Florida is a growing state and when a state begins to grow energy consumption begins to increase. Florida is one of the most natural-gas-dependent states in the country, with more than a third of its electricity generated by natural gas (Elliot, p.1, 2007). Among other things Florida need to take control of their energy consumption to sustain its growing state.
Florida needs to counteract their growing energy consumption by exploring the use of renewable resources and maximizing efficiency potential. The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy or the ACEEE recently did some research on the renewable resources available to Florida and how they can maximize their efficiency potential. In their report the ACEEE explores the magnitude of the efficiency and renewable resources that are available to Florida. The report suggests some specific policies that could be implemented to reduce future energy demands. According to the ACEEE; if all the policies they recommend were implemented, Florida could reduce its projected future use of electricity from conventional sources (coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear fuels) by about 29% in the next 15 years. Now Florida’s majority of potential resources remain untapped due to the Federal moratorium on hydrocarbon development. This is a temporary ban of research and development of Hydrocarbons, which are one of the Earth's most important energy resources. The predominant use of hydrocarbons is as a combustible fuel source (EIA, p.1, 2007). Since Florida has few renewable energy sources, energy researchers are looking for ways to produce ethanol using orange peels from the juice industry’s waste (EIA, p.1, 2007). To make renewable energy and increased efficiency a reality the ACEEE developed an eleven-step plan that would help dec ...