TALLAHASSEE, Florida — A bill that would prevent local governments from imposing charges on greenhouse gas emissions cleared its final hurdle in the Florida House on Thursday.
Details: State representatives voted to pass FL HB1217 (26R), which would bar local governments from enacting or enforcing any net-zero policies or cap-and-trade programs used to set limits on greenhouse gas emissions.
At least a dozen major cities and counties across Florida have adopted net-zero policies or entered into agreements to reduce emissions. The bill’s GOP sponsors maintained that they support renewable energy, but said the legislation prevents citizens from being forced to pay higher costs for fossil fuel alternatives.
“What we cannot allow to happen is a patchwork where either local governments, or any government rather, establishes these types of policies where we’re not allowed to, in essence, have choice in the marketplace,” said state Rep. John Snyder (R-Stuart), the bill’s co-sponsor.
