The Florida Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) Education Fund is the state chapter of the left-of-center U.S. Public Interest Research Group (US-PIRG). The Florida PIRG Education Fund conducts research and public education campaigns primarily in support of left-leaning environmentalist policies, like eliminating the use of conventional energy sources and moving entirely to environmentalist energy sources like wind and solar power. ^{1 2}

Jennifer Rubiello, who has previously worked in multiple roles with left-leaning organizations like America Votes and the Green Corps, is executive director of the Florida PIRG Education Fund. ³

Activities

In 2012, the Florida PIRG Education Fund joined with Rock the Vote and the League of Women Voters of Florida to file a lawsuit against a Florida law that mandated voter identification cards. ⁴

Florida PIRG Education Fund’s activism has promoted left-of-center environmentalist policies. The Fund has published reports with recommendations including banning all single-use plastics and transitioning all homes to environmentalist energy sources . ^{1 2} The organization has also sought for the United States to transition to a so-called “circular economy,” mandating recycling and composting in order to reduce waste and placing the burden for creating this new system on manufacturers by forcing them to build longer-lasting products. ⁵

Leadership

Jennifer Rubiello was listed as the principal officer of the Florida PIRG Education Fund on the organization’s 2019 tax filings. ⁶ Rubiello is currently the Florida deputy state director of the left-leaning America Votes. Prior to joining America Votes, Rubiello worked as state director of Environment Florida, a left-of-center environmentalist organization which sought to ban all Styrofoam takeout containers and transition the United States entirely to environmentalist energy sources. ^{3 7 8} Rubiello has also worked as canvassing director at Work for Progress,³ a left-of-center organization associated with the Public Interest Network (PIN), and at Green Corps, an environmentalist activism training organization. ^{9 3 10}

The extent of Rubiello’s involvement with the Fund is unclear. She is not listed as a staff member on the Florida PIRG Education Fund website, which only lists national PIRG officials and does not specify Florida PIRG Education Fund staff. ¹¹

1. “About Florida PIRG Education Fund.” Florida PIRG Education Fund, 2021. https://floridapirgedfund.org/page/flf/about-florida-pirg-education-fund
2. Huxley-Reicher, Bryn. “Electric Buildings.” Electric Buildings | Florida PIRG Education Fund. FL PIRG ED FUND, April 6, 2021. https://floridapirgedfund.org/reports/flf/electric-buildings
3. Rubiello , Jennifer. “Jennifer Rubiello – LinkedIn.” Linkedin Profile. Linkedin, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-rubiello-1aa00a32
4. https://www.politico.com/story/2012/02/fla-voter-restrictions-challenged-073453
5. PFORZHEIMER, ADRIAN. “Break the Waste Cycle.” Break the waste cycle | Florida PIRG Education Fund, October 29, 2020. https://floridapirgedfund.org/reports/flf/break-waste-cycle.
6. “IRS.gov Applications.” Details about Florida public interest research group education fund inc., 2020. https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/detailsPage?ein=592854230&name=Florida+Public+Interest+Research+Group+Education+Fund+Inc.&city=St.+Petersburg&state=FL&countryAbbr=US&dba=&type=CHARITIES%2C+EPOSTCARD&orgTags=EPOSTCARD
7. Staff, WFTS Digital. “Environment Florida Calls for Statewide Ban of Styrofoam Cups.” WFTS. WFTS, June 6, 2019. https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/state/environment-florida-calls-for-statewide-ban-of-styrofoam-cups
8. “Homepage 041421 – Earth Day.” Environment Florida, 2021. https://environmentflorida.org/
9. “About Us.” Work for Progress, August 26, 2020. https://workforprogress.org/about-us/
10. “Green Corps.” Green Corps – The Field School for Environmental Organizing. Accessed April 24, 2021. https://greencorps.org/
11. “Staff & Principals.” Florida PIRG Education Fund. Accessed May 5, 2021. https://floridapirgedfund.org/staff.