Latest news with #SB266
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Bill claiming to lower energy costs by reducing some NC climate goals moves through House
A bill to eliminate some of North Carolina's emission goals and change the way utilities pass on the cost of power plant construction onto customers is moving through the statehouse under a new name. Wednesday, the House Energy and Public Utilities Committee took up the newly named 'Power Bill Reduction Act,' an amended version of Senate Bill 261, the Energy Security and Affordability Act. ALSO READ: Duke Energy files to dismiss climate change lawsuit Now, Senate Bill 266, which previously focused on regulations for rebuilding homes destroyed in flooding events, the Power Bill Reduction Act includes SB 261's provision to eliminate the state's interim climate goal requiring Duke Energy reduce its carbon emissions by 70% of 2005 levels by 2030, though it maintains the requirement for the utility to reach carbon neutral by 2050. SB 266 also includes the provision that allows utilities to seek rate increases to help defray the cost of construction work in progress. The bill's sponsor in the House, Rep. Dean Arp (R-Union), explained these provisions will lead to improved reliability and lower energy bills in the long run because they allow utilities to be more flexible with their power generation and avoid sudden price hikes which can come after the completion of large, capital expense-heavy construction. 'For instance, if you take out a credit card and you don't pay it off for 10 years, you're going to pay a huge finance charge,' he explained. 'This allows that interest rate to be paid earlier, thereby eliminating the financing cost and the compounding aspect of that the [construction work in progress].' This provision has earned warnings and criticism from those in South Carolina, including former Public Service Commissioner Tom Ervin, who explained a similar law in their state resulted in ratepayers facing years of rate hikes to cover the construction of two new nuclear reactors that were ultimately never built. 'That's a big mistake,' he said. 'Because it may never be completed. We've learned that lesson in South Carolina already, and if you pay as you go, that's money just thrown away.' Rep. Arp explained that SB 266's version has more guardrails than South Carolina's version, which would protect ratepayers should a similar situation arise. The legislation requires that the North Carolina Utilities Commission can only approve rate increases for construction in progress if it finds the facility is cost-effective, will save ratepayers money in the long run, and meets the state's reliability needs. It also allows the Commission to revoke approval if the project no longer meets the public interest. Everyone who appeared for public comment spoke favorably of SB 266, including representatives from Duke Energy, Electri-Cities, and NC Electric Cooperatives, the state's largest energy providers. Economic stakeholders like the Chamber of Commerce and the NC Manufacturers' Alliance said the bill will help the state maintain its momentum in attracting new businesses and development to the state by keeping energy costs low and predictable. Some committee members were skeptical of the savings claimed in the bill. Arp explained research from Public Staff, which represents ratepayers in negotiations with the Commission, shows Duke Energy's current plan would result in an estimated $150B in construction costs by 2050. Under this bill, those costs are expected to drop to around $137 billion. Some on the committee were not satisfied that those calculations factored in all appropriate externalities. Other committee members expressed concerns about how quickly the bill was brought to a vote after appearing on the docket Tuesday night and requested more time to read it. Rep. Pricey Harrison (D-Guilford) was worried about what the bill would mean for the state's commitment to reducing its emissions and fighting climate change. 'If we're thinking about the future of the state and the sustainability of the state, we would be thinking in a more sustainable fashion, and wouldn't be narrowly minded, focused on a bill that I think promotes natural gas and nuclear at the expense of cleaner energy sources,' she said. Rep. Arp pushed back, explaining that new nuclear construction, which this bill would help facilitate, is carbon neutral and that natural gas is necessary to help maintain reliability while the state retires its coal plants. 'This is a responsible, prudent bill that understands that we're not, in fact, backing away from our commitment to responsibly look at our energy production related to our carbon plan,' he said. The bill was approved by the Rules Committee and is expected to be on the House floor early next week. VIDEO: Duke Energy files to dismiss climate change lawsuit
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
State can enforce DEI general education course ban while litigation plays out
