|
Renewable Energy In Florida
|
|
FREPA Congratulates President Elect Obama
FREPA offers its congratulations to President-Elect Barack Obama on becoming America's 44th President. We also congratulate Vice President-Elect Joe Biden, the newly elected and returning members of Congress, our state legislators and local government officials.
The renewable energy community overwhelmingly agrees that President-Elect Obama's ascension to the White House will lead to a broad sustainable energy policy in America which reduces our dependency on fossil fuel, moves toward a low carbon economy and enhances energy technology research. We anticipate a significant step forward for the renewable energy industry in America and those sentiments are shared by energy markets around the world. We are urging the Obama Adminstration to move quickly because this industry is one of the key drivers of our 21st Century economy - an economy that critically needs resuscitation.
States , like Florida, which are behind the curve on renewable energy portfolio standards, alternative fuel infrastructures or incentives that promote more energy diversity, should be mindful to move ahead of what could be a national RPS, investment into transmission infrastructure, carbon caps via a national cap-and-trade market, stringent emissions standards and the like. In addition to working on Florida's initiatives, FREPA will be collaborating with other state renewable energy associations through the newly-formed National Renewable Energy Executives Association (NREA) to push for a permanent renewable energy production tax credit and other initiatives that are key to the industry in every state.
With minimal effort, one can recall promises made by former U.S. Presidents to jumpstart the renewable energy industry and develop a national energy policy. Without exception, these leaders all agreed that a comprehensive energy policy was critical for America's national security - only to have settled on business as usual. Despite criticism and setbacks, President Jimmy Carter did, in fact, forge a roadmap for renewable energy that was eventually abandoned by his successors. In Florida, the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) was created by the Florida legislature in 1975 largely as a reaction to the energy crisis of the early 1970's. The FSEC remains a national leader in solar energy promotion, education and research. And, in June 1979, President Carter held a press event to announce what he called a "new solar strategy" to " move our nation toward true energy security and abundant, readily available energy supplies". Similar commitments were made by President George Herbert Walker Bush. Today, the world still clamours for U.S. leadership to provide global direction on an energy policy that alleviates the stranglehold fossil fuel has had on the world's political, military and economic discourse.
This transformational election offers the promise of moving the country and the world in a new direction. As President-Elect Obama charts his course during this transition period, we urge him to place renewable energy policy at the center of his administration's priorities. To paraphrase our new president, "This is our time. This is our moment" to solidify our efforts, talk to each other and work together to build this new sustainable energy industry. In turn, we urge the Florida Legislature and state houses from around the country to meet this challenge for a new America.
Sincerely,
| |
|
|
|
ANNOUNCING Renewable Energy Federal Grant, Loan and Finance Workshop
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 in Orlando, Florida
$60 meeting attendee fee
Lunch and meeting materials included. To reserve seat :
All paying attendees receive a 25% discount off of annual FREPA membership. The offer expires on December 10, 2008.
AGENDA
7:45- 8:15 a.m. Sign In
8:30-10:00 a.m. (USDA) including Q&A
Jeff Jobe, National Business Cooperative Field Advisor for USDA Rural Development (overseeing rural renewable energy program)
Joe Muller, USDA Florida Rural Business Development Program Director
10:00- 11:00 a.m. (USDOE) including Q&A
Representative from DOE-Invited/TBA
11:00 a.m. - 12: 00 p.m. Federal Grant Writing Workshop
Dr. Tawainga Katsvairo
12:30-1:30 p.m. (Lunch) Featured Speaker
John M. May, Stern Brothers and Co.
Subject: State of renewable energy and its future
1:45 -2:40 p.m. Renewable Energy Project Financing
Tom Woolsey of Hogan & Hartson , LLP
2:50 - 4:00 p.m. Panel Discussion:
Utility industry Representatives**
Challenges and opportunities for more renewable production on their respective power grids and in their service areas with third party developers in order to help developers craft financing strategies
**look for updates on this panel
4:15-Florida Renewable Energy Business Coalition Media Advisory
Meeting Location and Accomodations
9700 Orlando
Florida 32819
(407) 996-9700
Special meeting rate of $99.00 per night for all attendees through December 1, 2008.
