TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Florida could have the strictest requirements in the nation for the production of electricity using renewable energies under a bill approved 8-1 by a Senate committee.
The proposed law would require that a decade from now all utility companies would have to produce half their new electricity using renewable resources such as wind, solar and biomass.
Renewable energy advocates praised that part of the legislation, but also expressed concern that Senator Mike Bennett included nuclear power and clean-coal technologies in his definition of renewable in the proposed law he sponsors.
The bill also provides incentives for the production of ethanol, expands a sales-tax holiday for energy-efficient items, and has a tax break for the purchase of hybrid and renewable fuel vehicles.
The House energy plan rejects the renewable energy requirement until a study can be completed to recommend an appropriate standard.
