Commissioner Nikki Fried Highlights Agenda for 2021 Florida Energy & Climate Summit

Tallahassee, Fla.— Today, Florida Commissioner Nikki Fried highlighted the agenda for the 2021 Florida Energy and Climate Summit, which will be held November 15-17 at the Florida Hotel and Conference Center in Orlando, Florida.

The summit is a multi-day conference hosted by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Office of Energy that will focus on energy efficiency, renewable energy, climate change, and what it will take to achieve a net zero carbon future. It will bring together leaders in technology, sustainability, environmental science, agriculture production, government, academic research, technology, and finance from across the state and around the nation.

“We are already seeing the devastating impacts of climate change here in Florida and across the world. We need to take immediate, bold action to mitigate climate change and save our environment,” Commissioner Fried said. “This summit will help provide a framework for us to take necessary action to move toward a carbon-zero future. Together, we can keep Florida growing sustainably.”

The summit agenda features panel discussions on energy equity, agriculture, resiliency, transportation, emerging technologies, and workforce development. Summit attendees will be able to join these important discussions either virtually or in person. For more information and to register to attend the 2021 Florida Energy and Climate Summit, visit FloridaEnergySummit.com.

About the FDACS Office of Energy: Since taking office, Commissioner Fried has revitalized the FDACS Office of Energy, empowering the office with a new focus on energy efficiency, climate change, and low-income energy equity. Under Commissioner Fried’s leadership, the Office of Energy has highlighted the need for improved energy efficiency standards, hosted in 2019 the first statewide summit to address climate change since 2008, and released the 76-page  Florida Energy and Climate Plan [ 4 MB ] . 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 upgrades for small and rural local governments. The Office has also provided hundreds of free energy and water audits, and earlier this year released the state’s first-ever electric vehicle roadmap. Last year, Commissioner Fried and the Office of Energy launched a $1 million grant program to assist low-income communities with high energy costs, and launched a $2 million energy efficiency grant program for publicly-owned wastewater treatment facilities.

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