Sarasota, you have humbled me.

This is a short post, but worth taking the time to say it.

For quite a few years I have headed out to the coast line in protest of what we are doing to our environment. Most of the time I am accompanied by a small group of like minded people and after a short moment in the sun, we pack up our signs, dust off the sand, and go home.  All to do it again the next time we need to remind everyone how vital the environment is to our existence.

But in all my years of work, never have I seen so many people join hands as they did today on the same beach that I have stood in the past.  Today, no one was labeled a "Tree Hugger" or an "environmentalist wacko" (my personal favorite).  Today, no one was singled out as a part of the lunatic fringe or a communist.  Today, it was just a group of citizens who, as in the words of Commissioner Jon Thaxton, are "mad as hell" for what we are facing in the gulf.  

3000 people joined hands on Siesta Key Beach today.  Over  a million people joined hands all around the world in solidarity to say, "We are mad as hell and we are not going to take it any more!"

Hat's off to everyone today who took a stand against the direction our country is heading in.  You have my most sincerest admiration.  Not since the 2008 elections have I seen so many people come together for something that they believed in.  The truth is we are not just talking about change, we are the change.  We are no longer asking to take the helm, we are telling those who are standing in front of us to get out of the way.  No more rhetoric. No more theorizing. No more lies.

3000 people stood on Siesta Key beach stood and said "Enough is Enough."

Sarasota, I have just become your biggest fan!





 

Citizens of Sarasota to Participate in Largest Gathering Against Offshore Drilling in History

1000 to Join Hands at Siesta Key Public Beach

WHAT: Local "Hands Across the Sand" gathering in solidarity with over 400 events around the U.S. and in 15 other countries around the world to raise awareness about the dangers of offshore drilling and to call on leaders to end our oil dependence and move America into a clean energy future.   

 

WHO: Sarasota County citizens and visitors, including Representative Keith Fitzgerald, FL-69, U.S. Congressman Vern Buchanan D-13, Sarasota County Commissioners Jon Thaxton and Nora Patterson, and City of Sarasota Mayor Kelly Kirschner.

 

WHEN:   Saturday, June 26 at 11:30 a.m.

 

WHERE:  Siesta Key Public Beach, 948 Beach Road, Sarasota, FL

 

***VISUALS WILL INCLUDE A LARGE GROUP OF CITIZENS JOINING HANDS ON THE BEACH, MUSICIANS, SIGNS, BANNERS AND FLY-BYS

 

Please come and bring the whole family.   Take a stand against what is happening in the Gulf of Mexico and let the world know where the line in the sand is drawn.

 

Clean Energy Congress in Tallahasse open to all

June 28-29, 2010 - House Chamber, Florida State Capitol, Tallahassee, Florida

Florida has an opportunity to grow our economy and create jobs by establishing a market for the clean tech sector. For this reason and many more, there is an increasing urgency to put state and federal policies in place to attract investments to the state. Don’t miss a unique opportunity to create a vision for a sustainable energy future for Florida and the nation.

To submit ideas or participate as a delegate or observer, visit www.cleanenergycongress.org.

Space is limited so respond right away.

Monday, June 28

10:00 am Presentations
12:00 pm Lunch – 22nd Floor, Capitol
1:30 – 5:30 pm Discussion of delegate proposals
5:30 - 7:00 pm Reception – 22nd Floor, Capitol

Tuesday, June 29
 
8:30 am Adoption of Ideas and Policy Recommendations
12:00 pm Congress Adjourns
12:15 pm Press Conference and Signing Ceremony
“Declaration of Energy Independence”

For more information, visit www.cleanenergycongress.org or e-mail cleanenergycongress@gmail.com.

The Clean Energy Congress is sponsored by The Florida Business Network for a Clean Energy Economy.
Special thanks to State Representative Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda who co-created the concept, is sponsoring
our use of the House Chamber and the 22nd Floor, and has been spent many hours helping to plan the event.

HARIDOPOLOS TO MODERATE ENERGY SUMMIT

Senate President-designate Mike Haridopolos will lead a summit on the development of clean energy in Florida in July, a newly-formed group announced Thursday. 

