Women's March Florida Daily Action 3.27.17

#womensmarchfl MARCH 27: CALL TO ACTION: Proposed Energy Bill *Bad* for All Floridians
From our partners at AARP Florida! Seeking to Protect All Ratepayers
The proposed Utility Investment in Gas Reserves legislation (House Bill 1043) by Rep. Brodeur could cost residential ratepayers millions. If passed, this bill would set up a regulatory framework that would allow public utilities (Florida Power & Light, Duke Energy, Tampa Electric and Gulf Power) to invest in oil and gas exploration (which involves fracking) in other states and recoup the cost from residential customers.
Under this legislation, utilities would have to rely on natural gas to generate at least 65 percent of their electricity to be eligible to recover money from customers for such investments. Currently, Florida Power & Light is the only electric utility that uses that much natural gas.
Last year, the Florida Supreme Court rejected a move by Florida Power & Light to invest ratepayer money in a controversial Oklahoma natural-gas project. Justices ruled that the Florida Public Service Commission didn't have legal authority in 2014 to approve FPL's request to invest in the drilling and production of natural gas in what is known as the Oklahoma Woodford Gas Reserves Project.
If passed, this legislation would allow public utilities to charge you for the cost of risky investments. This is bad public policy and a risky business venture that would be funded by you, the residential ratepayers. This bill is up for a vote in the House Energy, and Utilities Subcommittee on Tuesday, March 28 at noon ET. Call the Representatives on the committee today and tell them to vote NO!
Tell the Committee Members:
- Florida electric companies shouldn't be allowed to use ratepayer dollars to invest in risky natural gas reserve development (much less in Oklahoma).
- FPL has already lost hundreds of millions of dollars on this venture that was struck down by the courts.
- Gas exploration is the purview of private companies and developers, not investor owned electric utilities.
- We should not let a regulated monopoly use our electric bill as a source of financing for risky business ventures.
- We should not have to pay to support fracking in other states.
- This is not allowed anywhere else in the country.
STEP ONE: CALL/EMAIL Representatives on the 2017 House Energy & Utilities Subcommittee TODAY! *You do not have to live in their district! Committee members are accountable to ALL Floridians! **
Kathleen Peters (Chair) (R) 850.717.5069 Kathleen.Peters@myfloridahouse.gov
Eric Eisnaugle (Vice Chair)(R) 850.717.5044 Eric.Eisnaugle@myfloridahouse.gov
Lori Berman (D) 805.717.5090 lori.berman@myfloridahouse.gov
Bryan Avila (R) 850.717.5111 Bryan.Avila@myfloridahouse.gov
Kimberly Daniels (D) 850.717.5014 Kimberly.Daniels@myfloridahouse.gov
Bobby DuBose (D) 850.717.5094 Bobby.DuBose@myfloridahouse.gov
Nicholas Duran (D) 850.717.5112 Nicholas.Duran@myfloridahouse.gov
Jason Fischer (R) 850.717.5016 Jason.Fischer@myfloridahouse.gov
Erin Grall (R) 850.717.5054 Erin.Grall@myfloridahouse.gov
Joe Gruters (R) 850.717.5073 Joe.Gruters@myfloridahouse.gov
Stan McClain(R) 850.717.5023 Stan.McClain@myfloridahouse.gov
Bobby Payne (R) 850.717.5019 bobby.payne@myfloridahouse.gov
Sean Shaw (D) 850.717.5061 Sean.Shaw@myfloridahouse.gov
Jackie Toledo (R) 850.717.5060 Jackie.Toledo@myfloridahouse.gov
Frank White (R) 850.717.5002 frank.white@myfloridahouse.gov
STEP TWO: Stay involved in Environmental Protection across the state and in your local area by joining your chapter Environmental Issue Group! (Ask your Chapter captain how to join!)
#womensmarchfl #imarchforourenvironment