By the Numbers

Strong U.S. climate and energy policy will create jobs.

• 78,000 – The number of Florida jobs that could be created through implementation federal climate and energy policy.¹
• $615 – Potential increase to Florida’s average household income from clean energy job creation.²
• $4.8 Billion – The amount by which Florida’s economy can grow with a strong federal climate and clean energy policy.³

Energy efficiency saves money that can be spent elsewhere.

• $229 – Projected annual savings for every Florida household via stronger energy efficiency standards.⁴
• 38,800 - Number of Florida jobs projected to be created if homeowners and businesses become more energy efficient.⁵ Construction and buildling maintenance are labor-intensive industries. Also, money saved by building-owners can be spent on other Florida goods and services.
• $2,442,000 – Total $$ that could be saved by customers through energy efficiency measures.⁶
• 110 trillion BTU - The amount by which Florida’s commercial, residential and industrial sectors could cut energy use by 2020 - or roughly the amount consumed by 1,970,000 Florida households in 2006.⁷
• Half Price - Energy efficiency costs about half as much as comparable fossil fuel generation on a per kilowatt hour basis.⁸
  • $100 Million – Alcoa has saved through a 25% reduction in emissions. 
  • $200 Million – 3M saved through a 50% reduction in emissions.
  • $650 Million – BP saved through a 10% reduction in emissions.
  • $791 Million – IBM has saved through a 65% reduction in emissions.
  • $2 Billion – DuPont has through a 69% reduction in emissions.

Florida Has Great Potential.

• 31,122 – The number of jobs generated in 2007 by 3,831 clean energy businesses in Florida.⁹
• $116,980,000 - Between 2006 and 2008, amount venture capitalists poured into clean technology businesses in Florida.¹⁰
• 9.1% Growth – The growth in the clean technology sector from 1998-2007, nearly triple that of the overall job growth during that same period.¹¹
• $4.12 Billion – Money invested in clean technology in 2008, up 54% over 2007. On a national level, clean technology is the fastest-growing sector of venture capital investment.¹²

America must compete!

Uncertainty is bad for business. A lack of U.S. climate and energy policy is is choking growth clean tech in the United States, the next breakout technology sector. The question is if the U.S. leads the way or falls further behind other countries.

• Twice as much - The U.S. as a whole uses roughly twice as much energy to produce a dollar of goods as our European and Japanese trading partners. This puts our businesses at a serious competitive disadvantage.
• $180 billion per year – The worldwide demand for new technologies to reduce global warming pollution.
• $12.6 million - the amount of money China is spending every single hour on clean energy investments.¹³
• Six - The number of companies in the top thirty wind, solar and advanced battery technologies that are American owned.¹⁴

Fossil fuels is fossil thinking.

• Higher - Fossil fuel prices over time, given their finite nature.
• Finite - Fossil fuels are by definition a finite resource. Eventually we will have to find alternatives. Why not plan ahead?

Renewable Energy is Good for Florida

• Infinite - Renewable energy sources never run out and therefore have more stable prices.
• Free - Sun and wind are free. Once a renewable energy plant is built, it runs on a free energy supply unlike a traditional fossil fuel energy plant.

The most expensive thing we can do is nothing.

• $500 million - The cost of inaction is substantial and grows with time. Globally, the IEA projects that every year we delay will cost the global community an extra $500 million.¹⁵