Florida is nicknamed the “Sunshine State,” yet we are not truly fueled by the sun. Despite having abundant potential for solar energy, solar power still makes up only a small portion of Florida’s overall energy mix. According to the U.S Energy Information Association, Florida is the third-largest energy consuming state and the second-largest producer of electricity, but Florida consumes less energy per capita than all but six other states. Florida’s energy mix consists of 74.77% natural gas, 10.91% nuclear, 3.41% coal, and 8.13% renewables.
The energy bills proposed for 2026 include:
Utilities
Florida is rapidly expanding utility-scale solar development on rural and agricultural land. Because solar panels typically last 25 to 30 years, many of these facilities are far from reaching the end of their useful life. However, rural communities have raised concerns about the loss of farmland, environmental degradation, and the possibility of abandoned solar farms in the future. In addition, Florida utilities are allowed to recover storm protection costs for these solar farms from ratepayers, meaning these expenses are ultimately passed to customers.
SB 200, introduced by Sen. Nathan Boyles (R), and the identical HB 193, introduced by Reps. Jennifer Bradley (R) and Don Gaetz (R), propose revisions to the authority and responsibilities of the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC).
This bill states that counties would be allowed to require owners to remove solar farms and restore the land to a usable agricultural condition once the solar panels are no longer operating. To make sure this cleanup happens, solar companies may be required to provide financial assurance in advance, such as a bond or letter of credit, so taxpayers are not left paying the costs of decommissioning.
A solar facility with a capacity of one megawatt or higher would be considered at the end of its life if:
- It stops producing electricity for a year, excluding natural disaster downtime
- Construction is abandoned for two years, or
- Reconstruction after a disaster is abandoned for one year
These guidelines can be refuted if the owner is able to submit a plan and assurances that construction, or operation, will continue at the facility.
The bill also requires the Department of Environmental Protection to create and regularly update construction standards for solar facilities that focus on reducing runoff and erosion and ensuring facilities can withstand major storm events. In addition, utilities would have to show that storm protection projects provide future benefits that outweigh their costs. The Public Service Commission is required to consider whether previously approved storm protection projects actually improved outage times and reduced restoration costs.
Rural communities and county officials have voiced support for this bill as utilities are buying large areas of agricultural land for solar, which some see as a threat to farming communities. Desoto County Commissioner Elton Langford told senators, ”They [utilities] are buying this land up like there’s no tomorrow, so between development taking our land away from us and solar power taking our land away from us, ag is starting to suffer in this country.”
Critics of restrictive solar policy in Florida, based on past net-metering debates, claim that utility-driven changes could harm small producers, homeowners, and solar growth, while shifting costs unfairly onto customers. At its core, the bill forces a decision about what happens after the panels stop producing, and who is responsible when energy infrastructure leaves a lasting environmental footprint.
Advanced Nuclear Reactors
Florida already uses nuclear energy through long-standing power plants such as Turkey Point and St. Lucie, but new nuclear plants haven’t been built in decades. Recently, lawmakers and energy planners have shown a resurgence of interest in advanced nuclear technologies, including small modular reactors, as electricity demand in Florida grows and concerns about grid reliability persist. These newer reactor designs are often described as smaller and potentially safer than traditional nuclear plants, and they are being discussed as a way to provide steady, low-carbon power alongside renewable energy sources like solar. At the same time, nuclear energy raises ongoing questions about safety, radioactive waste, costs, and regulatory oversight.
SB 1696, introduced by Sen. Stan McClain (R), and the similar HB 1461, brought forward by Rep. Monique Miller (R), grant the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC), the state agency responsible for utility regulation, the authority to regulate advanced nuclear reactors in the state.
Currently, nuclear is under federal oversight by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The PSC reviews 10-year site plans, but they do not typically include nuclear. PSC is only allowed to “study and evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of using advanced nuclear power technologies” to meet the energy needs of Florida.
This new authority given to PSC includes the ability to approve designs for nuclear reactors, issue permits allowing the use of nuclear materials for research and operations purposes, as well as create construction and safety regulations for the use of nuclear materials in collaboration with the Department of Health and the Department of Environmental Protection.
Regulators would have more detailed criteria to consider when utilities plan long-term energy projects, which could allow nuclear energy to be evaluated more directly alongside other generation sources such as natural gas or renewables.
Proponents of the bill include Attorney General James Uthmeier, who said in a statement that, “Nuclear energy is the safest and most efficient form of baseload power generation. Yet, for 70 years, the unaccountable Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s red tape has prevented innovation and blocked attempts to make safe, affordable nuclear energy available to more Americans.”
Another supporter of the bill is Emily Percival, Senior Counsel at America First Legal, who claims, “It is time for the NRC to respect the boundaries placed on it by Congress and cede this regulatory authority to states like Florida to move forward with affordable, clean energy solutions.”
The bill is also receiving support from environmental organizations, “HB 1461 helps Florida take a more balanced and more secure approach to energy. To meet this growing demand while strengthening reliability, Florida needs safe, dependable, long-term energy solutions,” said Danielle Lindsay, the Florida Director for American Conservation Coalition Action.
If adopted, the legislation would make Florida a national example in shaping how advanced nuclear technologies are evaluated and integrated into future energy planning, marking a shift toward greater state-level involvement in nuclear development decisions.