Florida Governor Signs Three Climate Change Related Executive Orders

On July 13, 2007, Florida Governor Charlie Crist signed three climate change related executive orders. EO 07-126 sets GHG emission reduction targets for state agencies and departments of 10 percent below current levels by 2012, 25 percent below by 2017, and 40 percent below by 2025. The order adopts the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED standards for all new state government facilities and all existing buildings owned by the Department of Management Services. EO 07-126 requires state-owned vehicles to be more fuel efficient and to use ethanol and biodiesel fuels when available. EO 07-127 sets statewide GHG emission reduction targets of 2000 levels by 2017, 1990 levels by 2025, and 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. The order directs the Florida Secretary of Environmental Protection to immediately develop rules to adopt the California motor vehicle GHG emission standards. The Florida Energy Code for Building Construction will be revised to increase the energy performance of new construction by at least 15 percent from the 2007 Energy Code. EO 07-127 requests that the Florida Public Service Commission initiate rulemaking to i. require that utilities produce at least 20 percent of their electricity from renewable sources and ii. to authorize statewide net metering. Executive Order 07-128 creates the Florida Governor’s Action Team on Energy and Climate Change to develop an Energy and Climate Change Action Plan to recommend ways to meet the new GHG reduction targets.

Press Release
Executive Orders: 07-126, 07-127, 07-128
Maps of States with: GHG Emission Targets, Climate Action Plans, Climate Change Commissions and Advisory Groups, Net Metering Programs, Vehicle GHG Emissions Standards, Green Building Standards for State Buildings, Commercial Energy Codes