TALLAHASSEE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On Tuesday and Wednesday, the Florida Legislature will consider HB4001, which repeals the Renewable Fuels Standard set in 2008. With a federal mandate for 10 percent ethanol in gasoline, this legislation will have no material impact on the make up of gasoline in Florida.
It will, however, send a message to those who have invested more than $1 Billion in six ethanol projects currently underway. Among those investors: Florida citizens in the form of grants from tax money.
“Just as our economy is starting to recover and just as Floridian’s are poised to have some home-grown energy products, and just as the Federal government prepares to move from 10 percent ethanol to 15 the Florida legislature considers action that will kill jobs, investment and local energy,” says Brad Krohn, Manager, Highlands U.S. Envirofuels, LLC, and Board member Florida Biofuels and Bioenergy Association.
Florida spends about $1 billion annually importing transportation fuels. A growing biofuel industry makes it possible to keep those dollars in Florida.
“From research at our universities to agriculture (feedstock supplies) to equipment providers, engineers, designers, and the people working in plants on a day to day basis, we have hundreds of jobs now which will lead to thousands," Krohn said. “We have seen it in the Midwest and we have the opportunity to create the same thing in Florida."
“We need Floridians to realize the potential risk of this legislation,” said Honey Rand, Florida Bioenergy and Biofuels Board. “We might as well tell investors that virtually any other location is more desirable because Florida won’t even support the industries that they’ve invested in. That’s just crazy.”
Floridians and others that want to weigh in on this issue need to CALL their local legislator and tell him or her that we need energy independence for the United States and for Florida. Tell your elected officials that we need to keep jobs and energy dollars in our state. Tell them to support Senate Bill 320. Legislative phone numbers and emails are available here.