Note: see the Big Oil Roundup below for complete oil spill coverage.
FEATURED STORIES
Developers Poor-Mouth While Pumping Millions Into Denying People’s Right To Vote
By Florida Hometown Democracy
The Bradenton Times
The real estate speculators’ latest online video against Florida Hometown Democracy Amendment 4 is a dramatic piece of work, courtesy of skilled political spinners, and it is designed to scare people away from getting their right to vote.
Water bill goes to governor but springs program could get cut
By Bruce Ritchie
FloridaEnvironments.com
A springs program launched in 2001 by then-Gov. Jeb Bush would be sharply cut by the Legislature in its proposed 2010-11 state budget even as the Senate on Thursday gave final approval to a bill aimed at protecting springs.
Groups rally for action on Florida DCA
By Bruce Ritchie
FloridaEnvironments.com
Representatives of eleven environmental groups called on the House Monday to adopt legislation reauthorizing the state's land planning agency.
Renewable energy plan put on hold
By Mary Ellen Klas
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Florida legislators had second thoughts Monday about a plan to let Florida's four largest utility companies bypass the rate-setting process and raise customers' electric rates by $772 million for renewable energy projects by 2013.
A shameful record on protecting the panther
Editorial
St. Petersburg Times
The federal government's shameful record of protecting the Florida panther is leading the state's official animal straight to its extinction.
THE BIG OIL ROUNDUP
The Big Oil roundup: news and information about Big Oil’s push to rig Florida’s coastline for the week ending 4-30-10:
Heavy winds and high tides hamper Gulf oil fight
By Cain Burdeau
The Associated Press
Related: Crist declares potential 'major disaster' in Florida from oil spill
Special report: Oil spill cleanup in the gulf
Heavy winds and high tides complicated efforts to hold back oil that threatened to coat birds and other marine life as it oozed ashore from the Gulf of Mexico on Friday.
Oil slick oozes closer, grows bigger
The Associated Press
Pensacola News Journal
Related: Six lawsuits filed against BP, other companies
Related: Oil barriers go up along local waterways
Related editorial: What 'risk' really means
An oil spill that threatened to eclipse even the Exxon Valdez disaster spread out of control with a faint sheen washing ashore along the Gulf Coast on Thursday night as fishermen rushed to scoop up shrimp and crews spread floating barriers around marshes.
Officials: Leaks spewing more oil into Gulf
By Cain Burdeau
The Associated Press
A massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is even worse than believed and as the government grows concerned that the rig's operator is ill-equipped to contain it, officials are offering a military response to try to avert a massive environmental disaster along the ecologically fragile U.S. coastline.
Crist says oil spill proves drilling isn't safe, withdraws his support
By Marc Caputo, Mary Ellen Klas and Craig Pittman
St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Related editorial: Oil spill opens minds to threat to Florida beaches
The oil spill spreading across the Gulf of Mexico is sending ripples through Florida and national politics, giving Gov. Charlie Crist a reason to withdraw his support for offshore drilling.
Gulf oil spill could eventually foul South Florida beaches
By Curtis Morgan
Miami Herald
Scrambling to head off looming ecological disaster, the U.S. Coast Guard on Wednesday set fire to an oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico -- already the size of Miami-Dade County and expanding -- from a blown-out drilling rig spewing some 42,000 barrels of crude a day.
DEP: Response team ready to act when oil reaches Fla.
By Paul Flemming
Tallahassee Democrat
Florida emergency responders continued to monitor the massive, growing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, ready to join the multistate and federal effort to contain it.
Deepwater Horizon oil spill: Florida, Louisiana face worst disaster in US history
By Maryann Tobin
Hernando County Political Buzz Examiner
In an effort to save the lives of thousands of birds, marine life and miles of environmentally sensitive coastline, the US Coast Guard is planning to set the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico on fire.
Nelson calls for halt to offshore energy exploration
By William Gibson
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
While the White House promises a full-fledged effort to plug a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Florida Senator Bill Nelson on Thursday urged President Obama to call a halt to exploratory drilling in coastal waters.
10 Animals Most At Risk from Gulf Oil Spill
By Julia Kumari Drapkin
CBS News
Oil is spreading across the Gulf of Mexico -- the result of the sinking of an oil rig last week. A spill of this magnitude so close to the wetlands, estuaries and national fisheries of south Louisiana is unprecedented.
Oil rig springs new leak, tar balls could hit Panhandle
Staff Report
Northwest Florida Daily News
The Coast Guard says a new leak has been found at the site where a oil platform exploded and sank off in the Gulf of Mexico.