The Westcott building and fountain at Florida State University on Dec. 31, 2024. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix) The state of Florida may enforce a law eliminating general education courses that teach 'identity politics' at Florida's institutions of higher education pending resolution of a lawsuit filed by professors, a federal judge has ruled. In January, the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida filed suit on the professors' behalf alleging that SB 266, a 2023 law limiting general education course classifications and funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, harmed the professors' academic ambitions. General education courses are required for students to graduate. Days after a preliminary injunction hearing in Tallahassee in front of U.S. District Chief Judge Mark Walker, he ruled Wednesday that the professors had not established theywould suffer any harm. 'Viewpoint-discriminatory' higher education law heard for preliminary injunction 'This ruling is disappointing, but also offers a clearer path forward to prove this law is unconstitutional,' said Bacardi Jackson, executive director of the ACLU of Florida in a news release. 'The law is a blatant effort to control the content of higher education, muzzle Florida's scholars, and erase perspectives the state finds politically inconvenient. We remain committed to fighting alongside faculty, students, and the broader academic community until this undemocratic law is struck down.' Among the plaintiffs is University of Florida political science professor Sharon Austin, who complains she was denied funding to present at a 2024 conference hosted by Diversity Abroad, which the school had paid for her to present at in 2023. The school specifically cited SB 266 in refusing to pay for her to appear subsequently, the suit alleges. 'As for Plaintiff Austin, her declaration demonstrates that she has already suffered a denial of state funding to attend conferences in 2024. However, to obtain prospective relief, she must demonstrate an unambiguous intention to seek funding to attend conferences at a reasonably foreseeable time in the future. That she has not done,' Walker wrote. Professors who have had their courses removed from general education requirements, or fear it may happen, say their injury is chilled speech and potential repercussions in post-tenure review. 'To the extent these Plaintiffs claim their classroom speech associated with courses for which they have no stated plans to teach at a reasonably foreseeable time in the future will be chilled, such a hypothetical future chill is both too remote and speculative to amount to a cognizable injury in fact,' Walker wrote. The plaintiffs allege viewpoint discrimination under the First Amendment; that the law is over-broad; and that it violates Florida's Campus Free Expression Act. State University System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues said in January that the law has helped address a Gallup poll that found 'political agendas' as Americans' Number One reason they have lost confidence in higher education. Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. said the law helps students who can be 'overwhelmed by the number of courses that are out there,' and that students can take whatever classes they wish, 'but the easier we can make it for them when it comes to general education and making sure that they're getting what they need there I think is very important.' Walker did not rule on merits of the underlying case and the ACLU said it will continue its challenge. 'Plaintiffs' evidence does not demonstrate that any Plaintiff faces an imminent injury — namely, chilled speech — that is traceable to any Defendant's enforcement of the general education requirements,' Walker wrote. 'For what it's worth, Plaintiffs' existential concerns about the survival of their academic departments and the future viability of their areas of expertise in the state of Florida are certainly understandable. However, these concerns, as described at length in Plaintiffs' declarations, do not give rise to a concrete, imminent, and non-speculative injury in fact sufficient to permit Plaintiffs to seek a preliminary injunction against Defendants' enforcement of the general education requirements.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Florida DOGE to ‘deep dive' into state universities, ‘prune' ‘ideological study stuff'
The Integration Statue stands in front of the Florida State University Student Union. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix) Florida's universities and colleges will go under independent audits, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday, with an eye toward fiscal responsibility and to 'prune' the 'ideological study stuff' while maintaining 'core, important subjects.' DeSantis announced the audits as part of a larger DOGE effort in Florida, mimicking the 'Department of Government Efficiency' headed by Elon Musk in President Donald Trump's administration. He said Florida universities and colleges will 'be subjected to an independent review and audit to study efficiency and effectiveness of their operations and financing.' 'This is the DOGE-ing of our state university system,' DeSantis said during a news conference in Tampa. 'And I think it's going to be good for taxpayers and it's ultimately going to be good for students, as well.' DeSantis said his administration will conduct a 'deep dive' into 'all facets of university operations and spending,' and make recommendations to the Board of Governors and Board of Education about how it could 'eliminate any unnecessary spending.' 'Now, this will include examining courses programming and staff at the institution to ensure that Florida students are receiving an education that will best equip them to gain meaningful employment after graduation,' DeSantis said. 