November 28, 2023
Environment
Sewage Fuels Brown Tide
A Florida Atlantic University Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute study added to the evidence that the root cause of the nitrogen pollution in the Indian River Lagoon responsible for algal blooms and brown tide — leading to seagrass, fish and manatee die offs — is homeowners' septic systems, not lawn fertilizer.
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Published on 10/24/2023
Driving Climate Conversations
Miami is considered especially vulnerable to sea level rise fueled by climate change. It's also becoming an epicenter for resiliency initiatives to mitigate impact on the city and its residents. But that doesn't mean the community fully understands what future adaptations it will require.
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Published on 9/30/2023
Where the Wild Things Are
If it’s built in rural Florida, there will be wildlife roaming about. In Southwest Florida, an FPL motion-activated wildlife camera in Hendry County has captured Florida panthers traversing a fenced...
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Published on 9/30/2023
Seeking Protection
Three activist groups served notice to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that they intend to sue to force the agency to invoke Endangered Species Act protection for the ghost orchid. The groups are the Institute for Regional Conservation in Hollywood, the Center for Biological Diversity and the National Parks Conservation Association. They say the orchid is threatened by poaching, habitat loss and degradation and by winds from intense hurricanes. The groups say the agency should have made a protection decision in January but the agency workplan indicates a decision won't be made until as late as fall 2026. The orchid is protected at Big Cypress National Preserve and other government and private preserves and sanctuaries.
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Published on 9/28/2023
Big Deal
The Horse Creek Ranch conservation easement deal, costing $51 million and spanning more than 16,000 acres across DeSoto and Hardee counties, ranks as one of Florida's biggest single conservation agreements in 20 years. As part of the easement, the Carlton family-owned ranch will continue to be used to raise cattle while the land will be permanently protected from development.
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Published on 8/22/2023
Nature vs. Nature
To protect coastal military bases from sea-level rise and storm surge, the U.S. Department of Defense is tapping into the most powerful and enduring force on Earth: Nature.
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Published on 6/26/2023
Farm Team
Nicolette Mariano, one of just three oyster farmers on Florida's Atlantic Coast, says it's by luck that she is hanging on in the risky business she loves. But like most farmers, she knows risk and luck are just part of the deal.
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Published on 6/20/2023
The Greening of Florida's Brownfields
Over the last quarter-century, Florida has helped to transform almost 200 contaminated sites into clean community hubs. The pace of the redevelopment is about to pick up dramatically.
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Published on 5/16/2023
ChemTech opens plant in Fort Pierce to showcase environmentally friendly wood treatments
Lumber treatment company ChemTech opened an eight-employee plant in Fort Pierce to showcase to sawmills, lumber dealers and others its “environmentally friendly” protective treatments for soft woods, plywood and engineered wood.
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Published on 12/15/2022
NextEra Energy's ambitious 'real zero' plan leaves carbon emissions behind for good
Juno Beach-based NextEra Energy captured attention earlier this year when it announced it would eliminate carbon emissions by 2045 and use only wind, solar, battery storage, nuclear, green hydrogen and other renewables to provide power. Unlike other net zero promises, NextEra says its “real zero” doesn't rely on buying carbon credits to offset power generation.
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Published on 9/8/2022
The best climate change reporting drives solutions
Environmental journalist Cynthia Barnett was at the forefront of climate reporting and has seen the field grow exponentially in recent years. A critically acclaimed author and regular op-ed contributor, she...
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Published on 5/3/2022
Infrastructure: Critical strategies Florida can implement as it grows
Florida is projected to gain 2.5 million new residents by 2030. Here's what that means for schools, roads, homes and other infrastructure needs
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Published on 3/8/2022
Innovative approach to water treatment reduces pollutants in stormwater and residual treated wastewater
In addition to 2½ miles of walking trail and wildlife overlooks, the park has 20 educational signs and four permanent interactive exhibits...
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Published on 8/31/2021
Sarasota's Marie Selby Botanical Gardens begins its expansion
At times, the relationship between Sarasota's Marie Selby Botanical Gardens and its surrounding neighborhood has been contentious...
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Published on 7/30/2021
Mars Wrigley partners with Danimer Scientific to develop biodegradable packaging for its products
Danimer also has worked with Pepsi, Nestle and Bacardi to produce environmentally friendly packaging...
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Published on 7/30/2021
Is recycling in Florida a waste?
Since China stopped buying America's trash, the economics of recycling don't add up for many Florida communities.
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Published on 6/29/2021
4G Recycling advises companies on reducing waste and moves materials from producers of scrap to warehouses and buyers
Brothers and millennials Brent and Zachary Kirstein introduced an online bidding tool to help businesses recycle more effectively by getting the most for their recyclables...
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Published on 6/29/2021
Daytona Beach startup Modularity Space hoping to redefine satellite industry
During Scott Weintraub's first semester at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University a few years back, a professor put a picture of space debris on the board. The image struck a nerve.
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Published on 6/29/2021
FAMU-FSU University researcher received $1.4-million federal grant to study how bacteria can remove carcinogens from groundwater
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences grant calls for Youneng Tang to collaborate with researchers at Texas Tech University.
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Published on 6/29/2021
Florida hurricane season 2021: The good news and bad news
The good news: More than a quarter of Florida's homes have been built or remodeled according to the tougher statewide building codes...
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Published on 5/26/2021
Climate First Bank plans to supercharge solar loan products
After selling the first bank he started in 2006, Ken LaRoe and his wife bought a small motor home and traveled across country...
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Published on 5/26/2021
What happened in Texas raises questions about Florida's power system
After the 2021 Texas power grid failure, questions arise about Florida's power grid, but there are differences.
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Published on 5/26/2021
A longtime touts the climate benefits of undeveloped land
Jim Strickland's advice to fellow ranchers interested in combating climate change is simple: Stay in business.
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Published on 5/26/2021
U.N. panel casts doubt on dire hurricane season storm warnings
Hurricane season inevitably brings speculation on whether climate change is making the storm season worse.
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Published on 5/26/2021
Endangered Oyster Reefs Given New Life
Florida's foremost aquatic restoration company Sea & Shoreline rehabilitated damaged oyster reefs in an effort to allow these "ecosystem engineers" to continue providing healthier environments.
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Published on 4/1/2021
