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Florida could add 135,000 jobs by embracing five energy policies
By Annie Gilleo, Senior Manager, State Policy
New ACEEE research shows that Florida could bolster energy efficiency policies to gain 135,000 jobs, making the state’s economy a bit sunnier.
In 2017, Florida ranked fourth in the nation for efficiency jobs. But with so many untapped energy efficiency opportunities, the state could gain thousands of additional jobs. That’s because efficiency creates local jobs both directly — by employing workers to perform energy audits, manufacture efficient equipment, and install efficient appliances — and indirectly, by generating bill savings that help grow the economy.
How to make these jobs a reality? Here are five key steps.
- Set stronger energy savings goals for Florida utilities. In ACEEE’s most recent State Energy Efficiency Scorecard, the Sunshine State ranked 36th for spending on utility sector electric efficiency programs. Ramping up energy savings to 1% per year, following a pathway already proven by states like Arkansas, would deliver more than 100,000 jobs.
- Adopt state-level appliance standards. California leads the way in raising and adopting state-level appliance standards that help move the least efficient products out of the marketplace, but states like Arizona, Texas, Georgia, and Vermont have also put standards in place. Florida has a history of setting its own standards, joining with other states in the 1970s and 1980s in setting standards for refrigerators and air conditioners, but there are many more recent standards that Florida has yet to adopt…
To read the report, visit: http://www2.aceee.org/e/310911/white-paper-fl-jobs-022719/6y9hz5/311650094?h=N68IZrStWgI4utdyw-cyXulqeOHuSbFn2_2zsfxM0As
To continue reading the blog post, visit: http://www2.aceee.org/e/310911/-florida-could-add-135000-jobs/6y9hzc/311650094?h=N68IZrStWgI4utdyw-cyXulqeOHuSbFn2_2zsfxM0As
About ACEEE: The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy acts as a catalyst to advance energy efficiency policies, programs, technologies, investments, and behaviors. For information about ACEEE and its programs, publications, and conferences, visit aceee.org