'There are certain subjects that, look, if you want to do some of this, go to Cal Berkeley, go to some of these other places. We don't really want to be doing some of this stuff in Florida.' The effort extends to state agencies, too. DeSantis instructed each agency to form its own team using 'the most innovative technology feasible,' including artificial intelligence, to reduce spending, programs, and contracts. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The governor's comments Monday reflect the same agenda laid out in SB 266, a 2023 law that eliminated courses from the required general education curriculum and prohibited spending state or federal dollars on initiatives related to diversity, equity, or inclusion. DeSantis said the focus should be on students getting jobs by teaching 'the core, important subjects,' and that 'classical liberal arts subjects that are really important, can help you become a better thinker and ultimately see the world in better ways.' 'It's not like it's rigid, but some of the ideological study stuff, we just want to prune that and get that out, and we want to make sure that these universities are really serving the classical mission of what a university should be, and that's not to impose ideology,' DeSantis said. Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. said he is 'laser-focused' on student outcomes. 'The programs at our higher ed institutions should provide our students with a strong foundation rooted in the principles of our country, what it was founded upon, which leads students to a long-lasting career. While other states have pushed students into degrees, as the governor often likes to mention, in zombie studies. Florida is focused on the workforce and the needs of our economies,' Diaz said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried contested DeSantis' DOGE efforts Monday, saying he has 'consistently passed the largest state budgets in Florida's history' and that he used taxpayer money to campaign against amendments 3 and 4 on legal marijuana and abortion rights in the most recent election. 'Ron DeSantis needs to shut his damn mouth,' Fried said in a news release. 'Republicans have been in total control of Florida's government for nearly 30 years, and he wants to talk about government waste?' UnidosUS, a Latino advocacy organization, criticized DeSantis' record, calling it 'political theater' and advocated for policies that benefit all. 'After 30 years of uninterrupted Republican leadership in Florida, Gov. DeSantis has decided it's time to audit … Republican leadership,' UnidosUS Florida Director Jared Nordlund said Monday. 'The irony is so thick you could cut it with a butter knife. The governor's latest move to create a 'DOGE task force' — a knockoff of the ineffective federal DOGE — feels less like a serious policy effort and more like a bizarre attempt to stay relevant in national politics. During today's press conference, he claimed to have been mulling over this for two years, but what has he been doing for the past six years as governor?' The state has commissioned a study of the 'return on investment' of certain programs offered by universities, including women and gender studies, computer science, civil engineering, finance, and nursing, the Phoenix reported in December. The report is expected to be released about midway through the Legislative session, which starts next week. Rep. Anna Eskamani told the Phoenix that targeting the financial aspect of women and gender studies and related programs represents a second effort to eliminate the programs after lawmakers shied away from taking that step in 2023 after she raised First Amendment concerns. 'What the BOG is trying to do is give another reason to remove this program by saying, 'Economically it doesn't make sense,'' Eskamani told the Phoenix in December. 'So, this is what is really scary, because they knew they couldn't remove these programs just based on speech. … So now they're trying to make up an argument that, 'Ooh no, there's an economic reason why we don't like them. We don't care about what the programs teach, we just don't see the economic value of them anymore.'' Although DeSantis' and Diaz's comments centered around having better outcomes for students, the Board of Governors mulled stronger financial oversight over universities in January amid concerns that the New College of Florida was not using transparent financial practices. New College came under the leadership of former House Speaker Richard Corcoran two years ago after DeSantis replaced its board of trustees with his own appointees. The institution has shifted toward a more conservative approach, including eliminating its gender-studies program. Board of Governors suggests more financial transparency; New College spending questioned again Board of Governors member Eric Silagy suggested during a meeting last month that the institution has been improperly spending on athletics and he has 'frustration because of the inconsistency around a lot of these things' when reviewing university finances. Vice Chair Alan Levine suggested a 'more transparent scorecard of university finances,' and advocated for more visibility into the financial management of the institutions.' Another point raised by Silagy centered around the approximately $90,000 cost to the state to educate each student each year at the small liberal arts college in Sarasota. DeSantis' executive order will create an 'independent' audit effort within the Office of Policy and Budget in the governor's office. It is in addition to measures currently taken to promote financial accountability. Universities have long had internal audit processes and are subject to audit reviews by the Board of Governors Audit and Compliance Committee and the board's inspector general. The Legislature appoints an auditor general, responsible for auditing universities, including reviewing former University of Florida President Ben Sasse's spending while in office. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
