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MIAMI – Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary
Michael W. Sole today participated in a Business Roundtable during the second
day of the 2008 Serve to Preserve Florida Summit on Global Climate Change. The
group discussed “going green” in the business world, particularly in the
Sunshine State.
“With the vision of Governor Crist, Florida is committed to staying a leader
in ‘green’ industry technologies,” said DEP Secretary Sole. “We are protecting
our natural resources, stimulating our economy and securing our energy future by
creating the policy framework to then have the market forces be able to
respond.”
Governor Charlie Crist and Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp led the discussion that
included DEP Secretary Sole and Dr. Dale A. Brill, Director of the Governor’s
Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development as well as national and state
executives from more than a dozen companies, including Office Depot, the
Coca-Cola Company, DuPont, IBM, Citigroup, Publix and Microsoft. The executives
talked about “going green” in the business world, including incentives and
challenges to upgrading business practices, investing in alternative and
renewable energy technologies, and positive impacts being seen to “the bottom
line.”
Today’s discussion was part of the 2008 Serve to Preserve Florida Summit on
Global Climate, June 25-26, 2008, at the Intercontinental Miami. Building on the
foundation for Florida’s energy future that began at last year’s summit, the
2008 summit focused on stimulating economic development in clean technologies as
well as “greening” Florida’s business community.
The 2008 summit brings together industry leaders, international policy
makers, academics, scientists, environmentalists and the business community to
explore opportunities for expanding Florida’s renewable and alternative energy
marketplace and greening our business community. By encouraging companies to
invest in our state’s energy future, Florida will transform its energy
marketplace to enhance fuel diversity, lessen dependence on foreign sources of
oil and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
This year’s summit furthers the policy framework established during the 2007
summit. On July 13, 2007, Governor Charlie Crist signed a suite of executive
orders to reduce Florida’s greenhouse gas emissions, increase energy efficiency,
and remove market barriers for renewable energy technologies such as solar and
wind energy. Since the executive orders were signed, Florida has stepped onto
the world stage as a major marketplace for advanced energy technologies.
For more information on the 2008 Serve to Preserve Florida Summit on Global
Climate Change, visit
www.myfloridaclimate.com or
www.myflorida.com. For more information on DEP, visit
www.dep.state.fl.us/climatechange. | 
