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Florida’s Cabinet vastly overpaid for land the state didn’t need. Why? | The Invading Sea

The Invading Sea @theinvadingsea.bsky.social · 3h

The Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board writes that “the state wildly overpaid” in spending $83 million for 4 acres in Destin that is “unlikely to be used as significant habitat” and “is situated in an area that is highly likely to flood" during hurricanes.

The state paid $83 million for 4 acres next to the city of Destin’s Norriego Point Beach park.

The climate’s emergency brake | The Invading Sea

The Invading Sea @theinvadingsea.bsky.social · 1d

"Slashing methane is the climate’s emergency brake, which could slow the runaway train of warming long enough for us to get other greenhouse gas emissions under control," writes Daphne Wysham of Methane Action.

Slashing methane emissions could slow the runaway train of global warming long enough to get other emissions under control.

South Florida’s waste is the key to fueling its economy | The Invading Sea

The Invading Sea @theinvadingsea.bsky.social · 2d

Jorge Herrera of Nopetro Energy writes about using methane captured from South Florida landfills to fuel heavy-duty vehicles: "This waste-to-fuel approach creates a circular system and turns a local liability into a local asset."

Cities are capturing methane from landfills and converting it into renewable natural gas that can power heavy-duty vehicles.

Conservation is the smartest investment Florida can make | The Invading Sea

The Invading Sea @theinvadingsea.bsky.social · 3d

Katy Saeger writes that conserving wetlands, mangroves and other natural infrastructure benefits Florida's economy: "Every dollar invested in natural infrastructure pays dividends — saving millions in storm recovery, property loss and insurance premiums."

When we conserve wetlands and mangroves, we’re protecting real estate, insurance markets and local economies.

Saving gopher tortoises means protecting their homes, not just moving them | The Invading Sea

The Invading Sea @theinvadingsea.bsky.social · 4d

Bonnie Jean Feldkamp writes about doing more to protect gopher tortoises than just relocating them from development sites: "Without federal protection for the species across its range, conservationists might be only moving the problem, not solving it."

The best thing we can do is preserve gopher tortoise burrows and the longleaf pine ecosystem supporting them.

Sustainable energy transition is being led by red states | The Invading Sea

The Invading Sea @theinvadingsea.bsky.social · 5d

Red states are leading the sustainable energy transition, Mark McNees writes: "Six of the 10 leading renewable energy states voted Republican in 2024, suggesting that resource availability and economic fundamentals, not ideology, drive deployment decisions."

Polling reveals pragmatic conservative attitudes on renewable energy when economics takes precedence over ideology.

Fireflies are disappearing, but homeowners can help save them | The Invading Sea

The Invading Sea @theinvadingsea.bsky.social · 6d

Firefly populations are on the decline due to threats such as habitat loss, pesticides, light pollution and climate change, Benjamin Coward writes, but homeowners can help save them: "Fireflies are an important part of our ecosystem and our own lives."

Habitat loss, the overuse of pesticides and light pollution are among the reason firefly populations are on the decline.

The rule of law is under attack in the Everglades. We’re fighting back | The Invading Sea

The Invading Sea @theinvadingsea.bsky.social · 7d

Eve Samples of Friends of the Everglades writes that the National Environmental Policy Act was ignored when a detention camp was built in the Everglades: "That’s ironic because the law came into being as the result of a government’s reckless insults to this very land."

The National Environmental Policy Act was ignored when the Everglades detention camp was built.

In the name of storm recovery, a new law trampled smart-growth rules. Shut it down | The Invading Sea

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The Invading Sea @theinvadingsea.bsky.social · 8d

The Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board writes that a new Florida law that is supposed to aid in storm recovery actually "crushes the ability of local leaders to make their communities more storm-resistant" and undermines local growth-management decisions.

SB 180 crushes the ability of local leaders to make their communities more storm-resistant.

Sustainability is the new sizzle for Florida’s retirement communities | The Invading Sea

The Invading Sea @theinvadingsea.bsky.social · 9d

Priscilla Card Fuller writes about sustainability becoming a selling point for retirement communities in Florida: "Maintaining a thriving environment for wildlife as well as plant life can also positively affect residents in subtle ways."

Maintaining a thriving environment for wildlife as well as plant life can positively affect retirees.

Pope Leo's call for climate action builds on past papal efforts | The Invading Sea

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The Invading Sea @theinvadingsea.bsky.social · 10d

Joseph Bonasia writes that Pope Leo's comments "emphasizing that confronting climate change is a spiritual imperative and responsibility" were a "source of hope," signaling that the environment is becoming a Catholic Church focus with growing prominence.

The American-born pope emphasized that confronting climate change is a spiritual imperative and responsibility.

The true cost of Florida’s bad land deal | The Invading Sea

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The Invading Sea @theinvadingsea.bsky.social · 11d

Joe Murphy writes that the $83 million used by the state to buy 4 acres in Destin could have instead bought "thousands of acres of public land ... to connect and expand wildlife corridors and greenways in some of the most endangered ecosystems in Florida."

The state could have used $83 million dollars to buy thousands of acres of public land in endangered ecosystems.

