Public
Service Commission should be elected by public
In response to your request for letters informing newly elected officials of our wishes: The best thing Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Legislature could do is give the Florida Public Service Commission back to the people. The PSC regulates the rates, competition and service quality of our utilities (electric, natural gas, telephone, water and waste water).
Prior to 1979, three commissioners were elected statewide. The elected PSC during the 1970s was highly responsive to and respected by the public.The 1978 Legislature
changed the commission to a five-member appointed board. A legislative
nominating committee suggests possible commissioners, and our governor makes
the appointments.
To incentivize utility
innovation, the PSC should once again be elected, not appointed. It should
work, as it once did, directly for Florida citizens without involving the
legislative and executive branches.
Let the people decide more
closely how their utilities should be regulated.
John E. Darovec Jr., Environmental Working Group, Florida Veterans for Common Sense, Bradenton
Hoping new year brings passage of
carbon-fee law
The best gift I’d like to give my children is a livable world. But
the outlook seems bleak, with scientists from our government and around the
world saying we must take action now or suffer grim consequences of sea level
rise, more extreme weather, floods and famine.The problems are caused by too much heat-trapping gas in our
atmosphere.
Surprisingly (Happy New Year?), our divided Congress has a
solution. The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act would place a steadily
rising fee on carbon pollution and return all revenue to households equally.
These bills, just introduced in the House and the Senate, are good for people,
good for the economy, good for the climate and, yes, bipartisan!I want new congressman Greg Steube and Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick
Scott to learn about these bills and support this important legislation.
Here’s hoping we will set aside partisan differences and, for the
good of our nation, the world and my children, start addressing the threat of
climate change by enacting the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act in the
next Congress.
Marjorie Keller, Port Charlotte