July 27, 2010
Alex Sink Unveils Plan to Create New Energy Future for Florida
Miami, FL - Florida CFO and Gubernatorial Candidate Alex Sink unveiled her plan today to make Florida a leader in the new energy economy and bring a clean, job-rich energy future to our state. Visiting a solar business in Miami with leaders in the energy industry, Sink pointed to the economic threat caused by our current energy situation and the economic opportunities a new energy industry will create for Florida. She emphasized that the time is now for a leader who will ensure Florida adopts an innovative energy policy.
"The oil disaster impacting our state has clearly shown the economic threat we face if we continue our overreliance on oil -- but Florida is also missing out on significant economic opportunities. We lag behind many states in renewable energy production and manufacturing, and the absence of a clear vision and a consistent energy policy is costing Floridians good-paying, sustainable jobs," said Alex Sink. "As Florida's next Governor, I will move our state decisively toward a more reliable, clean, and job-generating energy future."
To remake our economy, Alex Sink will be Florida's economic ambassador to attract new, green businesses to our state and focus on public-private partnerships. By highlighting the new energy innovations already taking place across Florida, and implementing consistent and supportive policies, she will create the environment needed for these businesses to attract investments and grow. Sink will also make it easier for cutting-edge research in renewable energy to move from the lab to the marketplace.
Sink plans to build on the groundwork laid by the Climate Action Team and make Florida a model for the nation in new energy technology. She will move Florida forward in adopting a comprehensive and effective energy policy that addresses efficiency and renewable resource standards for the state and help create potentially hundreds of thousands of jobs in the green energy sector.
Alex Sink's energy plan will create jobs and help remake Florida's economy by:
Promoting Energy Efficiency - Alex Sink will encourage efforts that lead to greater use of energy-efficient products and manufacturing processes, work to expand statewide rebate programs that some utilities now offer customers, and actively promote current efficiency programs like PACE loans.
Encouraging Innovation and Entrepreneurship - Alex Sink will promote public-private partnerships with Florida's research universities, industries and entrepreneurs to grow jobs for solar, biofuels and other clean technology industries. She will also move Florida toward adopting a Renewable Portfolio Standard that will not negatively impact ratepayers.
Increasing Energy Stability for Consumers - Technology breakthroughs are enabling utility customers to monitor and manage their electricity usage remotely over the internet. Alex Sink will work with utilities and the energy industry to expand the use of "smart-grid" technologies to help increase consumer awareness of their electric use and bring more stability in electricity supplies and prices.
A summary of Alex Sink's plan for Florida's New Energy Future is below and her detailed plan can be viewed at www.AlexSink2010.com/EnergyPlan
