Florida Legislation Would Ban Local Climate Policies - CleanTechnica

The Florida legislature has advanced a bill, House Bill 1217, that would prohibit local governments—cities, towns, and counties—from adopting or implementing any “net-zero” climate policies. This ban extends to comprehensive plans, land development regulations, transportation plans, and other government procedures aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The bill also forbids local governments from paying dues to organizations promoting net-zero policies and from implementing cap-and-trade systems. Proponents, such as Seminole Republican Berny Jacques, argue the measure is intended to maintain uniformity across the state and prevent increased costs to consumers resulting from local clean energy initiatives, despite lacking concrete evidence that such policies impose excessive financial burdens. This legislation comes nearly two years after Governor Ron DeSantis signed a law removing climate change considerations from state energy policy. It threatens to undo progress made by at least 14 Florida localities that have committed to 100% clean, renewable energy goals, as well as regional collaborations like the Southeast Florida Climate Change Compact