Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschOctober 10, 2017

A pair of Tampa Bay Republicans filed bills in the House and Senate over the past week that would slap Florida with a full-on fracking ban come. Fracking, shorthand for hydraulic fracturing, is a method of natural gas extraction that sees drillers inject a concoction of water and various chemicals into fault lines deep underground […]

Phil AmmannMay 31, 2017

Among the five bills signed Wednesday by Gov. Rick Scott is HB 865, an omnibus measure that reforms several areas in the Florida Department of Transportation. LobbyTools reports that the bill, in part, mandates the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority to get DOT approval on contracts before receiving department money. The department must also submit a […]

Associated PressFebruary 23, 2017

Two people protesting the 515-mile-long Sabal Trail natural gas pipeline wedged themselves into a section of the pipe in north Florida. The Ocala Star-Banner reports that the man and woman were eventually removed Wednesday afternoon from the 3-foot-wide pipe after Marion County Fire Rescue responded. One of the protesters, Carrie Ford, sent a video while […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 21, 2017

Many veterans of war, including myself, have concerns with foreign products being purchased from countries at war, namely the Middle East. We have come a long way in recent years to obtain our own oil and natural gas within the U.S. However, we can’t lift our feet off the proverbial pedal. Our country must use […]

Associated PressJanuary 18, 2017

An environmental group is challenging a rate hike for Florida’s largest electric utility. The Sierra Club on Tuesday asked the state Supreme Court to reject an $811 million hike that was approved last year for Florida Power & Light. FPL has about 4.8 million customers in the state. FPL initially wanted a $1.3 billion hike […]

Michael MolineSeptember 14, 2016

The lights seem likely to stay on in Florida for the next 10 years, utility industry representatives told the Public Service Commission Wednesday. Reserve margins for the electricity supply should exceed 20 percent during that time, due to increased reliance on natural gas — projected to hold steady at 65 percent of supply. Renewable energy […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 13, 2016

With the recent passage of Amendment 4, you might be under the impression that the Sunshine State is making hay from our abundant natural resource and creating a healthy amount of energy from solar. Not so. In fact, although Amendment 4 is a step in the right direction, it’s actually natural gas that carries the […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 28, 2016

It looks like there’s one more chance this year for the Legislature to decide whether to sensibly regulate hydraulic fracturing in Florida and it will happen Tuesday at the Senate Committee on Appropriations. For those who view the failure of these bills as some kind of victory, you’re fooling yourselves. A “no” vote on Senate […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 18, 2016

The assault on Florida’s environment continues as a Senate committee last week approved a bill that would make it easier for petroleum companies to use fracking technology to extract oil and gas in the state. Lest we forget, the administration of Gov. Rick Scott has ordered the words “climate change” scrubbed from official speeches and […]

Melissa RossOctober 15, 2015

The natural gas pushback has begun. Hot on the heels of news that another public access compressed natural gas station has opened in North Florida, a new analysis is out suggesting that Florida is one of several states “relying too much on natural gas” rather than turning to renewable energy sources like wind or solar […]

Tag: natural gas

Tampa Bay lawmakers file bills that would ban fracking

Rick Scott signs DOT reform bill

2 protesters removed from section of Sabal Trail pipeline

Dennis Freytes: Safe fracking — good for America

Sierra Club challenges nearly $1 billion electric rate hike

Florida utilities keeping up with demand for electricity

Tom Matthews: Amendment 4 is good start, but natural gas necessary for Florida economy, environment

Greg Preble: Legislators should approve bill that regulates fracking

Marc Yacht: State moves fracking regulation bill forward

Email insights: Florida relies too much on natural gas, says Union of Concerned Scientists