Oil spill may put Florida wildlife at risk
By Thomas Stewart
Gainesville Sun
Though the threat seems to be focused on Louisiana's coastline for the time being, officials say Florida's coast could be hit by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico as well, which local experts say would come at the worst time and affect some of the state's most unspoiled beaches.
Oil spill probably won't hit Florida's Panhandle beaches this weekend
By Paul Flemming
Tallahassee Democrat
A massive oil slick from a collapsed rig 130 miles off the coast of New Orleans is so big it's "humbling," but probably won't hit Florida's pristine Panhandle beaches this weekend, Florida's top environmental regulator told Gov. Charlie Crist on Wednesday.
Haridopolos says oil spill 'gives me pause' on pursuit of drilling in Florida
By Mary Ellen Klas
St. Petersburg Times
Sen. Mike Haridopolos, the Senate's incoming Senate president who along with incoming House Speaker Rep. Dean Cannon had expected to push for oil exploration when they take office next year, said he is having second thoughts in the wake of the spill off the Louisiana Coast.
Castor, Young seek bigger buffer for drilling
By Rob Shaw
Tampa Tribune
Kathy Castor doesn't want offshore oil drilling – and the potential environmental dangers that can go with it -- anywhere near her home turf.
Dead Birds Washing Up on Florida Beaches
By Bobbie O’Brien
WUSF Public Radio Tampa
Dead birds have been washing up on Pinellas County beaches over the past few days.
Oil spill in Gulf could threaten Florida
By Craig Pittman
St. Petersburg Times
An oil spill from a rig that sank off the coast of Louisiana is threatening marshes and beaches across the Gulf Coast, and unless it's contained it could wind up tainting the Florida Keys and perhaps the state's Atlantic coast, oceanography experts said Monday.
Oil spill poses real risks for Florida
By Dale White
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Excerpt: Ferrulo noted that some state legislators favor drilling within three miles of Florida's coast. "If this spill happened just three miles off our coast, how many people from around the world would be cancelling hotel reservations," Ferrulo said. The state could require years to recover from the damage to coastlines and fisheries, Ferrulo said. "Our coast defines us around the world."
Robots Work to Stop Leak of Oil in Gulf
By Campbell Robertson and Clifford Krauss
New York Times
Oil continued to pour into the Gulf of Mexico on Monday as the authorities waited to see if the quickest possible method of stopping the leaks would bring an end to what was threatening to become an environmental disaster.
Big Oil Fought Off New Safety Rules Before Rig Disaster
By Marcus Baram
Huffington Post
As families mourn the 11 workers thrown overboard in the worst oil rig disaster in decades and as the resulting spill continues to spread through the Gulf of Mexico, new questions are being raised about the training of the drill operators and about the oil company's commitment to safety.
'Drill, Baby, Drill' Champions Silent On Gulf Oil Spill
By Nico Pitney
Huffington Post
More than a week has passed since the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded 50 miles off the Louisiana coast, killing 11 workers, injuring over a dozen more, and causing a massive oil spill that may eclipse the Exxon Valdez.
FWC staff deployed to help track oil spill
The Associated Press
Miami Herald
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission staff have been deployed to the Panhandle and Alabama to help with track the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Gulf of Mexico oil spill a threat to Florida
By Kevin Spear
Orlando Sentinel
Florida scientists are warning that much of the state's coastline — even to the Keys and beaches in southeast Florida — is vulnerable to damage if workers can't quickly contain crude oil spewing into the Gulf of Mexico from a stricken well off the Louisiana shore.
Crist tours oil spill threatening coast
By Paul Flemming
Tallahassee Democrat
Gov. Charlie Crist Tuesday took a look for himself at the oil spill that could threaten Florida's coast as well as proposals to allow drilling in state waters.
The Tricky Clean-Up of a Deep-Water Oil Spill
By Bryan Walsh
Time Magazine
The explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico last week was without question a human tragedy.
Vast oil spill may alter debate on Gulf drilling
By Fred Grimm
Miami Herald
A few days ago, the oil gushing out of the ruins of the Deepwater Horizon was termed “manageable.”
By Sue Carlton
St. Petersburg Times
A couple of months back I was walking one of our glorious beaches on a cool Saturday morning when people dressed in black started showing up by the dozens.
Two top Fla. politicans weigh in on offshore drilling
By Kate Bradshaw
WMNF Community Radio Tampa
Last week, the Obama Administration said the oil leak in the gulf will not sway its support for expanded offshore drilling.
