Partnerships
FADE
Rethink Energy Florida participates in Floridians Against Dirty Energy (FADE) , a state-wide coalition of organizations in opposition to fossil fuel infrastructure. Fossil fuels are energy sources extracted from the Earth’s crust created by decomposing plants and animals. Fossil fuels include oil, natural gas, and coal. When burned, fossil fuels emit gasses such as carbon dioxide and methane, commonly referred to as “greenhouse gasses,” which trap heat in the atmosphere.
City & Town Residents
Port St. Joe
Rethink Energy Florida is currently working with residents in Port St. Joe against a proposed Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) Facility near the Gulf of Mexico. A Miami liquified natural gas company called Nopetro plans to develop the 60-acre plot, which is owned by the local utility company. Liquified natural gas facilities do not receive adequate oversight from the state or federal government despite liquified natural gas’s explosive composition.
Liquified Natural Gas facilities process methane, a greenhouse gas three times more powerful at trapping heat than carbon dioxide in its first 20 years. The term ‘liquified natural gas’ refers to the transformation of natural gas, primarily methane, into a liquid form. In its liquid state, methane is explosive posing risks for nearby communities if transportation goes wrong.
LNG facilities also contaminate the surrounding water, a problem for the already damaged Gulf of Mexico ecosystem recovering from years of pollution and destructive hurricanes, such as Category 5 Hurricane Michael in 2018.
Youth Input
In addition to our outreach and education programs, ReThink gives youth opportunities to voice their opinion.
Victories
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ReThink founded the Tallahassee 100% Together Coalition, which successfully pushed for and is implementing the 100% renewable energy goal for the city of Tallahassee.
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ReThink also founded the Floridians Against Fracking Coalition, which has successfully mobilized the grassroots to defeat several pro-fossil fuel industry bills, introduced bi-partisan fracking bans, and supported renewable energy bills.
Net Metering
During the 2022 Florida Legislative session, Rethink Energy Florida and other environmental organizations in Florida successfully defeated SB 1024 and HB 741, which aimed to dismantle the popular Net Metering policy in Florida. Net metering encourages renewable energy use by paying solar customers for the excess energy produced by their solar panels. A rooftop solar customer generates energy to power their home or business and any extra solar energy that they are not using goes back to the electric grid. The customer receives a credit for the energy they produce and contribute back to the grid. This credit can be used towards their electric bill, making power more affordable year-round.
SB 1024 and HB 741 would have changed the compensation given to rooftop solar utility customers from a fair market rate to a wholesale rate, even though rooftop solar customers do not produce the same amount of energy as wholesale providers. Thus, these policy would have unfairly reduced compensation to solar customers who have made an investment that benefits both their homes and their community.