Florida Agricultural Commissioner Nikki Fried held a news conference in Jacksonville Tuesday to highlight her department's upcoming energy equity study.
Fried first announced the study on June 22, but research has not begun. Her department is receiving research proposals from researchers interested in the project until July 21.
Fried highlighted existing data on energy equity. She said about 3 million Florida residents live in poverty; 20% of which are black and 16% are hispanic. Nationally, people in poverty spend on average three times more on energy than other Florida residents.
“Too many are having to choose between paying their electric bills, paying for their rent, paying for food on the table,” Fried said.
State Rep. Angie Nixon (D-District 14), one of Jacksonville’s representatives, thanked Fried for commissioning the study. She said some of her constituents have voiced issues with utility prices.
“I can’t tell you the amount of calls that my office receives as it relates to residents being unable to pay their utility bill,” Nixon said.
Fried’s press conference comes as she is campaigning to be the Democratic party’s candidate to challenge Gov. Ron DeSantis in the 2022 gubernatorial election.
Tristan Wood can be reached at newsteam@wjct.org or on Twitter at @TristanDWood.
