HB 7217: Energy Incentives and Initiatives

• Transfers the Florida Energy and Climate Commission from the Executive Office of the Governor to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, along with low-income home energy assistance and weatherization assistance programs.

• Replaces the renewable portfolio standard and renewable energy credits system with a cost recovery mechanism allowing energy providers to recover costs for producing or purchasing renewable energy, subject to a 2% annual cap on retail electricity revenues.

• Revises state energy policy priorities to emphasize affordability, adequacy, reliability, and minimizing volatility of energy supply, while de-emphasizing climate change and greenhouse gas emission reduction language from previous law.

• Removes tax exemptions for renewable energy equipment and technologies that were set to expire in 2010, and deletes the Solar Energy System Incentives Program.

• Creates an Office of Energy and Water within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to oversee energy and water policies affecting agriculture and coordinate with state and federal agencies.