Democrats Behind Latest Drive for Drilling.  June 23, 2009 - A change in leadership in Congress and the White House has done little to make Florida's coastline less vulnerable to oil drilling.

Gainesville Biomass Plant Approved. May 8, 2009 - The city entered a 30-year contract Thursday that will bring a wood-burning biomass power plant to Gainesville, promising a future energy supply that is renewable, less subject to the price volatility of fossil fuels and has cleaner emissions.

Utility backs green measure; Glendale Water & Power is on track to meet new energy standards proposed in bill.

April 14, 2009, GLENDALE - Local utility managers voiced support Tuesday for a bill that would force them to produce a third of their energy from renewable sources by 2020. The proposed law would help speed the development of power plants and transmission lines in California that could cut down on greenhouse-gas emissions, the managers said.

Governor Crist Appoints Seven to the Florida Energy and Climate Commission

Dec. 1, 2008, TALLAHASSEE - Governor Charlie Crist today announced the seven appointments to the Florida Energy and Climate Commission (Senate confirmation required).  See the complete list.

Sunshine State sees the light with solar;
Area begins to capitalize on natural energy benefits. Forida: the Sunshine State.

It’s a nice motto and all, but when it comes to harvesting those rays through rooftop solar panels, Florida might as well coat itself in sunblock.

Financial crisis hinders renewable energy projects.  The global financial crisis has left a void in the world of renewable energy financing.

Financial giants such as Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers and Citigroup were once major renewable energy investors.

Obama's $150 Billion `Cleantech' Pledge Lures Deal-Hungry VCs.  By Edward Robinson. Sept. 29 (Bloomberg) -- Dan Reicher isn't a politician. Far from it. He's the director of climate and energy initiatives at Google.org, the search giant's philanthropic arm.

Hear New York Times columnist Tom Friedman discuss the future of energy technology with NBC’s Tom Brokaw on “Meet the Press.”  Sept. 7.

GRU Unveils New Solar Incentives.  Oct. 13, 2008. Gainesville Regional Utilities has attracted the eyes of environmentalists across the nation for a trail-blazing plan to encourage solar energy production by agreeing to buy the electricity above market value for 20 years.

"2008 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard" Released by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).  Oct. 2008. The report rates and ranks state-level action on model energy efficiency policies, programs, and practices.  The report aims to recognize leadership among the states, identify best practices, and offers states a blueprint for greening up both the environment and the economy through energy efficiency strategies.  Download the report here.

State of the States 2008: Renewable Energy Development and the Role of Policy.  The Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) report provides insights into the status of renewable energy development at the state level. The report also proposes a strategy for better understanding the role of policy in renewable energy development and provides reference resources for state policy makers to better understand development of renewable energy resources.  See the report here.

Cane generates a harvest of energy.  Sept. 20, 2008, St. Petersburg Times. — For the past 11 years, Florida Crystals, the nation's largest sugar producer, has powered its massive refining operation by burning leftover sugarcane.  When there is excess electricity, the company sells it to utilities all over the state, providing enough energy to power 60,000 homes and eliminating the need for 1-million barrels of foreign oil per year, the company says.  Now the company wants to play a larger role in the state's renewable energy industry by expanding its electricity generation and ultimately moving into the production of biofuels such as ethanol.  Despite a statewide push for more renewable energy, Florida Crystals says it is running into opposition from utility companies and state regulators.  Read more.

EIG Biomass Contract Moves Forward.  August 15, 2008.  Southern California Edison asks California regulators for approval of a 20-year power purchase agreement with Imperial Valley Biopower, a unit of FREPA member Energy Integration Group.  The utility would take all the output from a 20-megawatt biomass facility near the town of El Centro in California's Imperial Valley.

Farm to Fuel Event Pushes Florida. August 1, 2008. Whether derived from sugar cane, switchgrass, algae, citrus peel or woody biomass, biofuels grown in the Sunshine State can spearhead the nation's future energy policy, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer said.

The Next Generation of Alternative Energy: Venture capitalists flirt with solar thermal, algae, and wave power.  July 25, 2008. Now that alternative energy is the new darling of Silicon Valley, investors are pumping cash into a raft of obscure technologies, from wave power to algae fuel. Despite the sluggish economy, alternative-energy start-ups received a record $2 billion in venture capital funding in the second quarter of 2008, a 58 percent increase from a year earlier, according to Cleantech Group, a market research firm.

FREPA member, Florida Crystals selected as one of Florida's "Face of Climate Change." See video.

Florida Renewable Energy Producers Association Holds Statewide Renewable Energy Workshops and Rallies.  June 30, 2009.  The workshops will function as renewable energy educational seminars and rallies for progressive renewable energy policy in Florida. They will also be a way for renewable energy entrepreneurs to learn more about renewable financing opportunities, state and federal policies and energy business opportunities in Florida.

Palm Beach County loses out on planned $20 million ethanol plant.  June 11, 2009 - Palm Beach County has been jettisoned as the site of a University of Florida ethanol plant.  In the works for two years, the proposed $20 million research and demonstration plant was slated to be built next to Florida Crystals Corp.'s Okeelanta mill and refinery near South Bay.  But University of Florida officials said Wednesday that revamped plans now call for building a smaller plant closer to Gainesville, where it will benefit from proximity to UF's faculty and staff.

At a recent conference, renewable energy finds an audience with our leaders even after the session is over. May 21, 2009 - FREPA's Florida Green Business Opportunities Workshop covered the impacts of the 2009 Florida Legislative Session on Florida's future green economy from top renewable energy and climate change consultants.

