The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) is facing legal action over allegations its approval of utility plans prioritizing fossil fuels hinders the state’s transition to renewable energy. The lawsuit, filed by the advocacy group Our Children’s Trust, represents six young Floridians aged 18 to 25.
The plaintiffs argue the PSC’s approval of 10-year site plans from major electric utilities violates state law and the constitutional rights of Florida’s youth to a safe and livable future.
The suit claims the approved plans perpetuate dependence on fossil fuels despite the availability of more affordable renewable energy options and the utilities’ own stated goals to embrace cleaner energy.
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“The Commission’s conduct prevents Florida from transitioning its electricity sector away from fossil fuels and toward renewable energy sources, even though such a transition is intended under state law; necessary to protect Plaintiffs’ fundamental rights secured by the Florida Constitution; justified by best available science; and aligned with the decarbonization goals of Florida’s largest electric utilities,” the lawsuit reads. “Instead, the Commission’s conduct serves to entrench and prolong Florida’s long-standing addiction to gas.”
This lawsuit also highlights the climate change-related risks posed to Florida residents. The plaintiffs say these plans exacerbate and seek a declaratory judgment against the PSC for allegedly violating constitutional protections.
The legal action follows legislation signed by Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in May, which altered Florida’s energy policy. The new law shifts focus to reducing reliance on foreign energy sources instead of promoting renewables, removes references to “climate change” in state law and nullifies previously implemented clean energy goals.
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Despite these changes, Our Children’s Trust asserts provisions still exist, requiring state agencies to prioritize renewable energy. The group plans to move forward with the case.
[Jack]
FLORIDA’S PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF HINDERING THE STATE’S TRANSITION TO RENEWABLE ENERGY BY APPROVING UTILITY PLANS THAT PRIORITIZE FOSSIL FUELS-
AND THE AGENCY NOW FACES LEGAL ACTION AS A RESULT OF THESE ALLEGATIONS.
IN A LAWSUIT, FILED BY AN ADVOCACY GROUP-
THE PLAINTIFFS CLAIM THE COMMISSION’S ACTIONS VIOLATE STATE LAW-
AS WELL AS THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF FLORIDA’S YOUTH TO A SAFE AND LIVABLE FUTURE.
THE GROUP, ‘OUR CHILDREN’S TRUST’, REPRESENTS SIX YOUNG FLORIDIANS AGED 18 TO 25.
THEY ARGUE THE COMMISSION’S APPROVAL OF 10-YEAR SITE PLANS SUBMITTED BY MAJOR ELECTRIC UTILITIES PERPETUATES DEPENDENCE ON FOSSIL FUELS-
EVEN THOUGH MORE AFFORDABLE RENEWABLE OPTIONS EXIST AND THE UTILITIES HAVE SET GOALS FOR EMBRACING CLEANER ENERGY.
THE LAWSUIT HIGHLIGHTS THE CLIMATE CHANGE RELATED RISKS POSED TO FLORIDA RESIDENTS THAT IT SAYS THE COMMISSION’S PLAN EXACERBATES-
AND SEEKS A DECLARATORY JUDGMENT AGAINST THE COMMISSION FOR ALLEGEDLY VIOLATING CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS.
THIS COMES AFTER FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS SIGNED LEGISLATION IN MAY THAT RECONSTRUCTED THE STATE’S ENERGY POLICY-
ALTERING ITS LANGUAGE SO THE FOCUS IS NOW ON REDUCING RELIANCE ON FOREIGN POWER SOURCES RATHER THAN PROMOTING RENEWABLES.
THE NEW LEGISLATION ALSO REMOVED REFERENCES TO “CLIMATE CHANGE” IN STATE LAW AND NULLIFIED PREVIOUSLY IMPLEMENTED CLEAN ENERGY GOALS.
DESPITE THIS, OUR CHILDREN’S TRUST IS MOVING FORWARD WITH ITS CASE-
SAYING THERE ARE STILL PROVISIONS IN THE LAW REQUIRING STATE AGENCIES TO PRIORITIZE RENEWABLE ENERGY.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS – I’M JACK AYLMER.
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