2010 archive

Farmer Rod Land of Lafayette County on Tuesday told federal officials at a hearing in Tallahassee that he is a fifth generation farmer and may be the last in his family if proposed a proposed federal water rule is adopted. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is holding hearings in Florida this week on the proposal […]

A bill that would restrict lobbying by former Public Service Commission members and staff was revised Tuesday to match tougher recommendations made by the commission. SB 1034 was introduced by Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, who said public trust was shaken last fall by news reports of private communications between commissioners and representatives of

The Century Commission for a Sustainable Florida narrowly avoided getting targeted for elimination on Monday. The commission, whose members are named by the governor, Senate president and House speaker, was established in 2005 to issue recommendations for maintaining Florida’s quality of life as the state’s population continues to grow. The commission now is studying the

State officials for the first time are saying they know at what level of nitrate in groundwater that springs lose their ecological balance. Florida has more than 700 named springs, several of which are the central attraction at state and local parks across the state. But many of those springs have become choked with weeds

A World War II memorial is silhouetted against a gray sky along the St. Johns River in Palatka PALATKA — Marihelen Wheeler of Gainesville today told a Senate committee hearing along the St. Johns River that when she’s been to hearings in the past on environmental issues, government representatives listened and nodded their heads but

Florida Public Service Commission Chairwoman Nancy Argenziano says Senate talk of beefing up educational requirements for the PSC is aimed at getting her off the panel. Gov. Charlie Crist in 2007 appointed Argenziano, a former state senator, to a four-year term. The Miami Herald reported today that Sen. Mike Haridopolos, R-Melbourne and Senate president in

Opponents of oil drilling are holding hands in a protest at beaches and other sites across the state on Saturday. Called “Hands Across the Sand,” the event is open to anyone, organizers say. “This is a simple, nonpartisan way for Floridians to join hands in an effort to protect our state’s most important asset —

Members of a House panel Wednesday were provided with oil spill figures and they were told that seismic research is needed to find offshore deposits of beach sand before oil drilling is allowed. The House Select Policy Council on Strategic & Economic Planning is holding hearings towards developing legislation to allow oil drilling in Florida

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