The Florida Public Service Commission on Tuesday agreed to delay action until September on energy conservation plans proposed by six utilities.The PSC adopted conservation goals in January for the state's five largest electric utilities and two city-owned utilities. They are subject to the Florida Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act (FEECA), adopted by the Legislature in 2008.In March, those
Tuesday, 31 August 2010
Monday, 30 August 2010
State wildlife agency may stop deciding which animals are endangered
Posted on 17:54 by Unknown
State wildlife officials say they will get out of the business of determining whether species should be listed as endangered under a proposed new classification process. Environmental and some recreational groups say they support the proposed changes.The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has been wrangling for the past decade with the contentious issue of whether it should list
Friday, 27 August 2010
Judge strikes down controversial 2009 growth management changes
Posted on 04:49 by Unknown
A Leon County circuit judge on Thursday struck down a controversial measure that dropped a requirement in state law that developers pay for new roads and schools in many areas.SB 360 was one of the most controversial bills of the 2009 legislative session. The measure lifted transportation "concurrency" requirements for new roads in designated "dense urban land areas." State oversight of "
Thursday, 26 August 2010
Rod Smith, Florida Wildlife Federation support Gainesville biomass plant
Posted on 04:55 by Unknown
Conceptual rendering of American Renewables proposed plant in GainesvilleFormer Sen. Rod Smith of Gainesville and the Florida Wildlife Federation are among the individuals and groups voicing their support for a proposed biomass energy plant in Alachua County in advance of a hearing this week.CFO Alex Sink, who is running for governor with Smith on the ticket as lieutenant governor, supports
Tuesday, 24 August 2010
Florida DEP moving forward on waterways nutrient limits
Posted on 19:07 by Unknown
Florida is moving ahead with adopting its own rules to measure the health of estuaries despite its opposition to a federal proposal to do the same for lakes and rivers, Department of Environmental Protection officials said Tuesday.Department officials on Tuesday held a hearing in Tallahassee on proposed numeric nutrient criteria, which are specific limits for nitrogen, phosphorus and
New recycling law allows counties to claim more than 100 percent recycling
Posted on 04:57 by Unknown
Bay County could claim that its recycling rate has more than doubled, from 19 to 44 percent, because it burns its waste to produce electricity.Six Florida counties could claim that they're currently recycling more than 100 percent of their waste under a bill signed into law by Gov. Charlie Crist in May. But the Florida Department of Environmental Protection says it would reject any such claim.HB
Monday, 23 August 2010
Crist, Georgia governor flirt with meeting on river dispute
Posted on 18:01 by Unknown
Gov. Charlie Crist says he would be pleased to meet again with the governors of Alabama and Georgia to discuss a water dispute -- after negotiators from the states meet to work on finalizing proposals.The three states have been battling over water from the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River since 1990. Alabama and Georgia want water for industry and recreation, while Florida wants it to
Thursday, 19 August 2010
FSU professor challenges oil spill estimates before Congress
Posted on 19:13 by Unknown
Florida State University oceanography professor Ian MacDonald during testimony before Congress on Thursday challenged federal estimates of the amount of oil spilled by BP into the Gulf of Mexico.A federal science team earlier this month estimated that 205 million gallons of oil gushed from the BP's Macondo well between April 20 and July 15. The team said 26 percent remained in the environment
Energy group urges PSC to put off nuclear charges
Posted on 19:12 by Unknown
An environmental group is calling again on the Florida Public Service Commission to reject requests by utilities to charge customers now for proposed nuclear power plants.The PSC has scheduled a week-long hearing next week on requests from Florida Power & Light Co. and Progress Energy under a 2006 state law that allows utilities to charge in advance for nuclear plants even if they are never
Sen. Constantine, Bane among Florida PSC nominees
Posted on 19:04 by Unknown
Sen. Lee Constantine, R-Altamonte Springs, and former Public Service Commission Executive Director Mary Bane were among seven candidates recommended Thursday to the governor for two upcoming vacancies on the PSC.The PSC Nominating Council on June 30 passed over commissioners Nancy Argenziano and Nathan A. Skop for reappointment, as some council members cited discord at the commission. Argenziano
Opponents tout survey opposition to federal water quality standards
Posted on 02:42 by Unknown
Critics of proposed federal water quality standards in Florida on Wednesday pointed to new survey results suggesting that a majority of residents oppose them and would vote against candidates who support them. But the question is based on the presumption that the regulations will cost as much as the utilities who are opposing them say they will.The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency earlier
Tuesday, 17 August 2010
Researchers say Gulf oil spill remains long-term threat
Posted on 16:19 by Unknown
University of South Florida scientists said Tuesday they've found oil spread across the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico, backing suggestions from scientists that dispersed oil from the BP spill remains an environmental threat.A federal science team earlier this month issued a report saying that 74 percent of 205 million gallons of leaked oil had been collected or burned, dispersed, evaporated or
PSC members continue sparring despite new blood
Posted on 16:17 by Unknown
Two outgoing members of the Florida Public Service Commission on Tuesday accused the remaining PSC veteran of stirring up trouble as two new commissioners watched in silence.Commission Chairwoman Nancy Argenziano and Commissioner Nathan A. Skop were passed over for reappointment in July as some members of the PSC Nominating Council cited discord on the panel. On Tuesday, the PSC voted to delay
Most oil spill advisories lifted at Florida beaches
Posted on 12:30 by Unknown
State and local officials are asserting that most of the waters off the Panhandle are now safe for swimming.A number of counties have lifted swimming advisories that had been put in place following the devastating Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.The BP oil spill sent waves of oil onto beaches near Pensacola in July, causing local health officials to issue advisories against
State finds some money for $52-million solar rebate backlog
Posted on 03:10 by Unknown
A solar energy representative on Monday welcomed state action to pay some of the more than 15,000 in applications that have been filed for solar energy rebates.The Florida Solar Energy Incentives Program, which began in 2006, paid up to $20,000 for solar electric panels on Florida homes. But the program has received no money from the Legislature since 2008 and expired under state law on June 30.