Just don't get flooded during a government shutdown | The Invading Sea

The Invading Sea @theinvadingsea.bsky.social · 12d

West Palm Beach-based filmmaker Katie Carpenter writes about the impacts of both recent king tides and the government shutdown on Florida: "King tides during a government shutdown reveal to us how precarious our flood risk situation really is."

You can’t buy federal flood insurance, renew a policy or increase coverage when the National Flood Insurance Program is closed.

Outrage alone won’t fix Florida's home insurance crisis | The Invading Sea

The Invading Sea @theinvadingsea.bsky.social · 13d

Former state Rep. Don Brown writes that Florida needs to address factors raising insurance costs like building codes and coastal development: "Florida cannot keep expanding development into the most storm-prone areas without expecting astronomical losses."

Florida cannot keep expanding development into the most storm-prone areas without expecting astronomical losses.

Alligator Alcatraz marks looming environmental crisis | The Invading Sea

The Invading Sea @theinvadingsea.bsky.social · 14d

Victoria Machado writes that Alligator Alcatraz is a “a glaring environmental mistake” due to its impact on the Florida Everglades: “The last thing the Everglades needed was a detention center plopped down in the middle of it."

Paving over wildlands and bringing in staff and prisoners has an environmental impact in an already sensitive landscape

Stop EPA from rolling back environmental regulations | The Invading Sea

The Invading Sea @theinvadingsea.bsky.social · 15d

Retired U.S. Navy rear admiral William McQuilkin writes about the EPA seeking to repeal the basis for greenhouse gas regulations: "I am a sailor, not a scientist, but it just makes sense to protect humanity and all living things on this rapidly warming planet."

The EPA is seeking to repeal the finding that provides the legal underpinning for limiting greenhouse gas emissions.

The sounds of extinction: Protect species before they’re silenced | The Invading Sea

The Invading Sea @theinvadingsea.bsky.social · 16d

"Without clear, resolute action to cherish and safeguard the wonders of creation in Florida, we may one day look to the air and see nothing" Joe Murphy writes. "We can and must act to protect imperiled species."

Without action to safeguard the wonders of creation in Florida, we may one day look to the air and see nothing.

Circular systems are the solution for Florida’s land and water | The Invading Sea

The Invading Sea @theinvadingsea.bsky.social · 17d

Ed Chiles writes about how Gamble Creek Farms uses circular practices that reuse resources, like turning food scraps into compost or recycling rainwater to irrigate fields: "Circular systems can be the difference between red ink and resilience."

A circular system is a farming method that reuses resources, like recycling rainwater to irrigate fields.

Clean energy is key to our next economic boom | The Invading Sea

The Invading Sea @theinvadingsea.bsky.social · 18d

"Right here in the Sunshine State, I see proof that clean energy is key to our next economic boom," writes @usrepkathycastor.bsky.social, writing that expiring federal tax credits made possible more than $12 billion in such investments and led to over 12,000 new jobs.

The Thriving Economy Project will develop solutions to rising energy costs, growing climate disasters and other challenges.

The Invading Sea @theinvadingsea.bsky.social · 18d

FAU Assistant Professor Dr. Carsten Grupstra discusses his research on heat-resistant corals. Read more on theinvadingsea.com

Energy independence drives lower bills | The Invading Sea

The Invading Sea @theinvadingsea.bsky.social · 19d

Zachary Colletti of Conservatives for Clean Energy – Florida writes that recent polling finds Florida voters "see solar and other alternatives as one of the clearest, most immediate ways to diversify our energy mix, strengthen the grid and reduce their financial strain."

Nearly 8 in 10 Floridians support expanding clean and varied energy sources like solar and nuclear power.

Theorizing Infrastructure: FAU students envision an eco-friendly future for South Florida | The Invading Sea

The Invading Sea @theinvadingsea.bsky.social · 20d

For those watching our “Plot Twists for the Planet: How Pop Culture Inspires Environmental Views" webinar, here is the collection of essays from Stacey Balkan and students in her “Theorizing Infrastructure” course that is mentioned during the discussion:

The essays were written for a Ph.D. seminar at Florida Atlantic University entitled 'Theorizing Infrastructure.'

Barefoot mailmen, Theodore Pratt, Carl Hiaasen and the ever-vanishing South Florida coast | The Invading Sea

The Invading Sea @theinvadingsea.bsky.social · 20d

... and here is a piece written by Taylor Hagood that discusses the subject of his recent book, South Florida writer Theodore Pratt, as well as Carl Hiaasen’s writings on the Florida environment:

Literary warfare can seem futile as the South Florida coast is developed, but literature has its own strength.

Register for The Invading Sea's virtual event about pop culture's influence on environmental views | The Invading Sea

The Invading Sea @theinvadingsea.bsky.social · 20d

This is just a reminder that our online panel discussion, “Plot Twists for the Planet: How Pop Culture Inspires Environmental Views,” premieres today at 9 a.m. to kick off Florida Climate Week. For more information and a link to register, see below:

Video of the panel discussion will be released Monday, Oct. 6, at 9 a.m. to kick off Florida Climate Week.