Environmental Leader

Florida’s Governor Crist has signed three executive orders directing cuts in Florida’s greenhouse gas emissions and increases in energy efficiency, ENS reports.

Under the new policy, the state government will work to reduce emissions 10 percent by 2012, 25 percent by 2017, and 40 percent by 2025.

New state buildings will be energy efficient and include solar panels whenever possible. Office space leased in the future must be in energy efficient buildings. Any purchased state vehicles must be fuel efficient and use ethanol and biodiesel fuels when available.

Electric utilities are directed to reduce emissions to 2000 levels by 2017, to 1990 levels by 2025, and by 80 percent of 1990 levels by 2050.

The governor also signed partnership agreements with Germany and the UK to discuss and promote initiatives that broaden the Kyoto Protocol and reduce the emission of greenhouse gases beyond 2012 when the protocol expires.

Crist said he would be willing to join California and other states in legal action to force federal approval for tougher auto emission standards, The Washington Post reports.

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