Historical resources director wants Florida Forever to protect historic sites
Posted on 03:05 by Unknown
The state Division of Historical Resources is urging the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to revise its criteria for purchasing conservation lands to help protect threatened historic sites. Florida Forever is the largest land-buying program in the nation though its funding has been sharply cut during the past two years.Earlier this year, the state Acquisition and Restoration Council
Thursday, 12 August 2010
State panel considers trimming more than 7,500 acres from purchase list
Posted on 19:14 by Unknown
A state panel on Friday will consider removing 7,577 acres from the state conservation lands purchase list because the land has been developed or otherwise is no longer considered desirable.The Florida Forever conservation land-buying program is the largest in the nation but its funding has been sharply cut the last two years.Some Republican and Democratic members of the House Natural Resources
First family to visit PC Beach; Oil spill research grants awarded
Posted on 19:13 by Unknown
The White House on Thursday gave more details about the pending visit of President Barack Obama and his family to Panama City Beach.The president and First Lady Michelle Obama will travel to Panama City Beach on Saturday and will join area small business owners, elected officials and Navy Secretary Ray Mabus for a roundtable discussion on the BP oil spill recovery. The family will leave on
Tuesday, 10 August 2010
Feds open more Gulf waters off Florida to fishing
Posted on 17:32 by Unknown
Florida officials on Tuesday welcomed the reopening of 5,144 square miles of federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico that had been closed to fishing because of the BP oil spill. Federal waters are beyond state waters, which extend 10.36 miles into the Gulf. The re-opened area, which is almost the size of Connecticut, extends from Cape San Blas west to East Bay near Pensacola. (View the map at http:/
Senate Democratic leader opposes septic tank inspections
Posted on 17:27 by Unknown
Sen. Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee, voted for SB 550 in a committee and on the Senate floor. But on Tuesday, he released a statement saying that during the upcoming special session he wants lawmakers to remove the bill's requirement that septic tanks be inspected once every five years.The bill resulted from hearings held across the state by the Senate Select Committee on Florida's Inland Waters.
Monday, 9 August 2010
Park visits drop after fee increases
Posted on 17:52 by Unknown
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State ParkDid a 60-percent entrance fee increase at some of Florida's most popular state parks turn some visitors away last year?The number of park visitors decreased from 21.4 million in fiscal year 2008-09 to 20.1 million in 2009-10, according to parks data requested by the Florida Tribune. The 6-percent decline followed entrance fee increases from $5 to $8 per carload
State panel wants answers from BP on $20-billion escrow
Posted on 17:43 by Unknown
Members of an oil spill task force appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist grilled a BP representative Monday about how claims would be paid from the $20 billion escrow account established by the company.BP reached an agreement with President Barack Obama in June to establish the account to pay claims arising from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The company announced Monday that it had formally
Thursday, 5 August 2010
Study finds Florida, Alabama beach cleanups are "superficial"
Posted on 16:51 by Unknown
A University of South Florida study on Thursday described the cleanup of oiled beaches on the Florida Panhandle and Alabama as "superficial" because oil remains buried within sand.The BP oil well in the Gulf of Mexico pushed mats of oil onto Escambia beaches in early July and scattered reports of tar balls continue. On Thursday, BP announced it had completed pouring cement into the well, which
Oil spill lessons include benefit of dispersants, Florida DEP chief says
Posted on 03:53 by Unknown
The use of chemical dispersants against the oil spill was a benefit to Florida with no drawbacks, Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Michael Sole told a House work group on Wednesday.House Speaker Larry Cretul appointed work groups last month to recommend possible legislation in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill off the Louisiana coast. Sole spoke Monday on a conference
Sole says leaving Florida DEP was a "tough choice"
Posted on 03:38 by Unknown
Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Michael Sole said Wednesday that his absence from the department since the oil spill and the temporary capping of the well on July 15 hastened his departure from the agency.Sole told Gov. Charlie Crist on Monday that he is leaving the department on Sept. 10 to seek other opportunities. Sole didn't discuss those opportunities during a
Wednesday, 4 August 2010
With 'static kill' working, feds report half of oil is gone
Posted on 15:32 by Unknown
BP and the Coast Guard on Wednesday took another big step towards permanently sealing an oil well that gushed into the Gulf of Mexico from April 20 to July 15. Meanwhile, a federal science team issued a report suggesting that about one-fourth of the 205 million gallons that leaked from the well had been collected or burned while another fourth had naturally evaporated or been absorbed.BP and
Monday, 2 August 2010
Florida officials hope "static kill" can lead to reduced state response
Posted on 15:32 by Unknown
Florida officials said Monday they were looking forward to BP's plans for a "static kill" operation to permanently seal the oil well that gushed from April 20 to July 15.State and federal officials said they had reduced the number of workers cleaning up oil from beaches. Alabama lifted advisories against swimming on Friday, but beaches in Florida remained under advisories in Escambia, Okaloosa
Florida's environmental chief says he's leaving for "other opportunities"
Posted on 15:32 by Unknown
DEP's Mike Sole speaks to reporters on June 1 as Gov. Charlie Crist, right, looks on.After working nearly 20 years rising through the ranks at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Secretary Michael Sole told Gov. Charlie Crist on Monday he is leaving the department on Sept. 10 to pursue other opportunities.Representatives of counties, regulated industries and some environmental
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