our science in understanding how climate change is
   affecting our respective economies, our agriculture, our natural resources, our
   environmental quality, and our public health. Our science partnership will
   include exchange of knowledge, expertise, and data that mutually benefit our
   respective scientific communities.


5. We will work to improve our technologies for reducing greenhouse gas
   emissions with a particular emphasis on technologies associated with renewable
   energy generation and storage, energy efficiency, carbon capture and storage,
   and other advanced energy technologies that may benefit our respective energy
   sectors.

The State of Florida partners with Germany:

(Pretty much identical agreements, but instead of
British "We will aim...", the Germans prefer the "We will partner..."
approach. Re-read the above, replacing phrases accordingly.)

Executive Order 07-126: Establishing Climage Change Leadership by
Example: Immediate Actions to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Florida
State Government

(Instead of re-typing 8 pages, I'll paraphrase)

1. Section 1 establishes greenhouse gas emissions for state agencies and
   government departments by 10% from current levels by 2012, 25% by 2017, and 40%
   by 2025.


2. The Governor's office will track and report resulting financial savings and
   emissions reductions on the Florida Governmental Carbon Scorecard.


3. Section 2 directs improved climate performance of state government
   facilities. Each state agency must conduct an immediate assessment of
   energy use by their facilities during FY 2006-2007 and quantify associated
   greenhouse gas emissions for posting on the Governmental Carbon Scorecard.
   Must be completed by October 1st 2007. The Department of Management
   Services must adop[t LEED-NC standards for all new buildings. They must
   strive for Platinum level for any new building constructed for or by the State
   of Florida. The Department must immediately implement LEED-EB for all
   buildings currently owned and operated by the Department. The
   Department cannot enter into any new lease agreements for office space that
   doesn't meet Energy Star building standards. They have to develop energy
   conservation measures and guidelines for new and existing ofice space over
   20,000 square feet. This also directs development and implementation of a model
   solar project for state-owned office buildings.


4. Section 4 directs improvement of the climate performance of state government
   procurement practices: The Council for Efficient Goverment will consider
   energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions before oursourcing
   projects. The Department of Management Services will develop a "Florida
   Climate Friendly Preferred Products List" to assess products available provided by vendors that have clear energy efficience or other environmental benefits over competing products. Must be completed by October 1, 2007. As of January 2008, state agencies may no longer use meeting or conference space with hotels that have not received the DEP "Green Lodging" certification. The Department will develop bid criteria for the 2009 State Term Contract for Rental Vehicles that incorporate best practices for energy efficiency and environmental performance.


5. Section 5 directs improvement of state government fleets: All state
   agencies must conduct an assessment of transportation related energy and
   greenhouse gas emissions, to include fuel efficience and MPG. They must
   prove within 30 days that all vehicles are meeting minimum maintenance to ensure efficient fuel consumption. All state agencies will only have approval on
   new vehicles with the greatest fuel efficiency in a given class. All state
   agencies under the direction of the Governon shall use enthanol and biodiesel
   when locally available. The Department will assess and document the need
   for alternative fueling facilities to be used by state government vehicles, to
   increase public access to alternative fuel.


6. Section 6 encourages other departments not under the jurisdiction of the
   Governor's Office (ex.: Florida Senate, the State University and Community
   College Sytems, the Dept. of Agricultre) to implement these actions.

Executive Order 07-127: Establishing Immediate Actions to Reduce
Greenhouse Gas Emissions within Florida:

1. Section 1 targets greenhouse gas emissions: by 2017 reduce to 2000
   levels, by 2025 reduce to 1990 levels, by 2040 reduce to 80% of 1990
   levels.


2. Section 2 directs members of the governor's administration to produce
   immediate reductions: Secy. of Environmental Protection must immediately
   develop rules to adopt a maximum allowable emissions level for electric
   utilities (similar to the Section 1 targets). Must adopt the California
   motor vehicle emission standards. Must adopt a statewide diesel engine
   idle reduction standard. The Secy. of Community Affairs must convene the
   Fl. Building Commission to revise the Energy Building Code to inease energy
   performance by at least 15% from the 2007 code. Must imitiate
   rulemaking of Fl. Energy Conservation standards to increase efficiency of
   applicable consumer products.


3. Section 3 request the Fl. Public Service Commission to take action to
   promote an open market for clean, renewable enegy technologies. Must
   initiate rulemaking to require utilities produce at least 20% of their
   electricity fom renewable sources. Must initiate rulemaking to reduce the
   cost of connecting solar and other renewables to the grid, and to authorize a
   uniform method to enable residential and commercial customers that produce a certain level of renwable energy to offset their consumption by allowing their
   meters to run in reverse.

Lastly, Executive Order 07-128: Establishing the Florida Governor's
Action Team on Energy and Climate Change

To grossly paraphrase, this order establishes the team as gubernatorial
appointees representing consumers, environment, business, industry, energy,
state, local goverment, and academia. They shall meet and make policy
recommendations based on their findings. These will address:

1. Strategies for consolidation of energy policy.


2. Greenhouse gas reduction strategies and blueprint for actions.


3. Policies to enhance energy efficiency and conservation, along with
   targets.


4. Cap and Trade programs.


5. Diversification of electric generation fuels.


6. Emissions reporting and registry


7. Reduction of greenhouse gases from vehicles.


8. Increasing renewable transportation fuels.


9. Reduction of greenhouse gases from state and local governments.


10. Rewards for early emission reductions in advance of statewide
    programs.

The will also issue recommendations on the following:

1. Adaption strategies to combat adverse impacts to society, public health, and
   the economy.


2. Policies to reduce increases in greenhouse gas emissions from new
   growth.


3. Carbon capture and storage techniques.


4. Land use and management policies.


5. Strategic investments and public-private partnerships to spur economic
   development.


6. University based research, economic development, growth management,
   transportation, natural resource management.

The order goes on to note that the Team will not be compensated for their
services,that public access to records is governed by the Public records Law,
and meetings will be governed by the Open Meetings Law.

Admittedly, that was a pretty fat "skinny", but I hope it brought you, the reader, up to speed on what our Governor is doing to make things happen. Environmentally speaking anyway.

So, what do you think? How are they doing to do it? LEED Platinum for New Construction? LEED EB for all existing structures?

Your comments are vital.