The Everglades-adjacent islands will remain under close watch by state government at least until 2009.
"Aided by a group of powerful Republicans, environmentalists won a major fight Monday to keep a lid on development in the fragile habitat of the Florida Keys -- at least for now.
A coalition of environmental groups won enough votes from a state Senate committee to keep the Keys under close state scrutiny until 2009 to ensure that the water is cleaned up, the environment protected, more affordable housing built and building proceeds slow enough to keep roads clear for safe hurricane evacuations."
Longer protection is "exactly what 1,000 Friends of Florida, Audubon of Florida and the World Wildlife Fund wanted when they picked up enough votes on the Senate Environmental Preservation Committee to either kill the bill or shape it to their liking. Joining them were a few Republican big guns: former Everglades czar Allison DeFoor, power lawyer Thom Rumberger of the Everglades Trust and Keys fishing guide Mike Collins, a South Florida Water Management District appointee of Gov. Jeb Bush.
They predicted a 'stampede of development' were the state to undo designation of the Keys next year -- before the County Commission had a chance to clearly demonstrate that it would continue building affordable housing as well as a central sewer system to stop leaky cesspits from fouling the water."
FULL STORY: Developers dealt a setback
Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?
Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
Updating LA’s Tree Rules Could Bring More Shade to Underserved Neighborhoods
A new USC study finds that relaxing Los Angeles’ outdated tree planting guidelines could significantly expand urban tree canopy and reduce shade disparities in lower-income neighborhoods, though infrastructure investments are also needed.
California's Canal Solar Projects Aim to Conserve Resources and Expand Clean Energy
California’s Project Nexus has begun generating electricity from solar panels installed over irrigation canals, with researchers and state agencies exploring statewide expansion to conserve water and boost clean energy production.
HHS Staff Cuts Gut Energy Assistance Program
The full staff of a federal program that distributes heating and cooling assistance for low-income families was laid off, jeopardizing the program’s operations.
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