Author name: bruce

Florida’s three national forests are offering free admission today through Sunday at recreation sites and campgrounds. The free admission is being offered to support “Get Outdoors Florida!”, a coalition that says it wants to address societal needs including public well-being, health issues and natural resource conservation. Gov. Charlie Crist and the Cabinet endorsed the program […]

Bald Point State Park Gov. Charlie Crist and environmentalists say they’re not giving up on the state’s land-buying program despite there being zero money for it so far in the House and Senate versions of the proposed 2009-10 state budget.  The Legislature has budgeted $300 million for the program every year since 1990, leading to

Gov. Charlie Crist today announced a revised state plan to purchase a swath of U.S. Sugar Corp. land to restore the Everglades and Florida’s “River of Grass.” Crist last summer announced a preliminary deal by the South Florida Water Management District to buy up to 187,000 acres for $1.34 billion. Facing criticism from some legislators

A proposal to require Florida utilities by 2020 to produce at least 20 percent of their electricity from “clean energy” sources including nuclear and coal was approved by a Senate committee today. SB 1154 replaced a “renewable” energy requirement recommended by the Florida Public Service Commission with a “clean energy” requirement that includes nuclear and

With the economy on the rocks, industry lobbyists are urging the Florida Legislature to adopt proposals to “streamline” state and local permitting. But some senators and environmentalists say many of those proposals may be disguised efforts to roll back environmental protection. The Senate Committee on Environmental Preservation last week delayed action on one streamlining bill,

(File photo) A coalition of environmental groups and businesses today urged legislative leaders to take action on a proposed renewable energy requirement for utilities. The Public Service Commission is recommending that investor-owned utilities produce 20 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2020, a move that alliance members said would create jobs. A comprehensive

Today is “Oceans Day” at the Florida Capitol The Florida Oceans and Coastal Council will have displays in the Capitol rotunda from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The theme of this year’s Oceans Day is “Florida’s Ocean Assets in a Changing Climate and Economy,” according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The council is

A Senate committee today voted to support tougher automobile emission standards while a House committee went against environmentalists by voting to expedite drilling for oil in the Gulf of Mexico. Despite opposition from automobile manufacturers and farm and business groups, the Senate Committee on Environmental Preservation voted 6-0 to approve a bill that would adopt

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park By Bruce Ritchie Visitors to 58 Florida state parks could see closed gates three days a week under a budget-cutting proposal requested by Senate leaders. Facing possibly a $6.5 billion deficit in fiscal 2009-10, the Senate asked some state agencies to offer ways to cut their operating budgets 20

A bill that would require advanced septic systems and sewage treatment plants in counties with major springs was approved by a Senate committee on Tuesday. SB 274 by Sen. Lee Constantine, R-Altamonte Springs, was passed by the Senate Committee on Environmental Preservation and Conservation, which he chairs. The bill, which was substantially rewritten on Tuesday,