Image courtesy of Eliott Reyna on Unsplash
The younger generation is finding their voice. It was reported that a group of 18 to 25-year-olds filed a lawsuit against Florida for failing to follow their laws. The case involves confirming that the state is adhering to Florida’s renewable energy policies.
The plaintiffs claim that the Florida Public Service Commission, the state agency that regulates public utilities, is violating their constitutional rights. They claim that the agency continues allowing utility companies to rely on fossil fuels. In contrast, according to state law, their job is to make sure the companies are utilizing more and more renewable energy sources.
The plaintiffs assert the logical conclusion that “Florida’s continued use of greenhouse gas-emitting energy sources is fueling deadly heat, flooding rains and rising seas. The lawsuit claims that by furthering the state’s dependence on fossil fuels, the commission is violating young people’s fundamental and inalienable right to enjoy and defend life, as guaranteed by the Florida Constitution, by threatening their ability to live in the state in the future.”
The plaintiff’s are working with the same law firm that won similar cases in Montana and Hawaii. In Montana, the state’s Supreme Court upheld a landmark decision demanding that regulators consider the effects of greenhouse gas emissions before issuing permits for fossil fuel development.
The firm reached a settlement with Hawaii that includes a requirement to decarbonize the state’s transportation system over the next 20 years.
