Gov. Rick Scott, who proclaimed during his campaign for governor that he
didn't believe in the science of global warming and urged the state to open
its coastal waters to oil drilling, has used his veto message to announce a
new-found commitment to energy policy.

"As the country's third largest energy consumer, Florida needs a
comprehensive energy policy,'' Scott wrote. "In signing Senate Bill 2156, I
am committed to making the development of a strategic energy policy a
priority of my administration. As such I am appointing Dr. Mary Bane as my
special advisor on energy policy."

Bane retired as executive director of the Public Service Commission in
December 2010 after a tumultuous final year in which her staff admitted to
socializing with lobbyists, attending a Kentucky Derby party at the home of
a Flower Power & Light lobbyist and staff members of commissioners were
found texting messages to utilities officials. Bane applied and was
nominated for a commissioner position on the PSC but was rejected by Gov.
Charlie Crist who had criticized the for becoming too close to the utilities
it regulates.

Scott's announcement came as part of a veto letter of SB 2106, which
transfers the Florida Energy and Climate Commission to the Department of
Agriculture, because he said it was redundant with another bill that
eliminates the commission, SB 2156. Scott used the veto to announce that he
will put a new focus on energy policy -- which is the goal of the
legislatively-created energy commission. Scott proposed eliminating the
energy commission in his proposed budget.

Bill Willingham
Executive V.P. & General Manager
Florida Electric Cooperatives Assn.
2916 Apalachee Parkway
Tallahassee, FL 32301
(850) 877-6166, ext. 1

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