Florida Energy and Climate Commission

In 2008, the Florida Legislature passed HB 7135, the 2008 Energy and Economic Development Legislative, creating the Florida Energy & Climate Commission within the Executive Office of the Governor to centralize state energy and climate change programs and policy development. The Commission held a variety of responsibilities, including administering financial incentive programs, of which grants to local governments are contingent on the consideration of climate change impacts. The Commission was also was responsible for overseeing implementation of both mitigation and adaptation recommendations from the state’s Climate Action Plan.

In May 2011 the legislature passed a bill to abolish the Florida Energy and Climate Commission. The new legislation, effective July 1, 2011, was signed in June 2011 by new Governor Rick Scott, and transfers the Commission’s functions to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.