No more ‘indoctrinating concepts' in Florida's general education courses, chancellor says
The Turlington Building, which houses the Florida Department of Education, stands in the foreground, with the Tallahassee skyline, including the Capitol building, beyond. Photo taken from the FAMU campus on Dec. 31, 2024. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix) General education courses at Florida institutions no longer contain 'indoctrinating concepts,' State University System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues announced this week following a Legislature-mandated review A 2023 law, now being litigated in court, requires general education courses to be reviewed by each institution and approved by the Board of Governors. The law prohibits general education courses that 'distort significant historical events or include a curriculum that teachers identity politics.' 'We can confidently say that our general education courses that students have to take in order to graduate will not contain indoctrinating concepts,' Rodrigues said. 'The general education curriculum that was approved today makes Florida the only state in the nation to address the Number One reason why the American people have lost confidence in higher education,' Rodrigues said, citing a Gallup poll that identified 'political agendas' as the top reason among people who've 'very little confidence in higher education.' SB 266 stipulates that general education humanities courses 'must include selections from the Western cannon.' The law goes on to prohibit teaching that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the U.S. 'and were created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities.' The Board of Governors laid out its intent for general education courses: 'Every undergraduate student graduates as an informed citizen through a rigorous general education that promotes and preserves the constitutional republic through traditional, historically accurate, and high-quality coursework,' State University System Vice Chancellor Emily Sikes presented to the board. 'The new general ed list provides students with options that support a broad foundational knowledge and will ultimately make them better informed citizens in the state of Florida,' board member Tim Cerio said. Florida State University cut 432 of 571 courses from its general education list, including 'Theories of African American Studies,' 'Evolution of Human Sexuality,' and 'LGBTQ History,' The Tallahassee Democrat reported. The Board of Governors rejected the initial FSU list, which would have removed 212 courses, the Democrat reported. The same story notes that Florida A&M University removed 18 of its 160 general education courses. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX During the meeting Thursday, University of North Florida President Moez Limayem said the school went from offering 150 general education courses to 45. 'I think our proposed core is sound, is flexible, and sets the foundation for us for continuous improvement,' Limayem said. 'We have processes in place that now we will periodically review this, so we don't end up with this exploding list of courses,' Limayem said, adding that many of the courses on the previous list were initiated by faculty no longer with the university. Politico reported earlier this month that the Florida Board of Education, which governs the state's colleges, removed 57% of general education courses offered through the state colleges, that often feed students to the state's universities. Earlier this month, the ACLU of Florida filed suit on behalf of university professors claiming their academic careers have been impeded by the law limiting general education courses. University DEI spending prohibition challenged by professors in federal court Those plaintiffs argue that eliminating courses such as 'Principles of Sociology' and 'Politics of Race' from qualifying as general education courses denies the courses and departments enrollment-based funding. This week, the ACLU filed for a preliminary injunction against the law. With declining enrollment, courses relegated away from the general education list could disappear, threatening free expression and the professors' jobs, the lawsuit argues. Cerio said Thursday that removing courses from qualifying as general education does not eliminate the course. 'I want to reiterate this because this has come up and it's important that not only people in this room, but the public understand that we are not prohibiting universities from offering courses,' Cerio said. 'If a course was removed from the gen. ed. requirements because it didn't align the statute, nothing prohibits the university from continuing to offer those courses. They're just outside the general education requirements. They can be an elective or make them part of other degree requirements.' Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. echoed that sentiment, saying students can be 'overwhelmed by the number of courses that are out there.' 'Well, there is plenty of opportunities for students to venture and explore courses at the higher levels, but the easier we can make it for them when it comes to general education and making sure that they're getting what they need there I think is very important,' Diaz said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Florida educators, students speak out against curriculum changes
