Author name: bruce

Members of a house budget-writing panel today took another shot at the Florida Forever land-buying program. Florida Forever is the largest land-buying program in the nation and is a budget priority for environmental groups and Gov. Charlie Crist. But the program received no money from the Legislature last year for the first time since the […]

Conceptual rendering of American Renewables proposed plant in Gainesville The Florida Public Service Commission on Tuesday appeared ready to vote down a proposed biomass power plant in Gainesville before city officials asked the PSC to delay the vote. Gainesville officials say the 100-megawatt American Renewables LLC plant will provide needed renewable energy and reduce the

Flint Rock WMA The governor and Cabinet today approved the state purchase of 2,849 acres in Jefferson County. The state will pay The Nature Conservancy $5.2 million, or $1,841 per acre, for the land, which previously was owned by The St. Joe Co. The land has been managed as a portion of the Flint Rock

Federal proposed water quality standards for Florida received more protests this week from Florida officials. Springs across the state have become choked with weeds and algae in recent years while toxic algal blooms have flourished in the St. Johns River and along the southwest Florida Gulf coast. The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency on Jan.

Members of a House panel today were told that oil and gas production platforms built more than 13 miles offshore would not be visible from the coast. The House Select Policy Council on Strategic & Economic Planning is holding hearings towards developing legislation that would lift the state’s 20-year-old ban on drilling in Florida waters.

Florida’s conservation land-buying program was not included among 38 priorities identified by members of a House panel. The Florida Forever land-buying program is a 2010-11 budget priority for Gov. Charlie Crist and environmental groups. Florida Forever is the largest land-buying program in the nation with 2.4 million acres having been purchased since 1990. But the

Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, today said elimination of the Florida Department of Community Affairs “is not going to happen on my watch.” Bennett, as chairman of the Senate Committee on Community Affairs, could play a key role in maintaining DCA as the chief state agency responsible for enforcing Florida’s growth management laws. The agency this

A state panel created by the Legislature to make recommendations on growth management and quality of life issues has produced its fourth annual report while it struggles with lack of state funding. The Century Commission for a Sustainable Florida this year has issued four recommendations, most of them suggesting follow-up action on previous recommendations. The

A manatee surfaces in Wakulla Springs near a tour boat carrying members and staff of the Senate Select Committee on Florida’s Inland Waters Eight Florida senators today heard from Wakulla Springs State Park supporters about their efforts to fight increasing nitrogen levels that have caused the springs to become choked with weeds and algae. The

A bill by Sen. Mike Fasano to require that communications between Public Service Commission members and regulated utilities be posted publicly was approved today by a Senate committee. Fasano, R-New Port Richey, introduced SB 1034 after the news media last fall revealed numerous contacts between commissioners and Florida Power & Light Co. representatives during hearings