Misc

A recycling bill that was described by its sponsor as being on life support two weeks ago has found new life in a proposed committee bill. Florida now recycles about 28 percent of its waste, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. HB 1559 by Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, D-Tallahassee, provides measures to implement […]

A proposed energy bill filed Wednesday by the House Energy & Utilities Committee appears to remove language in state law that addresses climate change and requires utilities to increase the amount of renewable energy they provide to customers. PCB EUP 10-6 is scheduled Friday to be heard by the committee, which held a hearing prior

Gov. Charlie Crist on Wednesday told a rally at the Capitol that the state’s land-buying program is critical to the Florida’s tourism economy. Florida Forever is the largest land-buying program in the nation with more than 2 million acres having been purchased since 1990. But the program is expected to run out of money by

Florida Supreme Court justices today hammered both sides in the U. S. Sugar land deal originally brokered by Charlie Crist about the role the purchase could play in Everglades restoration. The Miccosukee Tribe of Indians and rivals to U. S. Sugar are challenging the South Florida Water Management District’s approved purchase of 73,000 acres of

Florida’s largest springs are ranked by the Florida Forever Coalition as the top-ranked state purchase area at risk for development. Florida Forever is the largest land-buying program in the nation but it could run out of money by the end of the year. The Legislature provided $300 million a year in bonding authority for the

A view of limestone outcroppings along the Ichetucknee River in Columbia County.SB 550, dubbed the “mega-water bill” that includes springs protection measures, barely passed a Senate committee on Tuesday after development groups raised concerns about its septic tank requirements. The bill was introduced by Sen. Lee Constantine, who chaired the Senate Select Committee on Florida’s

The chairman of a key House council said Tuesday there is plenty of time in the legislative session to approve a bill that would reauthorize the Florida Department of Community Affairs. The Legislature in 2006 established the “sunset review” process to determine whether agencies should be continued. DCA spokesman James Miller said Monday the department

Meeting conservation goals established by the state for utilities in December will cost Progress Florida customers an average of $13.52 more per month over the next 10 years, according to the utility. After rejecting an initial staff recommendation in November, the Public Service Commission in December established tougher new conservation goals for five investor-owned utilities

Public Service Commissioner Nathan Skop on Monday called on House Speaker Larry Cretul to bring “meaningful reform” to the PSC by pushing for House approval of SB 1034. The Senate adopted the bill during the first week of session last month. The bill defines prohibited “ex parte” communications with commissioners in docketed cases and bans

Environmental groups are asking the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to delay approval of a new stream classification system. Florida has five waterway classifications that are used to help determine the amount of pollution that can be discharged into receiving water bodies. Most waterways are designated as Class III, meaning they are support recreation and