Educators, students and advocates across the Florida higher education system spoke out Monday against the recent removal by the state of hundreds of general education courses that touch on race, gender, and sexual orientation, calling the restrictions "censorship" during a webinar hosted by the United Faculty of Florida union. "I chose to pursue a career in education to engage students in critical thinking, adaptability and global competence -- skills that are essential to success and societal contribution," said Jeniah Jones, a Florida State College at Jacksonville professor. "Restrictions on diversity, equity and inclusion in the curriculum ... undermine this mission by narrowing students' understanding of the world and their role in it." Educators also argue that limiting gender education options may also make it harder for students to fulfill their general education requirements. A slate of directives and policy changes from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the State University System of Florida's Board of Governors in recent years has changed the landscape around what colleges and universities can say about race, politics, gender and sexual orientation. DeSantis signed SB 266 in 2023, which prohibits universities from expending state or federal funds to promote, support, or maintain any programs or campus activities that relate to diversity, equity and inclusion. DeSantis touted the legislation at the time, saying in a statement: 'Florida has ranked No. 1 in higher education for seven years in a row, and by signing this legislation we are ensuring that Florida's institutions encourage diversity of thought, civil discourse and the pursuit of truth for generations to come." SB 266 amended a state statute requiring universities to go through an intensified review process to ensure that their general education course offerings are in compliance with the restrictions. Schools are unable to offer classes that include "identity politics" or that are "based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were created to maintain social, political and economic inequities," according to the Florida statute. At Florida State University, at least 432 courses from the college's general education curriculum were removed in part because of the rules, according to meeting minutes from the Board of Trustees. ABC affiliate First Coast News reported in November 2024 that University of North Florida removed 67 courses from the university's list of general education options. FSU told ABC News that the courses would be offered as electives instead of being able to fulfill general education requirements. UNF told First Coast News the same, that the courses will still be offered and available as electives. The state university system's Board of Governors also later restricted state funding toward diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, including "political or social activism." Florida Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. had applauded the move: 'Higher education must return to its essential foundations of academic integrity and the pursuit of knowledge instead of being corrupted by destructive ideologies." Marsilla Gray, a University of South Florida Ph.D. student and graduate assistant, said that professors are losing the freedom to discuss "not only the latest research in a deep and unbiased manner, but also the ability to connect how these findings relate to our society as a whole" based on these changes. "It directly impacts student preparedness for both young scientists who want to go on to careers as researchers, physicians and educators, but also for non-STEM majors, for whom their few natural science Gen-Eds may be their only exposure to critically evaluating scientific statements and tying that to what they learn in their social science and humanities courses," she said on the Monday call. Robert Cassanello, a University of Central Florida history professor, said the restrictions are reminiscent of past pressures from political groups -- including religious prohibitions on teachings of evolution or anthropology as well as Cold War-era prohibitions on the discussion of communism or socialism. "When the legislature has tried to interfere with curriculum, it never produced good outcomes," said Cassanello, in the press call. Leah Sauceda, a Florida State University student, said a general education requirement on Latin American history led her to seek a history degree as well as an international affairs major. "My classes helped me realize the study of history isn't about the past, as contradictory as that sounds, but rather it is a tool to understand how the past is inextricably linked to the present and all possible futures," she said on the Monday call. "History helps us understand the world and our place in it. It is heartbreaking to think that the same transformative opportunity I had can be taken away from future students because the Board of Governors would rather us ignore history than learn from it." The calls against DEI removals in higher education come as President Donald Trump implements anti-DEI restrictions on a federal level via several executive orders. The Board of Governors declined ABC News' request for comment. Florida educators, students speak out against curriculum changes originally appeared on
