Alternative Fuel Groups Unite; Coalition Forms To Encourage Clean Fuel for Florida
12 February 1998
Alternative Fuel Groups Unite; Coalition Forms To Encourage Clean Fuel for Florida
TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Feb. 12 -- Representatives from four major
alternative fuel groups powering vehicles in Florida have united to form Clean
Fuel Florida, a coalition supporting legislation encouraging the use of lower-
emission transportation fuels.
Alternative fuels, including electric, biodiesel, propane and natural gas,
have been widely recognized as providing solutions to the nation's problems of
poor air quality and over-reliance on imported oil.
"This is the first time those of us in the electric vehicle industry have
joined together with natural gas, propane gas and biodiesel interests to
present a unified front to propose supportive legislation," said Bob Suggs of
Florida Power and Light, who serves as chairman of the group.
In addition to utilities, membership includes representatives of the
state's three Clean Cities Programs, the Southern Coalition for Advanced
Transportation and other groups supporting lower-emission vehicles in the
Sunshine State.
The coalition is backing legislation creating a special task force to
study various incentive programs which either have been enacted or are being
considered in other states, and to identify a dedicated revenue source to fund
future incentive programs for all four groups.
"By joining together to encourage a serious look at alternative fuels,
this group is taking a giant step toward creating a sustainable transportation
system for Florida's future," said John Bradley of the Center for Urban
Transportation Research at the University of South Florida, and overall
coordinator for the state's Clean Cities Program. "We're dealing with issues
here that are apolitical, borderless and fuel neutral, which is what the
coalition is all about."
The coalition has the support of the natural gas and propane gas
industries through their trade associations.
"The natural gas industry in Florida, like other clean fuel supporters,
has already made a substantial investment in helping the state get on the
forefront of alternative fuel vehicle technology," said Chuck Stein, president
of the Florida Natural Gas Association. "Now we need to work together to
build on those efforts and ensure that Florida's citizens can continue to reap
all the benefits of a thriving clean fuel market."
"The benefits of alternative fuels include cleaner air and energy
security. Each alternative fuel has its place in the market, but we need to
work together to get there," said Barry Jordan, president of the Florida
Propane Gas Association.
"It is a pleasure to collaborate with all the alternative fuels groups as
a unified alliance to further promote alternative fuels and clean air for the
State of Florida," said Holly Svekis, information research manager for NOPEC
Corp., a Lakeland company which produces biodiesel fuel.
Under the legislation proposed by the group, the task force will be housed
in the Florida Department of Community Affairs and coordinated by the Florida
Energy Office, eliminating the need for additional overhead and staff costs.
"We think this is the way Florida ought to go to help diminish its
reliance on foreign oil, and to help assure the creation of jobs and increased
economic development," Suggs said. "By identifying a recurring stream of
income now, the Legislature will have an established trust fund to help pay
for incentives the task force recommends."
SOURCE Clean Fuel Florida