Recent disaster shows dangers of oil drilling in Gulf of Mexico
By Kevin Spear
Orlando Sentinel
Workers in pursuit of oil and natural gas in the Gulf of Mexico have been dying in accidents at the rate of one every 45 days since the mid-1990s.
Gulf oil spill worrisome for the Florida Keys
By Kevin Wadlow
Florida Keys Keynoter
Whatever oil leaks from the remains of a deepwater oil-drilling rig that sank Thursday off Louisiana could be headed toward the Florida Keys.
Gulf rig explosion 'heard' in Florida as officials ponder Atlantic oil exploration
By Christine Stapleton
Palm Beach Post
As the drilling rig Horizon burned on the oily surface of the Gulf of Mexico, a small group of environmentalists, government officials and oil speculators gathered at a hotel in Jacksonville to discuss environmental impact of offshore drilling — in the Atlantic Ocean.
Florida key to success of Obama's energy bill
By Zac Anderson
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Katy Swanson has her response down pat when people ask about oil drilling off the Florida coast.
Offshore Drilling Faces New Skepticism
By Bobbie O'Brien
WUSF Public Radio Tampa
The explosion and collapse of an oil rig in the off Louisiana’s coastline has U.S. Senator Bill Nelson calling for a congressional investigation.
Oil spill just one reason for accurate Gulf weather report
By Phil Lewis
Naples Daily News
Our newsroom can expect a series of emergency alerts from weather forecasters when the tropics spawn hurricanes each year.
'Drill, baby, drill' is now 'Spill, baby, spill'
By Tom Lyons
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Related editorial: It can happen here
Doug Holder, the real estate broker and state representative from Sarasota, still owes me a call back about oil drilling.
Keep oil rigs away from Florida coast
Editorial
Ft. Myers News-Press
The deadly explosion of an oil drilling rig 50 miles off Louisiana is a warning to keep these rigs well away from the Florida coast.
Plan D: Don't drill in Florida waters
Editorial
Pensacola News Journal
The full impact of the risks of offshore drilling are coming home. Anyone who was "on the fence" about those risks should have a clear picture now.
The big lie about drilling for oil
Editorial
Tampa Tribune
The tragic explosion of a drilling rig off the coast of Louisiana exposes the big lie espoused by the oil industry and its minions in the Florida Legislature: Modern drilling is harmless.
Editorial
Florida Today
Trust us, it’s safe. That has been the oil industry’s sales pitch as it continues pushing to open Florida waters to drilling and has gotten members of the Legislature to do its bidding.
Editorial
Gainesville Sun
State Rep. Dean Cannon announced last week that he was tabling a bill that would allow oil drilling between 3 and 10 miles off the coast of Florida.
April 29, 2010 satellite image of Gulf oil slick following BP rig disaster, via SkyTruth.
TAKE ACTION NOW
Write Your State Senator: Big Oil's Promises Are "Empty"
Big Oil and their hired hands in Tallahassee have sworn that drilling Florida’s coast would be “invisible” – that there would be no unsightly rigs just a few miles off our coast. We know different – and a recent eye opening story in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune has proven Big Oil’s promises completely “empty.” Click the picture above – keeping the pressure on by letting our State Senators know people like you are paying attention is how we’ll beat Big Oil.
LATEST ACTIONS
Help rescue Florida’s coastal birds, via Audubon of Florida.
Help protect marine wildlife from BP drilling disaster, via Gulf Restoration Network.
Enough is enough!, via Sierra Club.
Help prevent another drilling disaster, via Defenders of Wildlife.
Stop offshore drilling, via Environment America.
Tell officials: fight for Florida’s beaches, via Emerald Coastkeeper.
Save both coasts from offshore drilling, via Oceana.
Obama must call a time out on Arctic drilling, via Earthjustice.
ACTIONS OPPOSING OBAMA’S DRILLING PLAN
President Obama, Drilling Is Not the Answer, via Friends of the Earth.
Tell President Obama You Oppose Offshore Oil Drilling, via Endangered Species Coalition.
Don’t Sacrifice the Oceans in the Name of Climate Change, via Oceana.Demand that President Obama protect our oceans from oil drilling, via Center for Biological Diversity.
MORE ONLINE ACTIONS
Oppose Oil and Gas Drilling in Florida's Waters, via Audubon of Florida.
Protect our oceans from offshore oil drilling, via Oceana.
