Energy Bill needs Senate OK

After years of inaction, the Florida House passed a bill Tuesday with the potential to expand renewable energy in the state by roughly 50 percent in the next year. It is unclear whether the bill will become law. The Senate must also approve it, and the legislative session ends Friday. The bill passed by the House would authorize $386 million worth of renewable energy from sources such as solar power as a one-year boost to the industry, rather than a long-term overhaul of energy policy in the state. Large utility companies would be able to build renewable energy projects equivalent to 2 percent of their overall 2009 revenue, and pass on the costs to customers through rate increases that some legislators opposed Tuesday. Full story here.