Author name: bruce

Bud Chiles, independent candidate for governor, said Wednesday he will push for a 20-percent renewable energy requirement as governor and push to reauthorize the solar energy rebate program. Chiles announced the initiatives after touring the Florida Solar Energy Center in Cocoa. He also criticized his opponents’ and their parties for accepting donations from utilities. “I […]

More oil-skimming vessels are on the way to the Gulf of Mexico while the BP oil spill is not expected to affect Florida this week, state officials said Tuesday. U. S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Melbourne, visited the state Emergency Operations Center and announced that 27 U. S. Navy skimming vessels were being deployed to the

Workers are trained at the Florida Solar Energy Center in Cocoa to install solar panels. An informal coalition of renewable energy trade groups have developed a policy statement that they hope will push the Florida Legislature to take action on renewable energy. Some legislators have cited disagreement among renewable energy groups as a challenge in

Workers clean oil from a Pensacola beach on June 23rd. Legislators complained Friday that oil spill clean up workers are being kept off beaches because there are not enough workers who are specifically trained to watch out for sea turtles. During a telephone conference call with Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Michael Sole, Rep. Marti

After hundreds of people complained about swimming with oil at beaches in Escambia County last week, the Florida Department of Health is making modest changes in its system for issuing beach swimming advisories. All Gulf beaches in Escambia County were closed Saturday along with most beaches in Walton County, according to a DOH website. More

The Florida Public Service Commission Nominating Council in August will interview six applicants for two spots on the Public Service Commission even though all of them have already been nominated to fill two other seats. The council’s choices could limit the governor’s selection to lead the troubled agency, but the council chairman says that was

Independent candidate for governor Bud Chiles on Thursday called on Gov. Charlie Crist to aks for a grand jury to investigate the Florida Public Service Commission. The PSC Nominating Council on Wednesday effectively ousted Chairman Nancy Argenziano and Commissioner Nathan A. Skop by not selecting them among the 18 to be interviewed for their seats

Responders remove sea turtle eggs from a nest on the Fort Morgan Peninsula in Alabama on June 27. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service photos by Bonnie Strawser. Bad weather hampered oil spill cleanup operations Thursday as state officials weighed in on efforts to help wildlife, fishermen and counties that are battling the spill. Sen. Bill

Florida’s solar energy rebate program ended Wednesday with a backlog of more than 11,000 applications totaling at least $41.6 million. Gov. Charlie Crist has hinted that a special session to address energy issues could be used to extend the program, which paid out $25 million in rebates between 2006 and 2009. The program, which paid

Chairman Nancy Argenziano and Commissioner Nathan A. Skop have been ousted from the Florida Public Service Commission, meaning that four of the commissioners who voted against utility rate hikes in January have been removed. The Public Service Commission Nominating Council met Wednesday morning in Tampa and voted with little discussion to interview 18 candidates other