Pass a Resolution To Protect Florida's Beaches Now, via Audubon of Florida.
Urge President Obama’s Ocean Policy Task Force to recommend against offshore drilling within any previously protected coastal waters, via Defenders of Wildlife.
Tell Obama: Offshore Drilling is NOT the Answer to Energy Crisis, via Oceana.
Help Drill for Solutions Not for Oil, via Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.
Let us decide! Petition to Governor Charlie Crist, Senate President Jeff Atwater, and House Speaker Larry Cretul, via Civic Concern.
Contact Your Officials About New Drilling Off Florida's Coasts, via Civic Concern.
Ask your state legislators to keep the rigs out, via Save the Manatee Club.
Write a letter to the editor, via Audubon of Florida.
Write your state legislators, via Audubon of Florida.
Urge Senate President Jeff Atwater to oppose offshore oil drilling, via Progress Florida.
Tell Sen. Atwater Not To Allow Oil Drilling In Special Session, via Audubon of Florida.
Sign the petition against oil drilling, via Protect Florida’s Beaches.
Tell Salazar: No drilling off Florida's Coast, via Environment Florida.
Tell new Senator LeMieux to Repower America, via Environment Florida.
Related action: Don't go drill crazy in the Everglades, via Center for Biological Diversity.
Related action: Keep oil drilling out of climate change legislation, via Oceana.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES OF NOTE
Hands Across The Sand website; their Twitter page is here.
Protect Florida’s Beaches, recently launched coalition website.
Protect Florida’s Beaches on Facebook.
Think, Baby, Think blog via Protect Florida’s Beaches.
Don’t Drill Florida website.
Don’t Drill Florida Facebook page.
Save Our Shores Florida website; their Twitter page is here.
Floridians Against Big Oil social network.
Save Our Shores Florida Facebook page.
Florida Coastal and Ocean Coalition website.
Environment Florida offshore drilling page.
Southern Alliance for Clean Energy offshore drilling page.
Skytruth blog, an excellent source of info.
Not the Answer blog, courtesy Surfrider Foundation.
Eye-opening map of oil and gas leases and infrastructure in Gulf of Mexico, via MMS.
EnergyFLA.com, online hub of drilling proponents; their Twitter page is here.
MORE GREEN NEWS
FPL executive has meetings with key state officials
By Julie Patel
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Florida Power & Light Co. employs three lobbyists in Tallahassee, has 22 more who were paid at least $221,000 combined in the last quarter of 2009 and donates to state political parties — more than $670,000 in the past 15 months.
Snakes bill passes House while FWC takes closer look
By Bruce Ritchie
FloridaEnvironments.com
A bill that would ban Burmese pythons and five other snake species along with Nile monitor lizards was approved Wednesday by the House.
Callery Judge bid to avoid planning rules fails
By Kimberly Miller
Palm Beach Post
Callery Judge Groves lost out on a bid Thursday to let it bypass rigorous planning requirements in building on the half-century-old orange grove.
Septic tanks targeted for inspections
By Mary Ellen Klas
St. Petersburg Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau
Florida's 2.6 million septic tanks, half of which are more than 30 years old, will have to undergo regular health department inspections for the first time in state history under legislation sent to the governor Thursday.
GOP lawmakers attack solar energy
By Jim Ash
Pensacola News Journal
The same Republican led House that last year voted to open Florida waters to offshore drilling on Tuesday continued killing Democratic attempts to expand a popular solar energy rebate program.
House lowering price of renewable energy
By Mary Ellen Klas
Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Tallahassee Bureau
Florida legislators had second thoughts Monday about a plan to allow Florida's four largest utility companies to bypass the rate-setting process and raise customers' electric rates by $772 million for renewable energy projects by 2013.
By Gimleteye
Eye on Miami
Who wants to move the Urban Development Boundary?
Count the ways: Moving UDB is a bad idea
Editorial
Miami Herald
How many public officials and independent authorities have told the Miami-Dade County Commission that moving the Urban Development Boundary would open the floodgates to westward expansion for no good reason?
Editorial
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Florida must increase its solar energy capacity.
Editorial
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
As an oil spill jeopardizes the Gulf Coast, another environmental drama is playing out on Southwest Florida beaches -- hundreds of miles from the scene of last week's offshore drilling disaster.
Editorial cartoon by Chan Lowe, South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Read the artist’s commentary here.
Wildwood Preservation Society is a non-profit 501(c)(4) project of the Advocacy Consortium for the Common Good. Click here to learn more.
