FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
June 26, 2007
Washington, D.C. -- Florida could save $28 billion—enough
to cover this year's entire education and transportation budgets—by
using energy efficiency strategies that are available now, says
a study released today by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient
Economy (ACEEE).
The ACEEE study shows that using energy efficiency policies alone
(such as efficient windows, compact fluorescent light bulbs, and
ENERGY STAR appliances) can nearly offset the state's entire future
growth in electric demand by the year 2023. Florida would also create
more than 14,000 jobs in 2023. The direct and indirect jobs created
would be equivalent to nearly 100 new manufacturing plants relocating
to Florida, but without the demand for infrastructure and other
energy needs, the study says.
The study provides specific energy efficiency and renewable energy
policy recommendations that the state should consider, especially
as Florida gears up for Gov. Charlie Crist's "Serve to Preserve"
Summit on Global Climate Change with California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
in Miami July 12 and 13.
If Florida both expanded its energy efficiency measures and invested
in renewable energy sources like biomass and solar, the state could
cut electricity demand by nearly a third in the year 2023—without
building expensive and environmentally risky new power plants or
relying on conventional power sources such as natural gas, coal,
oil, or nuclear power.
Specifically, the study found that energy efficiency measures
could cut demand by 19.9 percent, and using renewable energy sources
could cut demand by 9.5 percent by 2023.
"Energy efficiency is the most affordable energy resource in Florida,"
said Dr. R. Neal Elliott, Industrial Program Director at ACEEE and
lead author on the report. "While 20% efficiency savings in 15 years
may seem challenging, other states are already reducing electricity
growth faster than that, at a cost of 3.5 cents per kilowatt-hour,
only about half of what new power plants would cost."
Power from building traditional plants is more expensive, costing
from 5 to 10 cents per kilowatt-hour.
The study, Potential for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
to Meet Florida's Growing Energy Demands, comes at a time when Florida
is at a crossroads in determining its energy future. Florida's Public
Service Commission recently rejected a proposal for a new coal power
plant—the first power plant denial in 15 years. It was also the
first time ever that global warming played a role in a PSC decision.
ACEEE's experts set out to narrowly look at where Florida gets
its energy from, what it costs, how it is used, and what the future
might hold if the state uses existing technology to slow demand
without difficult sacrifices for industry or residential users.
Florida's electricity demand is growing faster than the state's
population. A particular challenge is peak demand—those times when
extreme heat or extreme cold crank up air conditioners and heaters.
Peak demand is growing even faster than total electricity usage,
and it costs the most to serve. Peak-hour electricity costs several
times what consumers see in average rates, because high-cost "peaker"
power plants run less efficiently and operate only a few hours a
year so that their costs drive up rates.
Florida has not aggressively implemented energy efficiency policies
in the past.
"Energy efficiency is the first fuel in the race for affordable
and clean energy, because it is the cheapest and fastest to deploy,"
said Bill Prindle, ACEEE's Deputy Director. "Combined with renewables,
efficiency offers Florida a sustainable energy future that provides
greater energy security, costs less, pollutes less, and supports
economic growth better than the current course."
The five key policies that the ACEEE study recommends are:
