Members of Florida’s Democratic Congressional Delegation recently sent a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis, urging him to accept $320 million in federal Carbon Reduction Program funds to reduce carbon pollution and improve the state’s transportation network.
Florida is the only state to reject funding.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) had spent months planning how to best utilize the funding. This included a public meeting and presentation, and a comprehensive plan to reduced congestion, create safe rest stop areas and address public transit.
“This decision constitutes a stark policy reversal, following months of FDOT planning and the development of the state’s Carbon Reduction Strategy, a prerequisite step for Florida to receive the program’s $320 million in funding,” the letter said. “FDOT’s own documents outline the importance of the Carbon Reduction Program — and the investments it would have provided — to the state’s transportation goals. Such goals include: providing safe and convenient transportation options, improving traffic flow and reducing congestion and idling, improving energy efficiency, and reducing climate impacts.”
U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor (D-FL), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL, Lois Frankel (D-FL), Maxwell Frost (D-FL), Darren Soto (D-FL), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) signed the letter.
DeSantis also recently blocked $346 million in federal home energy efficiency funds designed to lower electric bills.