Climate Victory in Florida!

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Dear friends,

Join us today in celebrating a huge youth-led climate victory in Florida!

This morning in Miami, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Commissioner Nikki Fried released a proposed rule that sets goals to increase the use of renewable energy in the state of Florida. This action is in response to a petition for rulemaking that was filed on January 5th by Our Children’s Trust and local co-counsel on behalf of four youth climate leaders (all former plaintiffs in our Reynolds v. State of Florida case!) and over 200 fellow young Floridians.

Youth petitioners Valholly and Delaney with FDACS Commissioner Nikki Fried. Watch a recording of Delaney and Valholly speaking at the press conference here! (Photo by Passion Ward)

The rule announced by FDACS Commissioner Fried today uses the language proposed by the youth in their petition for rulemaking and sets the following renewable energy goals for Florida utilities: at least 40% by 2030, 63% by 2035, 82% by 2040, and 100% by 2050. The proposed rule also requires utilities to submit their 10-year energy plans to FDACS so the agency can evaluate whether the utilities’ long term energy plans are capable of achieving the renewable energy goals, and requires FDACS to annually report the utilities’ progress in meeting the goals to the Public Service Commission, Governor, and Legislature.

Delaney speaking at the 4/21/22 press conference (Photo by Passion Ward)

We Only Have 21 Days to Take the Next Critical Step!
While today’s announcement is a huge step forward, there is still work to do - and young people in Florida need your help!

We now have 21 days to submit public comments to FDACS in support of this proposed rule. Until May 12th, members of the public can submit public comments here or by emailing Kelley Smith Burk, FDACS Energy Director, at Energy@FDACS.gov.

Please take a few minutes to submit your comment today! You’ll find sample text, as well as the instructions above for how to submit your public comments, on our website here. Then help us spread the word and encourage your friends, family, and others to submit a public comment using our social media toolkit!

Valholly speaking at the 4/21/22 press conference (Photo by Passion Ward)

It only takes a few minutes to have a big impact, standing in solidarity with the youth who submitted their petition for rulemaking to FDACS while also expressing public support for renewable energy in Florida. Submitting a public comment is a quick, easy, and powerful way to let FDACS know that people everywhere support this commitment to rapidly transitioning Florida’s utilities to renewable energy sources!

Be sure to submit your public comment by May 12th!

“Implementing rules that demand Florida utilities only use sustainable energy sources is wonderful news for Florida’s future and our environment. With the process in place, now it is time for utilities to publicly embrace the transition and its 2050 deadline. Thanks to the Florida Department of Agriculture for accepting our Petition and, especially, to the young people all over the State that stood with me in demanding that our elected officials begin to actually take real action to eliminate the core cause of our climate crisis: mankind’s fossil fuel use.”
- Delaney Reynolds, co-lead youth petitioner

Thank You!
Our sincere thanks in advance to everyone in our community who will submit a public comment to support this proposed rule and these young climate leaders. And our wholehearted thanks to the four youth petitioners who have led this effort - Delaney, Isaac, Levi, and Valholly - as well as every young person in Florida who joined them in signing the petition for rulemaking. We are so grateful for your leadership and, today, we celebrate your victory!

To a safer climate future in Florida,

The Team at Our Children’s Trust

DONATE TODAY AND YOUR GIFT WILL BE DOUBLED!

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