Join us as Alachua County Commissioner Anna Prizzia presents on the recently proposed Newberry Meat Processing Plant. This plant promises to deliver a sustainable system for meat processing at a small scale to support local ranchers.
“By not sending them to confinement feeding operations and letting them live on pasture for their lives,” says Prizzia, “as well as not transporting them long distances, we are reducing the carbon footprint.”
We will also hear from Debra Trione, a life-long member of the Sierra Club, on how promoting plant-based agriculture is the most important action any community can take to reverse global warming. Debra served as a Representative of the Sierra Club in the President’s Council on Sustainable Development during the Clinton Administration from 1998-2000, and as a Sierra Club lobbyist on Capitol Hill before that.
We will also delve into what is in this U.S. Farm Bill which is up for renewal this year. It's a sweeping piece of legislation that contains provisions for food stamps, disaster aid, as well as agricultural and land conservation program subsidies.
Nearly 70 percent of the land in the lower 48 States is privately owned, with more than 40 percent of that area managed for agriculture. These diverse landscapes support thousands of species of conservation concern. In fact, private lands support more than 70 percent of the species listed under the Endangered Species Act, with ten percent of listed species occurring only on private lands.
This will be a hybrid event so if you are joining virtually, you will receive the Zoom link via email once your registration is verified to avoid disruptions. In-person meeting will be at Quaker Meeting House, 702 NW 38th St, Gainesville, FL 32607.
Florida Legislature has passed local HB 1645, that will allow state takeover of the Gainesville Regional Utility (GRU), something that voters overwhelmingly rejected in 2018.
Use our advocacy button here and tell Gov. DeSantis to protect local freedom and VETO HB 1645 right now!
Don't delay or dismay as your voice is important for local freedom and this could happen early this week!
Please send your message right away even if you have already taken an earlier action on this anti-democratic legislation!
Handing over control of Gainesville Regional Utilities to a state-appointed Authority will not improve reliability or efficiency, reduce rates or continue carbon reduction goals.
It is state overreach to have the Governor appoint a board that would be responsible for a city-owned asset. Ron DeSantis and his cronies are trying, yet again, to attack local freedom.
Photo: Banner at the 39th St. bridge over I-75 created by member of the SSJ Energy & Climate Action Team Photo Credit: M L MacGaughran
Who Controls Your Utility?
Proposed legislation threatens climate goals of Gainesville Regional Utility
by David Hastings
Who controls your utility? Most of us don’t know or don’t really care. What matters is that when we flip the switch, the light goes on. And when we turn on the kitchen faucet, we get fresh clean water that doesn’t taste bad or poison us. But home rule, democracy and critical climate goals are on the line, so we better pay attention!
Local Bill HB 1645 transfers control of Gainesville Regional Utility (GRU) from the City of Gainesville to a five-member Authority appointed by the Governor. The alleged reason is high GRU debt and high rates. The bill blatantly disregards Gainesville’s citizens, who voted by a 60% majority to defeat nearly identical measure in 2018.
There is no indication that GRU is in financial distress, based on investment grade bond ratings. All three major bond rating agencies give GRU top tier ratings, better than Duke and Florida Power and Light (FPL).
Critics say that GRU electrical rates are high, but the average GRU electric bill is lower than FPL, Duke or TECO. This seeming paradox – high rates and low bills – is true because GRU spends money to lower energy use in customer’s homes by insulating, servicing HVAC units, and other energy efficiency measures. Bills are lower because customers use less electricity.
That’s the big advantage of a publicly owned utility. Since it is controlled by the local government, it’s decisions can be based on benefits to its customers. In contrast, investor-owned utilities are driven by the need to pay dividends to their investors. Public utilities are also able to make decisions that take climate impacts into account. Big chunks of funding from the $369 billion Inflation Reduction Act IRA are available just to public utilities.
A close read of the legislation suggests that the revised structure of GRU is designed to fail. Transferring control of GRU to a state-appointed Authority would likely result in the eventual ruin of GRU, with an investor-owned utility like FPL taking control.
Those watching closely believe that this legislation may provide an easy way for a competitor to acquire GRU’s customers. Several years ago, FPL tried unsuccessfully to buy Jacksonville’s public utility, JEA, for $11 billion. FPL did succeed in acquiring Pensacola-based utility Gulf Power Company. After the purchase, rates and bills increased substantially. What utility will FPL takeover next?
The irony of this legislation is that GRU has an award-winning record of exceptional reliability and safety, surpassing investor-owned utilities. Handing over control to a state-appointed Authority will not improve reliability or efficiency, reduce rates, or continue carbon reduction goals.
The legislation is moving quickly through a cunning use of tactics designed to avoid the normal legislative processes. At press time, had been approved by the Florida House, and will likely be approved along partisan lines in the Senate. SSJ Sierra is encouraging everyone to contact Governor DeSantis by phone or email to veto the bill.
