• Ocean

Florida Gulf Coast Facing Prolonged Algae Bloom, Threatening Ecosystems and Fisheries

• algal blooms
• Florida
• Tampa

by Amy Lupica, ODP Staff Writer St. Petersburg, Florida, has fallen victim to what could be one of the most prolonged red tides in recent history. Hundreds of tons of dead sea life have washed up on shores as the ecological disaster takes root, and experts say the end isn’t yet in sight. Officials are trying to pinpoint […]

• Energy

DeSantis’ Big Gift to Big Gas

• Florida
• natural gas
• Ron DeSantis

by Ashira Morris, ODP Staff Writer Cities and towns across Florida can no longer ban fossil fuels and prioritize clean energy projects after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a new law. The bill preempts local plans that restrict or prohibit energy planning, nullifying 100% clean energy commitments in cities from Tallahassee to Sarasota. The law takes […]

• Land

Florida Governor Backs Highway Extension Through Everglades Region

• Everglades
• Florida
• Ron DeSantis

by Amy Lupica, ODP Staff Writer Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and part of the state Cabinet have approved a highway extension spanning a portion of the Everglades. The move rejects a 2020 recommended order from Administrative Law Judge Suzanne Van Wyk, claiming that the project was incompatible with continued efforts to establish protections in the region. Legal challenges are […]

• People

A Cloud Over Sunshine State Solar

• DER
• Florida
• Ron DeSantis
• Solar

by Ashira Morris, ODP Staff Writer A bill sitting on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s desk could take away local government’s decision-making about their energy choices, including where to build large-scale solar arrays. The outcome will impact the historically Black town of Archer, where Origis Energy and Gainesville Regional Utilities want to build a 50-megawatt solar […]

• Water

Georgia Unanimously Wins Water Feud with Florida In Supreme Court

• ecosystem
• Florida
• Georgia
• overfishing
• oyster
• Supreme Court
• wildlife

The Supreme Court handed the state of Georgia an overwhelming victory yesterday in a long-brewing water feud with the state of Florida.   In the end, it boiled (bad pun) down to Florida’s inability to show its “injury” could be remedied if it received more water. 

Why This Matters:  Florida was its own worst enemy in the case.

• Land

Green Groups Urge Haaland to Reject Drilling in the Everglades

• Deb Haaland
• Department of Interior
• drilling
• Everglades
• Florida

by Amy Lupica, ODP Staff Writer On Tuesday, a coalition of conservation organizations signed a letter to the Interior Department Secretary Deb Haaland, urging her to deny Burnett Oil Company’s requests to drill for oil in Big Cypress National Preserve which is a part of the Greater Everglades.  “The proposed oil extraction activities would be […]