Floridians are already struggling with record-high electric bills—and now, the man who gutted our state’s climate laws is being handed even more power over our energy future.

Governor Ron DeSantis has appointed former State Rep. Bobby Payne to Florida’s Public Service Commission—the board responsible for regulating utility companies like Florida Power & Light and deciding how much they can charge customers. But Payne isn’t a watchdog for the public—he’s a longtime fossil fuel insider with a track record of dismissing climate change as “unfitting” for America.

Earlier this year, Payne sponsored the bill that removed nearly every mention of “climate change” from Florida law. That same bill blocked offshore wind development, weakened clean energy goals, and took control away from local communities trying to manage fossil fuel infrastructure. And now he’s set to oversee the very companies that stand to profit from those rollbacks.

This isn’t just about politics—it’s about fairness, safety, and accountability. Florida families are paying more than ever for electricity, while big utility companies rake in billions. Payne has shown he prioritizes industry profits over public protection, and putting him on the utility board will only make things worse.

The Florida Senate has the power to stop this. Payne’s appointment isn’t final unless confirmed by the Senate—and they need to hear from us now.

We urge the Florida Senate to reject Bobby Payne’s nomination to the Public Service Commission. Florida needs leaders who take climate change seriously, fight for affordable energy, and put the public first—not another fossil fuel ally rubber-stamping rate hikes.

Add your name to demand a better future for Florida’s energy system—before it’s too late.

Photo: DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Tampa Bay Times