From Grist online mag: Florida governor’s race: Sink vs. Scott

by Jonathan Hiskes, September 9th, 2010

Florida governor candidate Rick Scott is largely an enigma on energy and environmental issues. The hospital-chain executive, who eked out a surprise win over an establishment candidate in the Republican primary, has no record in public office to evaluate. His website's environment page consists of terse pledges to protect beaches and the Everglades. He hasn't been bringing up environmental issues on the campaign trail. When a reporter asked him about the scientific consensus on climate change, he said, "I have not been convinced," and was unsure what further evidence could convince him.


Scott would seem to be more certain on one issue: his support for offshore drilling. "It's a naïve, knee-jerk reaction to call for a ban on drilling," he says on his website in response to the Deepwater Horizon blowout that sent oil washing up on Florida Panhandle shores.

Yet Scott has backed off on this position too, saying in July, "We are not going to drill now. It's not safe. It doesn't make any sense ... [but] if we figure out some day that it's safe I think we ought to look at it.''

His opponent, Democratic state treasurer Alex Sink, has revealed more of her cards. She came out strongly opposed to offshore drilling when Republican lawmakers proposed opening state waters last year. She has released a detailed clean-energy plan centered on promoting efficiency, entrepreneurship, and partnerships between businesses and the state's universities.

"Right now, Florida's lack of a clear vision and a consistent energy policy is costing Floridians good jobs -- that ends when I am governor," she said in a news release.

So far, environmental issues haven't gotten much attention in Florida's jobs-focused gubernatorial race, despite the state's vulnerability to climate change and its largely untapped renewable-energy potential. Florida is particularly susceptible to sea-level rise, saltwater encroaching on its water supply, and hurricanes and tropical storms of increased intensity. And the Sunshine State would seem to be a natural hotspot for solar installations, yet it generates less solar electricity than New Jersey (even Massachusetts and Connecticut outperform it on a per-capita basis).

That's not for lack of effort from departing Gov. Charlie Crist, who became an unlikely climate leader, enacting a climate plan in 2007 and joining fellow Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger in organizing state-level action during the Bush years. But Florida's legislature prevented him from taking important steps, like implementing a renewable energy standard -- something 27 other states have used to attract cleantech businesses.

A renewable standard "is the holy grail of the [Florida] environmental community, something they've been working on for years," said Adam Rivera of Environment Florida. Sink supports one, while Scott hasn't made his position clear.

Florida's popular solar rebate program has a $40 million, 15,000-application backlog, and whether the next governor refuels it will be an early signal of his or her priorities, Rivera said.

The state also enacted a law last year that discouraged sprawl by making it easier for developers to build in dense urban areas. But a judge ruled it unconstitutional last month, and it could take leadership from the governor's office to pass a new version next year. [Update: A Florida commenter says the law wasn't clearly "anti-sprawl." While encouraged urban infill, it also made exurban growth easier; it's been called a sop to developers in response to the building-industry collapse.]

And, of course, Florida wields huge influence in national debates as a swing state and one poised to gain congressional seats in the upcoming redistricting process -- which the governor will oversee.

So it's worth knowing where the candidates stand on green issues, even if they aren't bringing them up.

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