A roundup of news items related to climate change and other environmental issues in Florida:
Lawmakers move to ban release of balloons, but bill limiting regulation of plastics is in jeopardy | Florida Phoenix
Environmental advocates on Thursday say they’re optimistic about legislation that relates to removing litter from our waterways and oceans, including balloons.
First, a House committee approved a proposal (HB 321) that would ban the intentional release of balloons.
Balloons pose a serious danger to wildlife, including marine mammals, seabirds and sea turtles, according to the Ocean Conservation Society. They can be mistaken for food by several marine species, and animals can die from starvation when balloons block their digestive tracts, or when they became entangled in balloon strings.
Florida’s solar power surge: Why the Sunshine State is investing so much in the sun | USA Today Network – Florida
A drive deep into the woods along an unpaved road in southern Palm Bay, suddenly and surprisingly leads to row upon row of solar panels.
There are more than 284,000 panels in all, sitting on 486 acres owned by Florida Power & Light Co., the nation’s largest electric utility.
A little farther down the road from the Palm Bay Solar Energy Center, FPL has a second one called the Ibis Solar Energy Center, which went into service at the end of January. And, nearby, land has been reserved for a third one, the Fox Trail Solar Energy Center, which will launch in early 2025.
Florida’s climatologist breaks down this past year and what to expect in 2024 | WUSF
Floridians experienced record-breaking heat this past summer.
And for the past three years, Tampa has either tied or set a new record for the number of “hot days” where the temperature reached 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
Plus, some weather stations along the west coast of Florida recorded their driest year on record.
If you have any news items of note that you think we should include in our next roundup, please email The Invading Sea Editor Nathan Crabbe at ncrabbe@fau.edu. Sign up for The Invading Sea newsletter by visiting here.