David Hastings is a retired climate scientist and Political Chair of the Sierra Club Suwannee-St Johns Group
Alachua County, in coordination with municipalities and local partners, like Sierra Club, is hosting a Climate Fair on Friday, June 2, 2023, at the Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center (210 S.E. 134th Avenue, Micanopy)
to announce the results of the soon-to-be-released climate vulnerability analysis, and to begin community conversations around the creation of an Alachua County Climate Action Plan.
The event is in two parts, a public meeting from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in which the results of the analysis are discussed, and a Climate Fair from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with games and entertainment for the family, as well as vendor booths for those organizations doing work related to climate change and climate resilience.
The County is accepting applications from vendors who would like to participate and encourages all organizations to sign up whose work can help Alachua County build climate resilience. In addition to those groups with a strong history of combatting climate change, the County would also like to welcome agricultural organizations and human system resiliency organizations, including those working with food systems, affordable housing, and any other organization whose work strengthens the resiliency of the local communities.
Vendors interested in participating should fill out an online application by May 5.
“Join us at the beautiful Camp Cuscowilla to discuss Alachua County’s climate vulnerability analysis,” said Alachua County Sustainability Manager Betsy Riley. “Come get local answers to a global question as we explore what impacts climate change will have on North Central Florida, then create and expand on solutions already happening right here in Alachua County.”
It's a party before everyone leaves for the summer!
Mark your calendar for our Summer Picnic Potluck on Thursday, June 1 at 6:00 PM.
The location is to be determined, so watch for an update and save the date!
We will have a very special guest, Emily Ruff, the Executive Director for Sierra Club Florida Chapter!
You won't want to miss this opportunity to relax and break bread together with us all. Please bring your favorite summertime dish to share, also no single use plastic items to make it an earth-friendly event. Picnic Vectors by Vecteezy
Reprinted from 15 Scenic Trails For Hiking in Florida - Florida Trippers
In lovely Ocala, you’ll find the world’s largest scrub forest in the Ocala National Forest. Hidden between the trees, you’ll find a playground of crystalline waters along the Jupiter Creek Nature Trail, one of the best Florida hiking trails.
Winding between Jupiter Springs and Fern Hammock Springs, this trail is only 1.4 miles. Very easy for novice hikers, the trail is also wheelchair accessible. Make sure to wear a swimsuit under your clothes to take a dip in one of Florida’s natural springs.
From the parking lot, find the trailhead behind an old mill. Below the “nature trail” sign, you’ll see tiny spring boils bubbling up, a taste of what’s yet to come.
As you walk, you’ll cross a bridge onto a boardwalk through a lush subtropical hammock. Look out for blonde squirrels and dense areas of marsh fern and sword fern.
Finally, you’ll reach Fern Hammock Run, which flows toward the larger Jupiter Run. At the intersection, turn left to cross a bridge over the waterway for a close-up view.
The deep aqua waters run clear with royal ferns jutting out from rocks like giant feather dusters. You’ll get lost looking at the spring bed floor, the rushing water creating shapes and patterns with a soft, hypnotic trickling sound.
In the winter, you might see wild manatees seeking warmer waters in the spring. Once you’ve had your fill of the sights, turn back the way you came and head back to the recreation area to take a well-deserved swim!
Photo Credit: Michelle Rutledge
Inspiring Connections Outdoors
Empowering youth from communities with limited access to connect and reconnect to the outdoors—for the benefit of both. The Inspiring Connections Outdoors (ICO) program is helping create the next generation of environmental justice and social justice leaders through building community and increasing exposure to outdoor recreation, advocacy, and leadership training.
Inspiring Connections Outdoors (ICO) provides safe and fun outdoor experiences for youth and adults from marginalized communities. ICO is part of the Outdoors for All campaign, which works to expand universal access to nature for children and youth.
On Earth Day 2023, our SSJ ICO program visited Devil's Millhopper State Park.
A knowledgeable volunteer tour guide who grew up near the sinkhole gave an informative tour. The youth learned that the sinkhole was once a tourist attraction, observed the ecosystem of a miniature rainforest, and admired fossil shark teeth.
You too can visit this local wonder 8 a.m. to sundown, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Phosphate Mining in North Florida
Nutrien, aka White Springs Agricultural Chemicals, Inc., PCS, and before that, Occidental, has been juggling three stacks of PG (phosphogypsum) in Hamilton County within the Suwannee River Basin. This phosphate mine has already mined over 100,000 acres of land in this region of Florida and it just received a 5 yr mining extension.
In 2009 , one of their holding ponds collapsed, dumping 84 million gallons of toxic and radioactive wastewater into the aquifer. There is ongoing concern that this mine will cross jurisdictional borders and begin mining in neighboring counties such as Baker County and adjoining property in Columbia County.
For a historical and in-depth look at Nutrien from Geologist Dennis J. Price of Hamilton County published in the Lake City Reporter on July 11, 2018. The editorial was reposted by Jim Tatum with Our Santa Fe River and by John Quarterman with WWALS.
You can now direct donations through Cash App to support the Sierra Club Suwannee-St. Johns Group by using our CashTag$:
$SSJSierra
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