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Tuesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida businesses urge a stay in permitting fight
Warning of “devastating” effects, some of Florida’s most-powerful business groups and major companies are urging a federal judge to approve a stay of a ruling in a battle about permitting authority for projects that affect wetlands. The groups and companies Saturday filed a friend-of-the-court brief supporting a request by the state for a partial stay of a Feb. 15 ruling by U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss. The Washington, D.C.-based judge found that federal officials did not follow required steps in 2020 before transferring wetlands-related permitting authority from the federal government to the state. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Why Florida doesn’t have wind energy, but lawmakers want to curb it anyway
If you drive through parts of Texas, California, the Midwest — or look off the coast of several northeastern states — you can see enormous wind turbines, their rotations powering millions of homes as part of a push to make wind part of our country’s energy future. But not so in Florida, a state whose lower wind speeds have kept it from becoming a wind energy hotspot. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Bill aims to curb ‘predatory behavior’ in controversial Florida improvement loan program
Florida is on the verge of passing the strongest consumer protections in state history for a problem-plagued home loan program touted to help homeowners pay for energy efficiency projects like solar panels and hurricane protection like impact windows or new roofs. The Property Assessed Clean Energy program — commonly known as the PACE — provides a funding option for people who don’t qualify for or want a bank loan. [Source: Miami Herald]
Meat Institute argues cellular agriculture ban will hurt Florida’s food economy
As Florida’s beef farmers treat lab-grown meat as a threat, the nation’s largest meat packing association sees things otherwise. The North American Meat Association sent a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis and legislative leaders saying a ban on cellular agriculture violates the free market principles the state normally touts. Mark Dopp, CEO and General Council for the Meat Institute, said consumers should have a choice whether to add cultivated meat to their diet. More from Florida Politics and the Independent Florida Alligator.
Here's what lawmakers are doing about Florida's prison crisis
Florida lawmakers are poised to allocate millions of dollars for state prison maintenance that's been put off for decades, but it's just a fraction of what consultants say is needed to fix the crumbling system. If the Florida Department of Corrections doesn't get a serious influx of cash, "the state will face increasing risks that jeopardize public safety," according to a report by the auditing firm KPMG. [Source: Axios]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Four months after a crash, Orlando’s self-driving shuttle restarts
Sidelined for four months following a crash, Orlando’s self-driving bus downtown is expected to restart its test runs Tuesday. The bus has been off the roads in Creative Village awaiting a review of the Nov. 4 accident. It turned out that an attendant aboard the SWAN Shuttle triggered the vehicle to go while at a stop signal, and guided it into the path of a Lynx bus turning east on Amelia Street, according to a police crash report. “Unfortunately, it was human error that caused this,” said Joe Moye, the CEO of Beep Inc., which operates the autonomous bus.
› Move over, rooftop solar: South Florida startup is launching solar-powered carports and pergolas
In Florida, more than 100,000 homeowners have installed rooftop solar, which makes up about 1 percent of all electric customers in the state. However, despite Florida being one of the best states for solar panel energy, what many Floridians do not know is that their home may not be equipped for rooftop solar installation, according to Florida’s Department of Energy.
› Tampa Bay homebuyers must earn double the income to buy a home in 2024
A new Zillow report reveals that Tampa Bay homeowners must earn nearly double what they made four years ago to afford a home. According to the report, a $58,577 income was enough to comfortably own a Tampa home in 2020. But in 2024, buyers will need nearly 100% more income to afford a home in Tampa Bay, pushing the minimum required income to $116,329.
› Lake Okeechobee waters turning coastal Lee brown during season
Lake Okeechobee waters continue to blast out of the W.P. Franklin Lock and Dam, and coastal Southwest Florida waters are starting to look like chocolate milk. Aerial images from volunteers with Calusa Waterkeeper show a stark contrast between the Gulf of Mexico waters and the billions of gallons of tainted freshwater coming from the lake.
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