By: Lorna Perez, Florida Field Organizer, Moms Clean Air Force
Date: December 20, 2024
About: Clean transportation and clean energy
To: Meeting of the Sarasota Delegation to the Florida State Legislature
Good afternoon. I’m Lorna Perez, a field organizer for Moms Clean Air Force, representing over 186,000 moms, dads, and caregivers across Florida united against air pollution. Our “mompartisan” volunteers are committed to protecting our children’s health and advancing equitable solutions to pollution.
I welcome this opportunity to share two main priorities we work on across the state: clean transportation and clean energy. Florida has some of the dirtiest natural gas power plants, which emit harmful pollutants, and our vehicle emissions are the largest source of air pollution in the state. This damages our lungs, hearts, and brains, especially for children.
That’s why we’re advocating for electric school buses to offer a clean ride for kids. Sarasota County has already adopted some electric school buses, and we thank you for your leadership on this and are excited to see continued adoption of clean transportation vehicles.
We’re also pushing for Florida to invest more in solar energy. Our reliance on dirty, expensive natural gas harms both our health and economy, while solar offers a cleaner, cheaper alternative.
I urge you to continue supporting clean transportation and renewable energy for a healthier, more sustainable Florida. Thank you for the opportunity to speak today.