Valholly and Delaney, co-lead youth petitioners and former Reynolds v. State of Florida youth plaintiffs, speak at Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services press conference 4/21/22 (Photo by Passion Ward)
Our Children’s Trust has represented young people in Florida legal actions since 2011, most recently in the youth-led constitutional climate case, Reynolds v. State of Florida, and a successful youth-led petition for rulemaking effort in 2022 that resulted in Chapter 5O-5: Renewable Energy - Florida’s most significant climate policy in over a decade.
Current Status:
Future cases to secure the constitutional rights of youth in Florida are currently being developed.
TIMELINE:
The following is a timeline of recent youth-led legal actions in Florida, from 2022 to today.
“January 5, 2022: Petition for Rulemaking Filed
Young people in Florida - led by former youth plaintiffs in Reynolds v. State of Florida - filed a petition for rulemaking, signed by over 200 young Floridians, with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) asking it to establish a goal to generate 100% of Florida’s electricity from renewable energy by 2050.
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“April 21, 2022: Proposed Rule Released
FDACS Commissioner Nikki Fried released a proposed rule that used the language proposed by youth signatories and set the following renewable energy goals for Florida utilities: at least 40% by 2030, 63% by 2035, 82% by 2040, and 100% by 2050. The proposed rule also required utilities to submit their 10-year energy plans to FDACS so the agency can evaluate whether the utilities’ long term energy plans are consistent with meeting the renewable energy goals, and required FDACS to annually report the utilities’ progress in meeting the goals to the Public Service Commission, Governor, and Legislature.
A recording of the 4/21/22 press conference, featuring youth petitioners Delaney and Valholly, can be viewed on the FDACS Facebook page here.
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“May 12, 2022: Public Comments Submitted to FDACS
Young Floridians, fellow climate leaders, and community members submitted public comments in support of FDACS’s proposed renewable energy goal rule.”
“August 9, 2022: Chapter 5O-5: Renewable Energy became effective
FDACS renewable energy rule, Chapter 5O-5: Renewable Energy, became effective. This new rule is the most significant climate policy in Florida enacted in over a decade and, per language proposed by the youth signatories, sets the following renewable energy goals for Florida’s electric utilities: at least 40% by 2030, 63% by 2035, 82% by 2040, and 100% by 2050.
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“TODAY: Determining new legal action
Future cases to secure the constitutional rights of youth in Florida are being developed.
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