A bill filed by Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood, would eliminate Florida’s greenhouse gas emissions cap-and-trade program before one was ever adopted. Climate change and regulation of greenhouse gas emissions was a priority of Gov. Charlie Crist soon after he took office in 2007, but it dropped as a priority after 2008. Gov. Rick Scott, who […]
Senate bill would scrap Florida’s climate program Read More »
Gov. Rick Scott said Monday he plans to cut $1 billion in government spending over two years by consolidating and streamlining government including the Florida Department of Community Affairs. Scott’s plan — which included only a few details — would remove all regulatory functions from DCA and move them to other state agencies. Scott also
Scott plans realignment of Florida’s growth management agency Read More »
A senator whose summer beach trip was spoiled by high bacteria levels has filed a bill directing the state to investigate possible sources of beach water contamination. Sen. Eleanor Sobel, D-Hollywood, rented a hotel room at Hollywood Beach last summer to stay with visiting relatives. But when they went down to the water, they discovered
Senator’s spoiled beach trip leads to bill directing DOH to investigate Read More »
Peacock Springs State Park near Luraville is one of the 53 state parks that would be closed. A budget-exercise proposal to close 53 state parks drew concerns Wednesday from members of a House budget-writing committee. State agencies last fall were asked to come up with 15-percent budget cut proposals for the upcoming fiscal year. State
Florida House members uneasy with proposal to close 53 state parks Read More »
This reservoir in DeSoto County was built with some state water supply funding. Conservation and development of new water supplies must be part of Florida’s future to attract industry and create jobs, panelists on Thursday told the House Select Committee on Water Policy. But there were differing views on how much the environment should be
House water panel hears differing views on environmental protection Read More »
A House panel on Wednesday passed three bills that are intended to address a court ruling that threw out 2009 legislation that revamped the state’s growth management laws. SB 360 in 2009 removed a requirement that developers pay for new roads and schools in designated areas and it removed state oversight of large developments in
House panel approves growth rewrite to address court ruling Read More »
Members of a Senate committee said Wednesday they want state wildlife officials to explain at their next committee meeting why they are considering requiring deer hunters to report their kills. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will consider the reporting requirement when it meets next month in Apalachicola, said Tim Breault, director of the
Senators warn wildlife officials on hunting requirement Read More »
Representatives of 39 utility, development and agricultural groups on Tuesday sent a letter to Florida’s senators and congressional representatives asking them to deny federal agency funding to implement new water quality standards. The industry groups seem to be taking a harder line against the federal standards than some state agency officials. One state agriculture official
Thirty-nine Florida groups seek to block federal water standards Read More »
The Florida Public Service Commission on Tuesday approved an energy conservation plan for Gulf Power Co. after initially rejecting a plan submitted by the utility last fall. Gulf Power, the state’s fourth largest investor-owned utility with more than 430,000 customers, was one of four utilities whose “demand-side management” conservation plans were rejected initially by the
PSC approves Gulf Power conservation plan after initial rejection Read More »
The resignation of another top staffer has been accepted at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, creating another high-level vacancy under new DEP Secretary Herschel Vinyard. Janet Llewellyn, director of the Division of Water Resource Management, was told Friday that her resignation had been accepted, according to sources outside of the agency. Resignations were requested
Another top Florida DEP official is on the way out Read More »
