Climate Fast Facts: Florida

Clean Businesses (2007)	Clean Jobs (2007)	Clean Job Growth (1998-2007)	Overall Job Growth (1998-2007)	Jobs Lost (2008-2009)

3,831	31,122	7.9%	22.4%	392,800

Climate and Energy Resources

Latest Climate Science (Union of Concerned Scientists)
Global Warming & Florida (National Wildlife Federation)
Energy by the Numbers- Florida (World Resources Institute)
Cost of Delay (Environmental Defense Fund)
Meeting the International Clean Energy and Climate Change Challenges (The White House)

Jobs

The clean energy economy, just as in other southern states, is showing strong growth (job growth of 7.9%) in Florida, especially along the coasts and in the center. In the last two years Florida has lost 676,000 jobs in other sectors, among the highest rate of job loss in the country. A $150 billion clean energy investment across the country would bring 95,000 jobs and about $8.1 billion investment to the state, reducing unemployment by 1 percent.

Clean-Energy Investments Create Jobs in Florida (Center for American Progress/PERI)
Florida: Green Prosperity and Poverty Reduction (Natural Resources Defense Council)
Green Prosperity and Poverty Reduction: Tampa, FL (Natural Resources Defense Council)
Green Prosperity and Poverty Reduction: Miami, FL (Natural Resources Defense Council)
Florida’s Road to Energy Independence (Blue Green Alliance)
Clean Energy Jobs in Florida (Environmental Defense Fund)
Clean Energy and Climate Policies Lead to Economic Growth in Florida (Environmental Entrepreneurs)

Opportunity

Economic opportunity abounds if Florida shifts from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. Committing to a 30 percent growth in solar in the United States would bring 1,144 jobs and $935 million investment to Florida. The state could realize 3,371 jobs manufacturing wind turbines and $1.12 billion investment in the wind industry alone if 50,000 MW of new wind energy is created at the national level.

ACES Funding for Efficiency Investments-FL (Environment Northeast)

Southeast Energy Opportunities: Renewable Energy Opportunities in Florida (World Resources Institute, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy)

Charting a New Path for Florida’s Electricity Generation and Use (National Wildlife Federation)
The Clean Energy Economy: Florida (Pew Center)

Energy Efficiency Program Impacts and Policies in the Southeast (Southern Alliance for Clean Energy)
Renewable Energy Works: Florida

Cut Costs

The average family in Florida would save $4.90 per month on their energy bills and $14.22 per month on vehicle fuel costs if the American Clean Energy and Security Act was enacted.

Climate Bill Cuts Electricity Bills (Natural Resources Defense Council)
Climate-Protection Policies Cut Fuel Bills (Natural Resources Defense Council)
Summary of Competitiveness Provisions in ACES (Center for Clean Air Policy)
Analysis of Allowances to States, Energy Consumers Under HR 2454 (World Resources Institute)
Southeast Energy Opportunities: Water and Watts in Florida (World Resources Institute, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy)
Carbon Cap Critics Predict Healthy Economy in Florida under Cap-and-Trade (PERI/UMASS)
Clean Energy, Green Jobs: A National Renewable Electricity Standard Will Boost the Economy and Protect the Environment (Union of Concerned Scientists)

Climate Consequences

Stronger hurricanes, heavier rainfall, and rising sea level will threaten Atlantic and Gulf coast states. This c0uld be a blow to tourism and hunting and angling industries so integral to the Florida economy.

Protecting Florida’s Economy, Communities and Environment from Global Warming (The Wilderness Society)
Human Health Impacts of Global Warming on Florida (Pew Center)
Increasing Vulnerability to Hurricanes: Global Warming’s Wake-Up Call for the U.S. Gulf and Atlantic Coasts (National Wildlife Federation)
More Variable and Uncertain Water Supply: Global Warming’s Wake-Up Call for the Southeastern United States (National Wildlife Federation)
Florida: Safeguarding Wildlife from Global Warming (National Wildlife Federation)
Global Climate Change Impacts on the U.S.: Southeast Assessment (Union of Concerned Scientists)
Don't Rig Our Coastal Economy: The Threat from Offshore Drilling (Sierra Club)
Hotter Fields, Lower Yields: Global Warming's Impact on Agriculture (Environment America)

A Preliminary Analysis of the Effects of HR 2454 on U.S. Agriculture (USDA)

Climate Change in the United States: The Prohibitive Costs of Inaction (Union of Concerned Scientists)

Exposed: Social Vulnerability and Climate Change in the U.S. Southeast (Oxfam America)

State Action

While Congress debates climate and energy legislation on the Hill, Florida has completed a state climate action plan, has an individual state cap-and-trade program, and has instituted a renewable fuel standard in addition to providing financial incentives promoting biofuels.