*This meeting is coordinated by FREPA on behalf of Florida's renewable energy industry
Get ready for FREPA's Second Annual Sunshine State Energy Expo in Tallahassee on March 11, 2009.
|
|
FREPA Featured Member
Energy Integration Group, LLC
Energy Intergration Group, LLC is a San Diego-based renewable development company with offices in Washington, D.C. and Tallahassee. They have an impressive team of renewable energy professionals who have well over 50 years of culmulative expereince in renewable energy development and are aggressively engaged in the Florida market.
Featured News Articles
Obama's Energy Department
Let the speculating begin. Not oil speculation, but job speculation for the new Obama administration.
Here's what I'm hearing, and thinking.More
Obama win to spur clean energy IPOs
Fri Nov 7, 2008
By Phil Wahba
NEW YORK (Reuters) - President-elect Barack Obama's win on Tuesday in the U.S. elections will likely help to spur investment in the clean energy industry and make it easier for sector companies to go public, according to Kevin Keyes, managing director in Merrill Lynch's (MER.N: Quote, Profile, Research) equity capital markets business. More
Constitutional wrap up: Missouri ballot initiatives pass (passes RPS)
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
BY Rebecca Beitsch
JEFFERSON CITY - All of the Missouri ballot initiatives and constitutional amendments passed late Tuesday evening.More
Producers Urge Obama to Take a Long View on Clean Energy Incentives
By James Kanter
Even from across the ocean, the message to Barack Obama from the clean energy industry is crystal clear: Stick by plans to reform the subsidy system for green power producers.
Power Play Emerges On House Energy Panel
In the first sign of Democratic intraparty strife since the election, Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.) has told colleagues that he plans to challenge the House's most senior member, Rep. John D. Dingell (D-Mich.), for the chairmanship of the Energy and Commerce Committee.
More
Energy Thinkers Ponder The Future
By The New York Times
Senator Barack Obama has said that energy issues will be near the top of his presidential agenda, and he will have plenty to wrestle with - foreign oil, climate change, renewable energy and green jobs, to name a few.
More
Obama May Put Renewable-Energy Plan Ahead of Climate Package
By Daniel Whitten
Nov. 5 (Bloomberg) -- President-elect Barack Obama may pursue legislation early next year to speed a transition to an economy fueled by renewable energy sources and delay a fight on climate change until the economy improves.
Under Obama, Dark Days Seen Ahead For Fossil Fuels
November 05, 2008: 12:54 AM EST
WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- Under President-elect Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., the fossil fuels industry may face "dark days ahead," while alternative energy sectors are likely to flourish.
More
U.S. vote seen as one-way bet for solar, wind power
Tue Nov 4, 2008 3:13pm EST
By Braden Reddall and Nichola Groom - Analysis
SAN FRANCISCO/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - An anticipated Democratic U.S. election sweep is thrilling solar and wind power investors because that outcome is seen as a big step toward establishing federal requirements for alternative power generation.
More
|
|
Florida Legislature and Regulatory Agency Update
November 18, 2008 Florida will hold its organization session in tallahassee. look for committee assignment updates that will be crucial to our mission
Senate Committee on Communications and Public Utilities staff has released its report which FREPA and others will provide comments to. See reports. Legislative process for rule ratification of RPS and Cap and Trade
The Florida Publc Service Committee has released a draft of the Navigant renewables assessment. See draft...
Florida public service commission will have a conference call on November 18, 2008 for comments and it will hold an open workshop on December 3, 2008 for the Navigant presentation.See notice pdf notice
| |
Michael Dobson
Florida Renewable Energy Producers Association
|
|
|
