8.20.23
Last month, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis rejected $377 million in federal energy-efficiency funding despite the Sunshine State experiencing record-setting heat. Bloomberg reported the money included “hundreds of millions of dollars for energy-efficiency rebates and electrification as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, as well as money from the bipartisan infrastructure legislation that became law in 2021.” The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Office of Energy withdrew applications for the funds after DeSantis vetoed a $5 million federal grant “to support the implementation of programs to distribute the energy-efficiency rebates,” according to the Miami Times. Electrek further reported the denied funding included $174 million for energy-efficiency improvement rebates, $173 million for energy-efficient home appliances, and $7 million for training electrification contractors. “The decision to forgo these funds may have negative implications for Florida residents, as the programs would have led to lower utility bills, improved home comfort, and reduced greenhouse gas [pollution],” the Times stated.
Miami, in particular, has been beset by oppressive heat this summer, as it marked its hottest year on record by early July, per WUSF Public Media. But all of Florida is baking, and even the waters off South Florida have reached catastrophic temperatures for coral reefs, which support the area’s biodiversity, shorelines, infrastructure, and economy. A breeze from the Gulf of Mexico is causing the humidity to rise as well, forming a dangerous combination — even for typically muggy Florida. If the state had received the $377 million, its citizens would have likely benefited from more affordable energy. Florida — the fourth-largest electricity consumer in the nation — produces toxic gases primarily through its transportation and electric power companies, according to the Florida Climate Institute. It used only 6% renewable energy in 2021, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.[/COLOR][/B]