Florida energy legislation killed in the house. May 2, 2009 - For the second year in a row, the Florida House killed efforts by Gov. Charlie Crist and the state Senate to pass a plan that would put the state at the forefront of the renewable energy movement.

Florida, time to get on renewable energy map. By Michael Dobson, April 7, 2009. Florida has a chance to lead, but not today. In 2008, the Florida Legislature directed the Florida Public Service Commission to develop rules for a Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard for legislative passage in 2009.

Renewable Power Needed, Not Nuclear. By Michael Dobson, April 14, 2009. Florida has a chance to lead, but not today.

FREPA:  Don't lose a chance to be a leader in renewables.  Tallahassee Democrat.

FREPA:  Nuclear plan hurts renewable energy effort.  April 1, 2009 Herald Tribune.

Former CIA Director and FREPA's Second Annual Expo stress renewables at the capital.  Tallahassee Democrat.

Florida Senate Renewable Portfolio Standard bill.

FREPA hosted the FREPA Second Annual Sunshine State Renewable Energy Expo and Symposium March 11-12, 2009 at the Mary Brogan Museum, Tallahassee, Fla. 

Florida’s Public Service Commission (PSC) submits Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) draft rule to the Legislature. Jan. 29, 2009. The RPS rule includes aggressive standards of 20 percent renewable energy production by 2020, but provides for close oversight by the PSC to balance the interests of encouraging renewables while protecting rate payers. See the complete draft here.

FREPA's response to Public Service Commission staff RPS recommendations.

FREPA Weighs In. State's green-energy future down to one choice: Renewable or clean? All players - environmentalists, renewable power developers and utilities - vow to lobby lawmakers on the nuclear issue.

Gov. Crist Celebrates Everglades Land Acquisition Vote. Dec. 18, 2008 - Governor Charlie Crist today joined the chairman of the South Florida Water Management District, state environmental and economic officials, and leading environmentalists to celebrate the SFWMD Governing Board's approval this week in favor of an historic land acquisition for Everglades restoration. The $1.34 billion land-only agreement with the United States Sugar Corporation represents one of the largest environmental land acquisitions in the nation's history.

Florida Southeastern- Renewable Energy Federal Grant, Loan and Finance Workshop. The one day workshop took place December 16, 2008 in Orlando, Florida.

DEP Scheduled to Clear the Way for FREPA-Member Biomass Plant.  Biomass Gas & Electric proposes building the 40-megawatt power plant on 22 acres of Florida State University land off Roberts Avenue. Wood waste and pulp mill byproducts will be heated and converted into gas that will be burned to produce electricity, the company says.

KMP Successfully Tests Ethanol Pipeline; Company Now Testing Blended Biodiesel Transportation.  Oct. 15, 2008 – Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. today announced that in addition to successfully performing tests to determine the commercial viability of moving ethanol in its Central Florida pipeline system, it is now undertaking tests to assess transporting biodiesel through its pipelines on a commercial basis. 

Florida Renewable Energy Grants. The Executive Office of the Governor is accepting proposals for grant funding under the 2008 Florida Renewable Energy and Energy-Efficient Technologies Grants Program. For more info: http://dep.state.fl.us/energy/energyact/grants.htm

Renewable developers and those seen as environmentalist come together on Florida RPS.
Sept. 17, 2008 - The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy forms a coalition including FREPA, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and others to annouce the release of their statewide media campaign that focuses on  Florida's disappointing RPS. See their press release.

The Florida Public Service Commission's Strawman Draft Rule has some positive provisions, but in total, it would establish a renewable energy portfolio standard (RPS) that is destined for failure.  Other policy considerations aside, the PSC should focus on establishing a RPS that will be successful and achieve the policy goals established by the Florida Legislature, the foremost of which is the increased development of renewable energy in Florida.  Unfortunately, the Strawman proposal would create a system that cannot succeed and will not result in the increased development and use of renewable energy in Florida.  Read FREPA's full response to the proposal here.

FREPA responds to misinformation regarding a Tallahassee biomass plant:  Biomass electric generation and the BG&E project is not a municipal solid waste incinerator. It is a woody biomass plant. It is green energy. This plant is a gasification system unlike any other.  Read more.

See FREPA CEO Michael Dobson's July 2008 Powerpoint Presentation to the Florida PSC: Setting Up a Florida Renewable Portfolio Standard--Impact and Opportunities.

Clean Energy Finance and Regulatory Summit to be Held August 9, 2008 on Sanibel Island.

News from FREPA's first annual Sunshine State Renewable Energy Expo: Renewable Energy a Legislative Priority.  March 13, 2008.

Sunshine Energy Expo.

Renewable Energy Grants and Incentives - The State of Florida has moved to offers a number of financial incentives to businesses, organizations and residents who are seeking to use renewable energy technologies. These incentives would be of interest to renewable energy developers and are important to increasing renewable energy use in Florida. Visit the following links to learn more:

The Executive Office of the Governor is accepting proposals for grant funding under the 2008 Florida Renewable Energy and Energy-Efficient Technologies Grants Program. For more info: http://dep.state.fl.us/energy/energyact/grants.htm

Solar Energy Systems Rebate Program

Renewable Energy Technologies Grant Program

Renewable Energy Technologies Tax Incentives Programs

Florida Farm to Fuel Grant Program

Other Financial Incentives


View powerpoint presentation from July 26, 2007 PSC meeting.