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Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putman outlined an energy planThursday designed to diversify the state s energy portfolio,advance renewable energy production, encourage home-growntechnologies and promote greater energy efficiency. The plan calls for establishing a climate that encourages newenergy industries and the creation of jobs without specificallytargeting an emerging technology for the government to back. Saying we ought to have Betamax even though everybody is buyingVHS, I think that is the kind of thing that happens when governmenttries to pick the future, Putnam said. More importantly, he believes the Legislature can do something ithasn t done in a number of years: approve an energy policy. Putnam called his plan balanced and comprehensive and entirely within the realm of possibility this session. The plan calls for: Removing regulatory barriers that prevent the expansion ofrenewable energy opportunities in the state. Reviving the business credits and incentives that expired last yearin Florida, that were put in place before the industry was matureenough to take advantage of them. Requiring the Public Service Commission to consider fuel diversitywhen making decisions about new power sources. Investor-ownedutilities would be required to set aside 1 percent of their overallgeneration capacity to renewable investments. The subcommittee is expected to hold a workshop in the next fewweeks to discuss Putnam s proposals before any legislation issubmitted. Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood, declined tocomment on individual aspects of Putnam s proposal, but said hesupports the majority of the plan. The commissioner and I have spoken about the pieces of all ofthese. The large majority of it we agree on, but in terms of anyslight difference, I won t get into those, Plakon said. It will be out of this committee in time to get something donebefore the end of session, he added. We re not going to loseit for time. Subcommittee member Rep. Alan Williams, D-Tallahassee, said hewants to delve into the details but is encouraged that theLegislature will craft an energy policy for the first time in hisfour years on the subcommittee. The sooner the better will be great, Williams said. I hope tomove in some direction on some of these policies. In December, Putnam noted that Florida needs to be less reliant onnatural gas for its energy, especially when the majority of thatsource of power comes through just two pipelines from the GulfCoast. He said the plan should be particularly beneficial for ruralcounties that are looking for growth without altering theircharacter. Usually, rural economic development is parachuting some factor inthe middle of nowhere and everybody is happy to have a job and thetown is never the same again, Putnam said. With these, you retaking what the community is already good at, which is agriculturalproduction or having open space that allows for algae and solararrays and all the other things that can go on out there. Nowyou re necessarily losing all your kids to the city or anotherstate. Putnam s energy recommendations: Infrastructure investment: Proposal 1: Reinstate the following sales tax incentives at therecommended caps and clearly define eligible cost. Reinstatement ofthese tax incentives will promote the development of renewableenergy infrastructure, which would give Florida an advantage overother states when investors are looking to build plants. The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as Customized Sportswear Manufacturer , China Hot Yoga Clothes, and more. For more , please visit Sublimated Basketball Uniforms today!
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