By
implementing new energy efficiency standards, the governor
could save residents billions of dollars.
 wo
years ago, Gov. Jeb Bush, referring to Florida's future energy
needs, said: "The cheapest, easiest and fastest kilowatt
we can generate is the one we save through efficiencies. There
is a consensus on conservation and efficiency, so let's start
there."
To his credit, Bush has taken conservation to heart. He has,
for instance, directed state agencies to reduce energy
consumption by 5 percent a year. But such measures won't do
enough to avert the possibility of Florida needing to
construct several new electrical generating plants in the
coming years in order to keep up with the demands of a growing
population. And the bad news is that more power plants mean
more water consumption and more air and water pollution. Not
to mention higher electric bills for consumers.
Which isn't to say that Bush was
wrong when he said, in effect, that it's better to save a
kilowatt than to have to generate a new one. He just hasn't
gone far enough yet in moving Florida toward an effective
conservation ethic.
Later this month, the Department of Environmental Protection
will begin public hearings on a new state energy plan. As a
way to help secure Florida's energy future, a coalition of
consumer interest and environmental groups are urging Bush to
support adoption of mandatory state energy efficiency
standards on a variety of manufactured goods - from clothes
washers to air conditioners, to freezers and refrigerators to
ceiling fans.
State standards would require manufacturers who want to take
advantage of the Florida's booming marketplace to offer their
most energy efficient models for sale here.
Such standards would not only ease
the demand for additional power plants, and help keep the
pollution levels down, but they would also save Florida
consumers billions of dollars a year. By one estimate from the
Florida Public Interest Research Group, Floridians could save
$3 billion over 25 years by buying more energy efficient
appliances.
"If you wind up saving the $3 billion we're talking about
from not using it in terms of energy, that money is still in
the economy. You wind up purchasing something else that
stimulates more goods and services being consumed," Dr.
Tom Lynch, of Florida State's Center for Economic Analysis,
told The Tampa Tribune this week. He estimated that the
savings on energy efficient purchases could help generate more
than 41,500 jobs in the coming three decades.
Advocates say state energy
efficiency standards could save enough electricity to cut
utility bills and avoid the need to build three new power
plants in Florida between now and the year 2020. Standards
essentially challenge the marketplace to save consumers and
taxpayers money and to help keep Florida clean.
"I think these numbers are very conservative,"
Dominic Calabro, of Florida TaxWatch, told The Fort Lauderdale
Sun-Sentinel of the estimated savings associated with energy
standards. "We think it would save the state millions of
dollars and consumers even more. This is more important than
ever as the state struggles with its budget."
We hope Gov. Bush meant what he said two years ago: that a
kilowatt saved is a kilowatt earned. Bush can help secure
Florida's energy future and help consumers save money by
championing the adoption of state energy efficiency standards.
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