1 | House Memorial |
2 | A memorial to the Congress of the United States, urging |
3 | Congress to support or initiate action that would allow |
4 | local governments to fully implement programs designed to |
5 | encourage voluntary energy conservation and efficiency, |
6 | renewable energy, and wind resistance improvements by |
7 | homeowners and businesses. |
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9 | WHEREAS, utility bills represent a major expense for home |
10 | and business owners, and |
11 | WHEREAS, hurricanes and other wind storm events pose |
12 | significant threats to Florida citizens and property, and |
13 | WHEREAS, energy conservation and efficiency and reduced |
14 | reliance on fossil fuel energy generation enhance the welfare of |
15 | the public by reducing energy bills and diversifying energy |
16 | production, and |
17 | WHEREAS, wind storm protection reduces damage to the |
18 | improved property and property in the vicinity of the improved |
19 | property from hurricanes and other wind events, and |
20 | WHEREAS, the upfront costs of such improvements prevent |
21 | property owners from making otherwise cost-effective energy and |
22 | wind resistance improvements, and |
23 | WHEREAS, state and local governments have embraced programs |
24 | that allow local governments to facilitate the financing of |
25 | energy conservation and efficiency, renewable energy, and, in |
26 | Florida, wind resistance improvements because of the remarkable |
27 | potential to cut energy bills, increase homeowners' cash flow |
28 | for mortgage payments and other bills or investments, reduce |
29 | mortgage default risk, and potentially reduce property insurance |
30 | by reducing property damage risk by encouraging investment in |
31 | energy conservation and efficiency, renewable energy, and wind |
32 | resistance property improvements, and |
33 | WHEREAS, unemployment in Florida is at record levels, in |
34 | the construction sector in particular, and the State of Florida |
35 | anticipates that the implementation of such programs would |
36 | create employment opportunities for thousands of Florida |
37 | citizens, and |
38 | WHEREAS, the State of Florida has determined that reduced |
39 | reliance on fossil fuels for electrical generation and increased |
40 | wind resistance of Florida properties to wind storm events are |
41 | of benefit to the citizens of the State of Florida, and |
42 | WHEREAS, in Chapter 2010-139, Laws of Florida, now codified |
43 | in s. 163.08, Florida Statutes, the State of Florida authorized |
44 | local governments to create programs to promote the |
45 | implementation of energy conservation and efficiency, renewable |
46 | energy, and wind resistance measures at residential and |
47 | commercial properties, and |
48 | WHEREAS, such financing programs are an innovative local |
49 | government solution to assist property owners in financing |
50 | energy conservation and efficiency, renewable energy, and wind |
51 | resistance improvements to their homes and businesses on a |
52 | voluntary basis, and |
53 | WHEREAS, twenty-two other states have passed laws enabling |
54 | local governments to develop such programs, and |
55 | WHEREAS, despite such programs' potential to decrease the |
56 | burden of household expenses for Floridians who participate, the |
57 | Federal Housing Finance Agency and the Office of the Comptroller |
58 | of the Currency on July 6, 2010, issued statements that |
59 | immediately stalled implementation of such programs in Florida |
60 | and froze the progress of most existing similar programs |
61 | nationwide, and |
62 | WHEREAS, the Federal Housing Finance Agency's actions have |
63 | resulted in lawsuits around the nation, and Congressional action |
64 | would rapidly and efficiently resolve those disputes, NOW, |
65 | THEREFORE, |
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67 | Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
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69 | That Congress is urged to quickly restore the potential of |
70 | job creation and economic development through voluntary state- |
71 | authorized energy conservation and efficiency, renewable energy, |
72 | and wind resistance programs by supporting the implementation of |
73 | these programs by local governments in Florida through |
74 | Congressional action that affirms the authority of local |
75 | governments to implement these programs in Florida pursuant to |
76 | Chapter 2010-139, Laws of Florida. |
77 | BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be |
78 | dispatched to the President of the United States, to the |
79 | President of the United States Senate, to the Speaker of the |
80 | United States House of Representatives, and to each member of |
81 | the Florida delegation to the United States Congress. |