Author name: bruce

A House committee today gave initial approval to a proposed bill that would abolish the Florida Department of Community Affairs, a move facing opposition from a coalition of environmental groups. The Military and Local Affairs Policy Committee voted 12-3 in support of the bill, which also would roll back roads and schools requirements for new […]

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist received a conservation achievement award from the National Wildlife Federation and the Florida Wildlife Federation. Crist was recognized for his role in conservation including encouraging the South Florida Water Management District’s recent approval of the purchase of 180,000 acres from the U.S. Sugar Corp. for Everglades restoration. During a ceremony at

By Bruce Ritchie Saying that renewable energy and system reliability together are a matter of national security, former CIA Director James Woolsey urged Florida legislators today to allow rules making it easier for renewable energy providers to make a profit. The existing power system is too sensitive to storms and could easily be damaged by

By Bruce Ritchie A draft House committee bill that would move Florida’s land-planning agency into the Department of State was met by an outcry Monday from environmentalists who called it an attempt by legislators and developers to punish state planners. The Florida Department of Community Affairs, which includes state land-planners, faces a “sunset” review by

By Bruce Ritchie Members of a House committee today criticized Gov. Charlie Crist’s proposal to tax water-bottling, saying it’s a threat to jobs and could lead to a similar tax on agricultural water use. As part of his proposed $66.5 billion budget for 2009-10, the state would collect 6 cents per gallon on water-bottling plants.

By Bruce Ritchie With the state’s land-buying program having dodged a bullet in January, The Nature Conservancy today released a report saying that the program plays a vital role in the state’s economy. Florida has conserved more than 500,000 acres since 2000 under the Florida Forever program, which receives $300 million annually. But the program

By Bruce Ritchie Florida’s efforts to reverse the decline of coastal and ocean resources earned only a C grade today from a coalition of environmental groups who want the state to show more national leadership on ocean issues. The coalition of seven groups called on Florida to restrict development in sensitive coastal areas, establish an

By Bruce Ritchie A grand jury in Leon County has cleared city officials, Florida State University President T. K. Wetherell and his wife, Virginia Wetherell, of wrongdoing in the siting of a proposed biomass gas electric plant on FSU property. Biomass Gas & Electric of Norcross, Ga. received approval from the governor and Cabinet in

By Bruce Ritchie With Tallahassee seeking federal money to upgrade its sewage treatment plant, Wakulla Springs supporters now are focusing more attention on the threat to groundwater posed by septic tanks. Wakulla Springs has become choked with weeds and algae in the past decade as nitrogen levels in groundwater increased. Scientists say nitrogen sources include

By Bruce Ritchie Florida Gov. Charlie Crist on “Meet the Press” Sunday defended his support of the federal stimulus package. But there was little mention of growth and environmental issues until Crist appeared on the program’s “Take Two” segment on the Web. During “Take Two,” Crist said the Republican Party’s approach is perhaps too narrow