By Dawn Shirreffs, Florida director of the Environmental Defense Fund
As a flurry of new lawmakers embark on session in Tallahassee, it remains clear that to keep Florida’s communities safer, cleaner and more affordable, we need bold action. As the 2025 legislative session begins, Florida lawmakers will face critical decisions on how to address the challenges posed by rising energy demands, vulnerable water resources and the impacts of extreme weather. These decisions will shape our state’s future, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Public outcry opposing last year’s proposal to develop hotels and pickleball courts on state park lands sent a clear message. Floridians are unified in the belief that our natural resources, healthy communities and thriving economy are interdependent and protecting what makes our state so special must be a top priority.
Florida is the third-largest electricity consumer in the nation, following Texas and California. Rising energy costs are impacting residents across the state. Imported natural gas makes up over 75% of the Sunshine State’s energy supply and leaves Florida ratepayers with a bill of at least $5 billion every single year.
Floridians support diversifying energy sources. In fact, 79% of Florida Republican respondents indicated that they would support the Legislature leveraging opportunities to diversify energy sources.
Energy demand is at a pivotal moment and lawmakers must take bold steps to develop a plan that increases Florida’s energy independence and lowers costs by deploying solar power, microgrids and adopting energy efficiency.
At a time when Florida needs to diversity, we are concerned that there are proposals in the Legislature that would make it harder to site alternative energy facilities, such as solar, and would urge the Legislature to continue to make it easier – not more complicated – to diversity Florida’s energy portfolio. In its January 2025 report, Florida’s Public Service Commission failed to fully assess Florida’s grid resilience as directed by the Legislature last spring, underscoring the need for a more robust approach from policymakers to address energy resilience and security.
Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton devastated communities last fall, destroying Florida homes and businesses and costing Floridians billions. The Resilient Florida Trust Fund received over $2.2 billion in requests for projects that can safeguard our coastline last year but only $200 million in infrastructure funding.
Not a single project in Central or Northeast Florida received an award last year and less than 20% of proposals in other areas of the state were advanced due to limited funding. Florida’s leaders must boldly invest in safeguarding our coastline with at least $300 million annually, leveraging nature-based infrastructure like corals reefs and mangroves and by utilizing risk management data to enact property insurance reforms.
As Florida continues to grow, we know that transportation remains vital to Florida’s economy. New technologies are reshaping how we travel and transport goods on Florida’s roads and in our ports. It is critical that we strengthen infrastructure, including installing charging support for pollution-free vehicles and freight equipment, and modernizing our workforce to maintain a competitive edge make Florida’s economy one of the top 10 in the world by the end of the decade.
This legislative session, Florida’s leaders can deliver a cleaner, safer and more affordable Florida by prioritizing diverse and affordable energy sources, safeguarding our coastline and seizing innovations for clean transportation. With bold leadership and forward-oriented policies, the future can be far brighter for Florida families and businesses. It’s time to act.
Dawn Shirreffs is the Florida director of the Environmental Defense Fund. Dawn works to bring nature-based solutions to the toughest climate challenges that Florida faces. Banner photo: A worker installs solar panels (iStock image).
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