Tallahassee, Florida. – Today, Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Office of Consumer Services remind researchers that there is only one week left to submit proposals for the new state-wide study on energy equity in Florida. On June 22, the ministry issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) with a deadline of July 21, 2021 at 5:00 PM.

Commissioner Fried was joined by the representative of the State Angie nixon, Berdell knowles from the American Association of Blacks in Energy, and Lisa King, former chairman of the Jacksonville Planning Commission and former vice chairman of the Jacksonville Housing and Community Development Commission, in Jacksonville yesterday to discuss this important study and encourage proposal submissions.

“There are too many Florida families struggling to pay their electricity bills. That’s why last month, we launched the first-ever state-wide study on energy equity issues – focusing on our low-income communities that need help investing in energy efficiency improvements, ”said Commissioner Fried. “Systemic inequalities result in a cycle of energy inefficiency and high energy costs. With this study, we can better understand the inequity in our state to find solutions. Too many families have to choose between paying their electricity or rent or putting food on the table. We need your help to get this information before the July 21 deadline so we can start making the changes needed to impact the lives of these families.

“I cannot tell you how many calls my office receives regarding residents unable to pay their utility bills. Lower income should not be equivalent to paying nearly three times the amount of energy costs than those who earn more, ”said State Representative Angie Nixon. “People deserve to have access to clean, affordable energy. The work accomplished today will make it possible to achieve this and improve and improve the quality of life for all. Thank you commissioner Fried, and I am happy to join you in this initiative.

“On behalf of AABE, I would like to personally thank the Commissioner for organizing the Florida Advisory Council on Climate and Energy and for inviting me to the discussion,” said Berdell knowles. “The energy officials who make up AABE are aware of the significant impact that energy costs have on the low-income community. We are happy that the study is commissioned, and we hope that the public, elected officials, policy makers and utility providers will understand that when the study comes out, the real work will begin.

“Jacksonville is one of the oldest large cities in Florida and because of that we have a large stock of substandard housing by age, resulting in energy inefficiency. There is fragmented and siled federal funding to help people improve the energy efficiency of their homes. Without the leadership of someone like the commissioner Fried, we will not use these funds to the best of our ability, ”said Lisa Roi.

VIDEO: A live video of the press conference can be viewed here on the ministry’s Facebook page.

Request for proposals: This study aims to examine systemic inequalities, barriers and limited access to public and private resources and programs, how programs and projects should be designed to address these inequitable disparities by implementing energy efficiency measures and renewable energy sources for low and moderate incomes. households. The Request for Proposal, RFP OOE 20 21 98, can be found here and ends July 21, 2021 at 5:00 PM. Questions regarding the Request for Proposals should be directed to [email protected]

Background: Studies have shown that black, Hispanic, and low-income consumers face an energy load three times higher than other consumers. Data also shows that 5 percent of Floridians spend more than 50 percent of their income on housing costs, including utilities, but energy efficiency improvements can reduce that energy load by 25 percent. The energy expenditure of Florida residents is 40% higher than the US average.

Since taking office, the commissioner Fried has made climate change, energy efficiency and social and economic justice one of its highest priorities. She revitalized the FDACS Office of Energy, giving it a new focus on energy efficiency, climate change and energy equity for low-income people. Deputy commissioner Fried, the Office of Energy underscored the need to improve energy efficiency standards, hosted the first statewide summit to address climate change since 2008, and released the Florida Energy and Climate Plan of 76 pages.

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. Since 2011, the Office of Energy has administered $ 158 million in state and federal funds for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs, including energy efficiency improvements for small rural local governments. The agency has also provided hundreds of free energy and water audits and released the state’s first-ever roadmap for electric vehicles earlier this year. Last year, Commissioner Fried and the Office of Energy launched a $ 1 million grant program to help low-income communities with high energy costs, and launched a $ 2 million energy efficiency grant program for public facilities wastewater treatment.

Commissioner Fried has worked to improve diversity, equity and inclusion both within his department and across the Florida government. Shortly after taking office in 2019, the Commissioner Fried created a new position of Director of Diversity and Inclusion, the first of its kind in the history of the department, and created a new working group on Diversity, Equality and Inclusion with backgrounds and various perspectives. She announced changes to the department’s law enforcement policies, added gender identity as a protected workforce class, expanded the ability to file discrimination complaints, and pushed her colleagues Florida cabinet members to make changes in their departments. Fried fought hard to update Florida’s outdated and outdated leniency rules to restore civil and voting rights, and addressed the history of racial discrimination in farm loans with elected black, farm leaders and financial.

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