The Invading Sea
  • In the News
  • Editorials
    • Earlier opinion pieces in South Florida media about climate, rising seas
  • Elections
  • Influencers
  • About
No Result
View All Result
The Invading Sea
  • In the News
  • Editorials
    • Earlier opinion pieces in South Florida media about climate, rising seas
  • Elections
  • Influencers
  • About
No Result
View All Result
The Invading Sea
No Result
View All Result

Here’s a better way for Florida to become energy efficient

We have an opportunity to improve the performance of Florida’s utilities when it comes to helping low-income people reduce power bills

by Carol Lindsey
October 25, 2021
in Influencers
0

By Carol Lindsey, Florida Clinicians for Climate Action

Medical professionals are seeing more patients whose health is adversely affected by the impacts of the climate crisis. Our warming world has student-athletes collapsing from heat stroke on the football field and elderly neighbors who can’t go outside when it’s blazing hot but are also afraid to turn on their air conditioners, fearing high power bills.

That’s why more than 200 physicians, nurses, medical students and other health professionals through the Florida Clinicians for Climate Action advocate for equitable climate solutions and policies at the local, state and federal level — prioritizing Floridians’ health, especially those disproportionately impacted by negative health outcomes.

Carol Lindsey

Because we know the climate crisis is largely driven by polluting carbon-based fossil fuels emissions, there is a stark imperative to reduce our energy use by being more efficient, the least expensive way to meet the need for power. We are particularly concerned that Florida utilities are not doing enough to offer more energy efficiency programs for customers.

We care because we know there are negative health impacts from the mediocre performance of energy efficiency by Florida’s three investor-owned power companies — Tampa Electric Company (TECO), Duke Energy Florida and Florida Power & Light (FPL). Out of the 52 largest utilities nationwide, in program performance and savings, they are ranked 46th, 48th and 51st, according to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy.

This translates into high utility bills, especially for lower-income populations with medical issues. Our patients tell us that at times they have to choose between paying for medications and food or paying high utility bills to keep the air conditioner on to avoid an asthma attack.

Right now, there’s an opportunity to improve the performance of Florida’s utilities when it comes to helping low-income people reduce power bills with energy efficiency. Every five years, utilities set conservation goals at the Florida Public Service Commission, whose members are appointed by the governor.

Currently, they’re in the process of changing the rules that guide the process. It’s time to change direction and ditch outdated cost-benefit tests used to determine which programs are cost-effective.

To start, let’s end the state’s reliance on the outdated Rate Impact Measure cost-effectiveness test. Florida is the only state to rely on it to determine which energy efficiency measures to offer. It eliminates efficiency measures with the most savings because they reduce revenue to the utility. Isn’t the whole idea behind energy efficiency to cut energy waste in order to slash energy bills?

The current rules also eliminate measures that pay for themselves in two years or less. That’s the cheap stuff which we should do first, not take off the table.

So let’s get the rules right in the rule-making proceeding at the PSC. Utility companies should expand energy efficiency — not leave savings on the table — to help people reduce power bills and protect their health. Add to that, solar, wind and the electrification of transportation and we will have a fighting chance to stay healthy in the face of a warming climate.

Carol Lindsey, a nurse practitioner, is a Steering Committee member of the Florida Clinicians for Climate Action. For more information on climate and health, visit floridaclinicians.org.

“The Invading Sea” is the opinion arm of the Florida Climate Reporting Network, a collaborative of news organizations across the state focusing on the threats posed by the warming climate.

Tags: American Council for an Energy Efficient EconomyCarol LindseyDuke Energy FloridaFlorida Clinicians for Climate ActionFlorida Power & Light (FPL)Florida Public Service CommissionRate Impact Measure cost-effectiveness testTampa Electric Company (TECO)
Previous Post

Ankush Bansal: The warming climate can make you sick and the healthcare industry needs to do a better job treating the threat

Next Post

Hurricane Wilma destroyed beloved park and awakened this mother’s concern about the climate crisis

Related Posts

Analyst: Midterm Elections Are An Opportunity For The Sunshine State To Up Its Renewable Energy Use
Influencers

Young Floridians say, ‘Look Up’ and embrace the power of the sun

by Cheryl Holder
January 28, 2022
As the climate gets warmer, Floridians who work outside will have to cope with more and more days when it will be “too hot to work”
Other

Ankush Bansal: The warming climate can make you sick and the healthcare industry needs to do a better job treating the threat

by Kevin Mims
October 25, 2021
Don’t snuff out Florida’s energy conservation goals
Influencers

FPL’s proposed new minimum bill would cost millions and punish solar users

by Heaven Campbell
October 16, 2021
Next Post
Media Roundup: Hurricane Florence; Climate leadership; Megafires and Trump; Political waves over sea level

Hurricane Wilma destroyed beloved park and awakened this mother’s concern about the climate crisis

Twitter Facebook

About the Project

The Invading Sea is a collaboration by news organizations across Florida to address the threat we face from sea-level rise. We want to raise awareness, amplify the voice of our region and create a call to action that can’t be ignored. Read More

Archives

Categories

Audio Editorials Faces of Sea Level Rise Influencers In The News Other The Business of Climate Change Video

Newsletter

Subscribe

* indicates required


© 2022 The Invading Sea

No Result
View All Result
  • In the News
  • Editorials
    • Earlier opinion pieces in South Florida media about climate, rising seas
  • Elections
  • Influencers
  • About

© 2022 The Invading Sea

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In