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Local Response to State Energy Planning Mandates

Richard C. FeiockAskew School of Public Administration &

Institute for Energy Systems Economics & SustainabilityFlorida State University

February 2010

LeRoy Collins Institute

LeRoy Collins Institute ~ Carol Weissert, Ph. D., Director

FSU Campus ~ 506 W Pensacola Street Tallahassee FL 32306-1601

850-644-1441 ~ 850-644-1442 fax

Overview• GHG Emissions and State Energy Legislation

• Adoption of Climate Protection Agreements by Florida Local Governments (w/Berry, Kassekert, and Yi)

• Survey of Florida Local Governments– Overview of Actions and Activities– Response to State Policy

• Ongoing and Future Work

Florida’s Contributions to Greenhouse Gas

Florida Gross GHG Emissions by Sector, 1990-2025: Historical and Projected

Electricity

Transportation

Other

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50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

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1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025

MM

tCO

2e

United States TrendVehicle Miles Traveled

“The Road Less Traveled: An Analysis of VMT Trends in the U.S.”, Brookings Institute, 2008

Florida’s Land Use Planning Framework

• All 470+ counties and municipalities must adopt comprehensive plans

• Comprehensive plans must be consistent with state law, state comprehensive plan and strategic regional policy plans

• Comprehensive plans must be coordinated with plans of adjacent jurisdictions and the MPO Plan

• Comprehensive plans are to include a future land use element and transportation element that are coordinated and consistent

• Comprehensive plans are legally binding on development and include a schedule of capital improvements

Laws of Florida 2008–091(HB 697)

Future Land Use Element Discouragement of urban sprawlEnergy efficient land use patterns accounting for existing & future electric power generation & transmission systemsGreenhouse gas reduction strategiesDepict energy conservation areas on the FLUM

Traffic Circulation/Transportation Elements Transportation strategies to address reduction in GHG from the transportation sector Conservation Element Conservation, use and protection of natural resources… including factors that affect energy conservation Housing Element Use of renewable energy resources Energy efficiency in the design & construction

Laws of Florida 2008–091(HB 697)

Future Land Use Map amendments must be supported bydata and analysis

Major amendments may bring on need to update plan

Full implementation no later than EAR-based plan update

Law is direction-setting, rule-making initiated

Voluntary Action & Climate Protection

• Many Florida communities have taken on Energy/Climate Protection on a voluntary basis.

• Climate Protection Agreements• “free-riding” is less of a barrier than predicted

• Why is “free-riding” not a severe problem? • Production of localized benefits • Complimentary effects for ongoing environmental,

development or growth management efforts• Supported by network interactions• Generation of selective benefits to elected and appointed

local governments officials

Explanations• Community Demand

• Education/Environmental preferences, climate risk

• Local Policy Benefits• Energy Conservation - cost savings• Emission reductions - pollution reduction, health benefits• Economic Development - New energy economy• Growth Management and Smart Growth

• Institutional Factors• Manager and Elected Officials’ career incentives

• Complimentary Policies• Comprehensive Planning• Economic Development

Results Summary• Larger, higher spending, and well educated

communities are more likely to adopt climate change agreements.

• District representation decreases the likelihood of voluntary action.

• Economic development policy positively related to adoption of climate protection agreements.

• Are voluntary Climate Protections primarily symbolic? – SURVEY of ENERGY AND CLIMATE PROTECTION ACTIONS

SURVEY PROJECT:Energy Sustainable Florida CommunitiesRichard Feiock and Ivonne Audirac, FSU

Some VERY PRELIMINARY Results:-based on 60 online responses

The Institute for Energy Systems, Economics and Sustainability (IESES) at Florida State University is investigating Florida local government actions related to energy efficiency and climate change to better understand and assess local efforts and to assist local governments in Florida. This project is supported by the FSU Center for Florida Local Government Excellence. Your participation is critical to the success of these efforts. This survey will take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete. We anticipate that the results will also benefit local governments and we will share these results with all participants. Your answers to survey questions will remain confidential to the full extent allowed by law. The results of this research study will be published, but individual respondent will not be identifiable in any reports. If you have any questions concerning this research study, please contact Dr. Richard Feiock by email at rfeiock@fsu.edu or phone at (850)644-3525. Thank you.

Please return this questionnaire to:Richard C. FeiockAskew School of Public Administration and PolicyFlorida State University Tallahassee FL 32306-2250

Importance of Energy/Climate Issues

Obstacles to Sustainability

Importance of Green Business

Addressed in Comp Plan Elements Prior to HB697

Approach to HB697

How can the State Encourage and Support Voluntary Local Action within the Planning Framework?

Regional Approaches? How can Diverse State Policy be Linked to Sustainability? ---policy arenas identified in survey:• Energy & Climate Policy• Comprehensive Plans & State and Federal Policy• Zoning Regulations Subdivision Regulations and Permitting • Land Use and Open Space• Housing and Green Building• Transportation• Economic Development• Energy Cost Reduction by Government• Organization and Intergovernmental Relations • Investing in Energy & Climate Change Competencies

Issues for Consideration

Research Agenda

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Thank You

                                  

Sustainable Energy Governance Centerhttp://seg.fsu.edu

Richard FeiockAskew School of Public Administration

Institute for Energy Systems Economics & Sustainability