Florida

Fueling Florida’s Future

The U.S.’s fourth most populous state with 1,000 people moving to the state each day, Florida is the nation’s third largest transportation fuels market. As of 2006, Floridians were using 8.6 billion gallons of gasoline per year and consumption is growing by 300 million gallons per year. One hundred percent of this gasoline is imported via ocean vessels, and the state has 1,800 miles of coastline. These factors combined leave Florida extremely vulnerable to disruptions in oil supply.

Image

As Governor Scott encourages an expansion of biofuels, he has supported a reduction in the 54-cent-a-gallon tariff on imported ethanol. At a meeting at Sao Paulo's Industry Federation (FIESP), he stated that “We [Florida] are a gateway [for ethanol to the United States] and we're all about reducing taxes.” There have also been discussions of an E-10 mandate, which would require that all gasoline be mixed with ten percent ethanol.

Indeed, Florida’s geographic proximity and connectivity to the region provide the opportunity for the state to establish a new policy of engagement with Latin America and the Caribbean on environmental and energy issues. As Florida’s trade, business, and immigration flows with the region continue to increase, Gateway Florida will work tirelessly to ensure that effective environmental strategies in one place are not mitigated by a lack of attention in contiguous or nearby locales outside of Florida’s political jurisdiction. Additionally, Latin America, particularly Brazil, has the potential to compliment Florida’s emerging renewable fuel production through imports, infrastructure investment and technology transfer. Governor Crist’s leadership on climate change and renewable energy not only serve the interests of Florida, but also compliment and support our national energy and trade priorities. 
 
< Prev   Next >
[ Back ]