Clean Energy Action Team
Help Spread Solar and Electric Vehicles!
Clean Energy and Transportation in Florida
Making Florida # 1 in Solar Energy and Electric Vehicle Initiatives
The Florida League has two main areas of focus for clean energy: expansion of rooftop solar and adoption of electric vehicles (EVs).
Since 2016, the LWVFL has worked vigorously to achieve significant growth in the adoption of rooftop solar. Starting in 2019, electric vehicles were added to the clean energy campaign.
How Can You Make a Difference?
Get Involved by Starting a Solar Co-op in Your Community! It’s Easy and Fun!
Be the catalyst to start a solar cooperative. In the last three years, the League has helped to start 50+ co-ops around the state, resulting in $36 Million+ of solar on Florida rooftops.
Will you help get a co-op started in your county? Call or text Mary Dipboye, our solar expert at 407-340-9680.
Our partner, Solar United Neighbors of Florida, helps homeowners learn about and access affordable solar via volume purchasing and competitive bidding to achieve major discounts. To find out more, go to SolarUnitedNeighbors.org/Florida
Other Ways to Get Involved with Solar
- Adopt Ambitious Goals: Tell your city and county officials to adopt ambitious goals RE: clean, renewable energy. For example, eight cities in Florida have adopted the goal of using 100% renewable energy by a specified date. Urge these officials to track and report progress toward these goals.
- Measure Energy Use of Local Government: Ask your city, county, and school elected officials to measure and report their energy usage and costs in ways that are easy to access by citizens. Then, challenge officials to reduce their energy usage and costs by using energy conservation, energy-efficient design, equipment upgrades, and solar energy.
- Achieve SolSmart Recognition: Urge the heads of your city and county building permit offices to attain gold status in the U.S. Department of Energy’s SolSmart This free, voluntary program is designed to give recognition to permitting offices that streamline and speed up the permit and inspection process for reviewing solar arrays.
- Advocate for Pro-Solar Policies: Sign up for the Solar United Neighbors E-newsletter to get action alerts and updates on policies impacting solar adoption and more in Florida. Become a “solar champion” by telling your elected officials, often, that you and your neighbors, support clean energy, particularly solar energy.
Alert: Transportation is a Major Carbon Source
Working to address the fact that transportation now accounts for more climate-warming carbon than power plants, the League has launched Next Car Pledge. This campaign is designed to speed up the transition to cleaner, quieter, and cheaper electric transportation, in partnership with the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE). Also, the League released a 2020 Report Card on EV Readiness by County.
Get Involved by Supporting Electric Vehicle Initiatives!
- Create an Electric Vehicle (EV) Committee and work on the action items below.
- Use the Report Card to educate local policymakers and to advocate for more charging stations.
- Urge city and county governments to purchase EVs for their fleets.
- Send letters to the editor of your local paper about how EVs save money and improve our community health.
- Test-drive or rent an EV, and urge your family, friends, and neighbors to do the same.
- Find or request a Driving on Sunshine event near you as a way to test drive an EV.
- Join the Electrify the South Email Newsletter to stay informed on EV options, technology, and policy in our region.
- Join the Next Car Pledge Campaign. Thinking of going electric? Get the latest facts and EV news, updates, and events.
- Read the Policies for Local Governments to Accelerate Electric Vehicles at electrifythesouth/toolkit.
- Host an information session on EV ownership for your League or community. Invite EV owners, dealers, government officials, and electric utility officials to participate on a panel.
- To learn more about encouraging EV expansion, call or text Maxine Connor: 413-539-3256.
How Can Cities and Counties Make a Difference?
Urge your local City Council and County Commission to:
- Create a Sustainability/Resilience Citizen Advisory Committee.
- Hire a Sustainability Director.
- Charge the Committee to work with the Director to create a Sustainability/Resilience Plan with a
commitment to 100% clean, renewable energy by a future date, which includes energy conservation/
efficiency measures, and action steps for expanding solar and electrification of transportation. - Adopt the Plan and hold themselves accountable for progress.
How Can the State of Florida Make a Difference?
- Urge your State Legislators to enact legislation and promote policies:
- for energy conservation and greater use of renewable sources such as solar energy.
- to expand solar and the electrification of transportation.
How Can Cities and Counties Make a Difference?
Urge your local City Council and County Commission to:
- Create a Sustainability/Resilience Citizen Advisory Committee.
- Hire a Sustainability Director.
- Charge the Committee to work with the Director to create a Sustainability/Resilience Plan with a
commitment to 100% clean, renewable energy by a future date, which includes energy conservation/
efficiency measures, and action steps for expanding solar and electrification of transportation. - Adopt the Plan and hold themselves accountable for progress.
How Can the State of Florida Make a Difference?
- Urge your State Legislators to enact legislation and promote policies:
- for energy conservation and greater use of renewable sources such as solar energy.
- to expand solar and the electrification of transportation.
Join the Clean Energy Action Team for the Solar/EV Conference Calls
Each month, co-chairs of the Solar and Clean Energy Transportation Campaigns host a conference call for League members and others interested in learning about and working on solar and EV initiatives. Everyone is welcome. Experts are often invited to share their knowledge. To receive notices of conference calls, sign up with Maxine Connor at maxineconnor@gmail.com.
Co-chairs for Clean Energy/Solar Campaign: Deirdre Macnab and Mary Dipboye
Co-chairs for Clean Transportation/Electric Vehicle Campaign: Deirdre Macnab and Maxine Connor
Join the LWVFL Clean Energy Team!
You must be a member of the League of Women Voters of Florida or one of our Local Chapters to participate, please become a member
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Additional resources
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Issue History & Study in Action
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