PSC Chairwoman Nancy Argenziano wanted to serve a second term on the commission that regulate Florida’s electric and telecommunications utilities. But she wasn’t considered for re-appointment. Argenziano talks about why.

By Martha Musgrove — Miami-Dade County has found cost savings while reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. As Congress dithers on an energy policy, local government is where the action is to deal successfully with climate change. But localities such as Miami-Dade need support from federal government.

By Sen. Mike Haridopolos — Nothing should be off the table Thursday In Orlando at a summit focused on bringing together experts from across the state and nation to discuss Florida’s energy future.

By Martha Musgrove — Just 2 percent of the Sunshine State’s power comes from renewable energy sources. To begin to catch up with many other parts of the country and world, the Legislature must do three things.

Former U.S. Senator Bob Graham on U.S. oil policy: With only 3 percent of the world’s known reserves, we should not drain America first, but rather accelerate utilization of alternative energy to free future generations from dependency on foreign oil.

The political winners from BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster are anything but clear. But the spill is the Three Mile Island of offshore drilling in Florida. After this, no politician who hopes to win an election will dare suggest that Florida again consider permitting offshore drilling – at least not for decades to come.

Recently, the St. Petersburg Times republished an editorial originally presented on May 6, 1945. The subject: drilling for oil of the beaches of Florida. The newspaper was against it then and remains so now. We were so engaged by the Times’ 1945 editorial that we decided to publish it here, too.

Since Florida legislative leaders won’t have to wrestle with the offshore drilling question next year, thanks to the BP disaster, they might want use the time to think instead about what else Florida should be doing to address the state’s energy needs. The topic got little attention in the session just ended.

By Mary Jo Melone
Any tourist with a bottle of sun block could tell you that the renewable energy source with the most potential in the Sunshine State is, well, sunshine. So how could the Florida program to encourage people to use solar energy go broke?
Since 2006, the state has offered cash rebates to homeowners [...]

By Dave Rauschkolb
Florida is on the brink of decisions that could forever endanger our clean waters, our clean beaches and our valuable tourism-based economy. Why?
It is clear some members of the state Senate and House of Representatives are determined to allow offshore drilling regardless of the study by The Century Commission debunking the claims [...]

By James M. Taylor
A decade from now, Florida’s energy options may well differ from today’s. Regulators may finally let the United States catch up with other nations in the use of nuclear power. And emerging technologies may make other fossil fuel alternatives economically feasible rather than economically ruinous.
In the meantime, [...]

By David R. Mica

Every day, 3.5 billion gallons of oil are consumed throughout the world.  The oil is used to transport our families, tourists, food and goods; to build and power our homes, schools, offices, restaurants and hotels; and to provide the basic chemicals for pharmaceuticals, clothing, adhesives, cosmetics, packaging and electronics.  As developing nations [...]

By John Kennedy
Associate Editor
Offshore oil drilling appears to be a backburner issue in the upcoming legislative session.  It was put there last fall, when Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, ordered a Senate environmental committee to undertake a wide-ranging study on the effects of offshore drilling. In doing so, he said that the [...]

By Paul Bachman
President Obama and congressional leaders are pushing legislation to control greenhouse gas emissions in the United States.  The price may be too high for Florida.
The Waxman-Markey bill, which passed the House last summer and awaits Senate action, would attempt to reduce such emissions (and, hence, carbon emissions) to levels below those of the [...]