The Ethanol Bill
SB 238: Florida Renewable Fuel Standard Act
GENERAL BILL by Evers; (CO-INTRODUCER) Gaetz
Florida Renewable Fuel Standard Act; Repealing the Florida Renewable Fuel Standard Act, to remove the requirement that all gasoline offered for sale in this state include a percentage of ethanol, subject to specified exemptions, waivers, suspensions, extensions, enforcement, and reporting; conforming a cross-reference, etc.
Senate Committee References: Communications, Energy, and Public Utilities (CU), Commerce and Tourism (CM)
Location: In committee/council (CM)
Last Action: 11/22/2011 On Committee agenda-- Commerce and Tourism, 12/07/11, 9:30 am, 401 Senate Office Building --Temporarily Postponed (TP)
http://www.flsenate.gov/PublishedContent/Committees/2010-2012/CM/MeetingRecords/Meeting_packet_for_Dec_7.pdf
The link above on pp 135-149 show the scheduled speakers from the public. There were 6 slated to speak against the bill and only 2 to speak for it. No one was allowed to speak. The bill was "TP'ed". Senator Lynn had a change of heart about the bill (since her vote to repeal in the first committee---10 yes, 1 no, BTW)fearing the possible loss of jobs (by ethanol plants being planned/built). She wanted more time to think about it. I think that she and another senator had been approached by ethanol companies since the first committee meeting. The chair, Nancy Detert was against the bill. Now if it fails to pass committee, the senators wouldn't experience any political fallout from a committee vote.
Most of the speakers against the repeal were executives of ethanol plant companies: Highlands Enviro Fuels, Ineos Bio, Benchmark Designs and Florida Bioenergy Association. Besides Richard Harrison a tea party member, speaking for the bill was Bonnie Bashani of Boat US in Tallahassee. (See the weblink above) I think we needed more support at the meeting for the bill.
We need to work on the Senate Committee members (Commerce and Tourism) to persuade them of the damage being done to consumers by this stupid law. The committee members are: Lynn, Dockery, Detert, Montford (for the repeal), Ring, and Flores. Chair:
- Senator Nancy C. Detert (R)
- Senator Paula Dockery (R)
- Senator Anitere Flores (R)
- Senator Evelyn J. Lynn (R)
- Senator Bill Montford (D)
- Senator Jeremy
Video of the committee meeting was not available.
Observation: it isn't fair that 1 powerful Senate Committee can kill a repeal which might otherwise pass if allowed to go to the floor. We MUST change this practice---somehow. The Senate Environmental Conservation & Preservation Committee killed the septic tank law repeal last year---by themselves!
Note: Not only do they work against us they use our tax dollars to do it.
The Highlands EnviroFuels, LLC project was awarded a $7 million grant from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Farm to Fuel Program to be used for project development and for the purchase of plant and equipment.
John Collins
352 219 0092
Gainesville Tea Party
The Tea Party Network Co-Chair Membership
