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Miami Herald: ‘A baffling decision’: DeSantis vetoes bipartisan bill to buy Florida more electric cars

Posted by Alex Harris on Jun 30, 2023

Miami Herald sheds light on Florida's Republican Governor Ron DeSantis' decision to veto a bill that would have saved the Sunshine State's taxpayers millions of dollars, quoting Michael Weiss about the negative impacts of this unanticipated ruling.

A bill modernizing how Florida buys state vehicles, a change that would have saved a ton of money and likely led to more electric cars and trucks, came with rare bipartisan backing from the Florida Legislature.

It was sponsored by a Republican and passed with a nearly unanimous vote in the majority Republican legislature. It was endorsed by two groups often at odds, the Sierra Club and the Florida Natural Gas Association. Estimates suggest it could have saved hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars and cut down on the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change.

But late Wednesday night, Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed it in a surprise decision that also seemed to go against his past history of support for electric cars.

“This veto is a baffling decision that will cost Florida taxpayers millions of dollars,” Michael Weiss, Florida state lead at Advanced Energy United, a trade group promoting clean transportation that supported the bill, said in a statement. “The Florida Legislature saw the clear economic and taxpayer benefits of a modern and efficient state fleet, but Gov. DeSantis somehow didn’t get the memo.”

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Topics: United In The News, Michael Weiss, Florida

Gov. DeSantis Vetoes Commonsense State Fleets Bill Which Could Have Saved Florida Taxpayers $277 Million

Posted by Adam Winer on Jun 29, 2023

Similar bills that help the state save money on fleet procurement costs have been signed by Republican governors in Nevada and Virginia

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Yesterday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis vetoed SB 284, a widely popular bipartisan bill that passed the Legislature nearly unanimously and would have saved Florida taxpayers up to $277 million on state-owned vehicles. The legislation would have allowed the state to consider fuel and maintenance costs in purchasing decisions for state fleets, making it easier for the state to transition to more cost-effective electric vehicles.

“This veto is a baffling decision that will cost Florida taxpayers millions of dollars,” said Michael Weiss, Florida state lead at Advanced Energy United, the national association of businesses working to achieve 100% clean energy and electrified transportation in America. “The Florida legislature saw the clear economic and taxpayer benefits of a modern and efficient state fleet, but Gov. DeSantis somehow didn’t get the memo.”

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Topics: Advanced Transportation, Press Releases, Michael Weiss, Florida

Florida Legislature Passes Bill To Save State Fleets Money on Cars and Trucks, Goes to the Governor’s Desk

Posted by Adam Winer on May 3, 2023

Switching the state's fleets to electric vehicles could save Florida up to $277 million over fifteen years 

TALLAHASSEE, FL, May 3, 2023 – Today, the Florida Legislature passed a bill that will help reduce vehicle fleet procurement costs for the state and open the door for alternatively-fueled vehicles to become a bigger part of the state’s future fleet. “SB 284 - Energy” would require the Florida Department of Management Services (DMS) to consider not just the initial purchase price but the total cost of ownership for new additions to the state’s vehicle fleet, including operations, fuel, and maintenance costs. It also asks DMS to recommend the same standards to state agencies, local governments, and state colleges and universities. 

“We know that alternative fuel vehicles like electric vehicles have lower fuel and maintenance costs, and this bill will help ensure those benefits are factored into state fleet purchasing decisions,” said Michael Weiss, Florida state lead for Advanced Energy United, a national trade association of clean transportation and energy companies. "We thank Senator Jason Brodeur and Representative Mike Caruso for their leadership sponsoring and championing this common-sense legislation." 

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Topics: Advanced Transportation, Press Releases, Michael Weiss, Florida

Florida Senate Unanimously Approves ‘Total Cost of Ownership’ Bill for State Fleet Vehicles

Posted by Adam Winer on Apr 11, 2023

The legislation requires updated procurement standards that could save Florida taxpayers up to $277 million 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. April 11, 2023 – Today, national business group Advanced Energy United applauded the Florida Senate’s passage of CS/CS/SB 284: Energy. The bill would require the Department of Management Services (DMS) to consider not just the initial purchase price but the total cost of ownership for new additions to the state’s vehicle fleet, including operations, fuel, and maintenance costs. It also asks DMS to make recommendations to state agencies, local governments, and state colleges and universities using the same standards. 

Research from Advanced Energy United and the Electrification Coalition showed the bill has the potential to save Florida an average of $18,000 per vehicle by considering the total cost of ownership in vehicle procurement decisions. A full transition to electric vehicles for the state fleet could save Florida up to $277 million over that same period. 

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Topics: State Policy, Advanced Transportation, Press Releases, Michael Weiss, Florida

The Detroit News (Opinion): Whitmer should make Michigan a clean energy leader

Posted by Michael Weiss and Laura Sherman on Nov 13, 2022

Detroit News published Michael Weiss and Laura Sherman's opinion piece on how Gov. Whitmer has a once-in-a-generation chance to revolutionize the state’s energy and automobile sector. Read snippets below and the full article here.

With the reelection of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan has a once-in-a-generation chance to revolutionize the state’s energy and automobile sector. Whitmer should use her second term to maximize federal funding and incentives from the Inflation Reduction Acts and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to reduce energy costs for Michigan residents and fulfill the goals of the MI Healthy Climate Plan.

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Topics: Federal Policy, United In The News, Manufacturing, Michael Weiss

Florida Politics (Opinion): NextEra Energy’s Real Zero is a great step forward, but more needs to be done to reduce energy costs

Posted by Michael Weiss on Jun 28, 2022

Florida Politics published an op-ed from AEE's Michael Weiss analyzing how NextEra's zero carbon goal will positively impact Florida's clean energy landscape. Read snippets below and the full article here.

NextEra Energy, the parent company of Florida Power & Light, recently announced a highly laudable goal of eliminating its carbon emissions from its operations by 2045 on June 14, 2022.

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Topics: Utility, United In The News, Michael Weiss

AEE applauds Governor DeSantis for vetoing anti-solar bill in Florida

Posted by Adam Winer on Apr 27, 2022

The bill that was approved by the Florida legislature earlier this year threatened the growth of the solar industry in the Sunshine State

TALLAHASSEE – Today, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis vetoed House Bill 741.  

Advanced Energy Economy’s Florida policy lead Michael Weiss issued the following statement in response to Governor DeSantis’s veto: 

“On behalf of the advanced energy industry, including solar installation and manufacturing companies and the thousands of people employed by these industries in Florida, AEE thanks Governor DeSantis for seeing the damage that would have been done from ending net metering in the state. The Governor’s veto ensures that solar panels on residential homes in Florida retain their full value, and households are fairly compensated for the energy they provide back to the power grid.

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Topics: Michael Weiss, Florida

AEE applauds Michigan's state climate plan, including roadmap to 52 percent emissions reductions by 2030

Posted by Adam Winer on Apr 21, 2022

EGLE’s release of the MI Healthy Climate Plan will put Michigan on track to be a leader in the advanced energy revolution.

LANSING, April 21, 2022 – Today, Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council (Michigan EIBC) and Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) applauded Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s release of the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s (EGLE) MI Healthy Climate Plan. The administration established a goal of economy-wide carbon neutrality by 2050 when Governor Whitmer signed Executive Directive 2020-10. The MI Healthy Climate Plan focuses on an interim roadmap to 52 percent greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

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Topics: Press Releases, Michael Weiss, Michigan