Working Together For The Environmental Industry
By Jeff Littlejohn Since our fathers were involved in the Summer School from its beginning, Ryan Matthews and I have been coming to Marco Island most of our lives. I’ve always known this was a special place, and over the years, I’ve come to appreciate this conference as a great place to bring your family, […]
Florida Specifier Podcast
By Staff Reports The Florida Specifier is launching a podcast to bring a fresh perspective on the issues and people environmental professionals want, and need, to know about the most. The new show will be hosted by Brett Cyphers – host of the Water for Fighting podcast – and veteran lobbyist and former Secretary of […]
2023 EPSS KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Shawn Hamilton Secretary, Florida Department of Environmental Protection Shawn Hamilton has worked at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection since 2007, where he has risen through the ranks of the department. Early in his career he served as ombudsman and public affairs manager in theDEP’s Northwest District Office. He was promoted to assistant district director […]
How It All Began – A History of the Summer School
By Cindy Littlejohn In the mid 1980s, the drive through central Florida was still through rolling hills of orange groves. However, the arrival of Disney’s theme park the decade before was beginning to be felt in the region. Service industry people flocked to the interior of the state. Retirees kept coming as well, and as the […]
PASS program celebrates successful decade
By Staff Reports Ten years ago, the Northwest Florida Water Management District first implemented a cost-share program designed to protect the water resources in the largest agricultural area of Florida’s panhandle. Known as the Precision Agriculture Systems Solution (PASS) program, the project calls for the District to work directly with growers who operate in the […]
Orlando Utilities Commission makes sustainability gains
By BLANCHE HARDY, PG The Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) has been recognized by Sierra Club this year for their commitment to reaching 100% Net Zero CO2 emissions by 2050. The OUC earned a “B” rating in Sierra Club’s first annual report issued in 2021. OUC plans to reduce emissions to 50% by 2030 and 75% […]
Denial of disaster part of human nature; it won’t happen here
By MICHEL BRUNEAU, Ph.D., P.Eng., Dist. M. ASCE, F.SEI, F.CAE Most Florida residents likely would be surprised to hear a California resident say that earthquakes are not a big deal in the Golden State. Just like most Californians would be surprised to hear Floridians say that hurricanes are not a big deal in the Sunshine […]
Florida’s water infrastructure funding needs main focus
By FRANK BERNARDINO, Co-founder, Anfield Consulting As one edges closer to the end of one’s career, in periods of reflection one thinks about those things they got right, and if you are as OCD as I am, those things one was not able to accomplish. For me, the biggest of those regrets is failing to […]
Texas regulators OK controversial energy market overhaul
By Staff Reports TEXAS The proposed overhaul of Texas’ power grid could lead to higher electricity bills for residents. The Public Utility Commission unanimously voted to create a secondary market that would benefit natural gas power plant operators by awarding credits for generating electricity during peak demand and limited reserves. Despite opposition from ERCOT’s (Electric […]
Tampa Bay program boasts 50,000 recycled oyster shells
BY RACHEL ARNDT, Communications Manager, Tampa Bay Watch Tampa Bay Watch launched an Oyster Shell Recycling Program in 2022 by partnering with local restaurants in the Tampa Bay area. The pilot year was a success in that nearly 50,000 pounds of shells were recycled. Recycled shell is delivered to a depository to cure for a […]
NOAA predicts near-normal hurricane season
By Staff Reports According to the latest report released by the Climate Prediction Center, a subdivision of the National Weather Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has forecasted that the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season is expected to exhibit a level of activity that is in close alignment with the average. This projection is […]
Historic funding approved to protect Florida’s environment
By Staff Reports The recent 2023 Legislative Session in Florida concluded with the state budget for Fiscal Year 2023-24 being sent to Governor Ron DeSantis. The Governor praised the significant investments made in Florida’s environment and natural resources, which serve as the backbone of its thriving economy. Notably, the budget included a remarkable $1.6 billion […]