Citizens for Clean Energy, which will hold its first summit July 8 in Orlando, tapped the incoming Senate President to lead the discussion on how Florida can develop more alternative energy fuels as the state continues to grapple with the massive oil spill in the Gulf coast. The group describes itself as “a coalition of leaders, organizations, and concerned Americans committed to supporting education and public policy change that advance clean energy jobs and technologies to improve both our economy and our environment.” Haridopolos said Thursday that he was drawn to the summit because it reminded him of a similar summit about job creation he held with House Speaker-designate Dean Cannon earlier this year.  “It’s all geared toward solutions, not rhetoric,” he told reporters on a conference call. “It’s part of a methodical, thoughtful approach to not only creating more energy alternatives, but also national security. The less reliant on foreign oil, the better.” 

However, Haridopolos added that he was still not sold on a possible special session this summer to ban oil drilling, which Gov. Charlie Crist has suggested could also include renewable energy legislation. Crist still has not made clear what he wanted to see lawmakers take up, Haridopolos said. “If it is to ban something that’s already been banned, I’m not that interested,” he said. “If the governor wants to call a special session, which he has the authority to do, he also has the responsibility to put a blueprint on the table, in my opinion, as opposed to Monday morning quarterbacking"

SPECIAL MEETING TO DISCUSS ENERGY ISSUES

Sarasota, FL: An expert panel will discuss private and public utilities during a Special City Commission Meeting tomorrow Wed., June 16th 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at City Hall, 1565 First Street. The format will provide an opportunity for public input.

The panelists may include:

• Pegeen Hanrahan, Former Mayor of Gainesville, Fl.

• Randy Knight; City Manager, Winter Park
• Jerry Warren; Electric Director, Winter Park
• Barry Moline; Executive Director, Florida Municipal Electric Association
• Robert Scheffel Wright; Special Legal Counsel, City of Sarasota
• Rae Dowling; Area Manager, Florida Power & Light
• Buck Martinez; Renewable Development Sr. Dir., Florida Power & Light
• Ken Rubin; Legal Counsel, Florida Power & Light
• Bob Bellemare; COO, Utilipoint International

The format is expected to include a 60-90 minute presentation by the expert panel. City Commissioners will then ask questions. Next, citizens will be allowed three minutes each to ask questions or make comments. The meeting will include the panelists addressing citizens’ comments.

During the meeting, energy issues will be discussed with an emphasis on a proposed franchise agreement with Florida Power & Light. The City’s franchise agreement with FPL expired last month and negotiations have been underway to extend the agreement. Both the City of Sarasota and FPL have offered modifications regarding terms and conditions.

Due to a programming conflict with a previously scheduled Sarasota County Budget Workshop, the special meeting will be shown live only on Verizon Fios channel 34 and the City of Sarasota website: www.sarasotagov.com. The meeting will be replayed almost immediately on Wed., June 16th at 6:00 p.m. on Comcast Cable channel 19 and Verizon Fios channels 32. It will be shown again Sun., June 20th at 3:30 p.m. on Comcast Cable channel 19, and Verizon Fios channels 32.

Sarasota presses FPL to encourage alternative energy

Partially reprinted from Sarasota Herald Tribune
By Robert Eckhart

“Our opportunity is now,” said City Commissioner Dick Clapp. “If we don’t take the opportunity, I don’t know when we’ll get another chance.”

SARASOTA – “Power to the People!” was the title of one congratulatory e-mail sent to City Hall as commissioners haggle with utilities giant Florida Power & Light.

Sarasota, which collects about $5 million a year in franchise fees from FPL, is the latest in a series of local governments trying to wring more concessions out of the power company amid contract talks.

Commissioners want a five-year extension — FPL has never agreed to less than 30 years — and other conditions that would encourage start-up alternative energy companies.

These are the same concessions that have been requested by local governments elsewhere in Florida, and FPL has not granted them anywhere yet.

But supporters of alternative energy are rooting commissioners on as the negotiations get serious here. And Mayor Kelly Kirschner has already suggested publicly that the city could start its own electric utility, if FPL will not make a deal.

“We’d like to think they would use a community like ours to perhaps pilot some of these opportunities,” Kirschner said Friday.

FPL is demurring, but did not officially respond to the city’s requests as the 30-year franchise agreement expired on May 28.

The company has pointed out its service is more reliable than the national average, and the typical residential bill is the lowest of the 55 electric utilities in Florida.

Commissioners say they want more public discussion of the deal, and called for a special energy meeting Wednesday with guest speakers from Winter Park, one of 34 Florida cities with taxpayer-owned electric utilities.

To continue reading, click Sarasota Herald Tribune.

“The difference is that Sarasota has a more motivated citizenry and set of city commissioners who are really committed to getting the best possible deal for the citizens of Sarasota for the next 30, 40 or 50 years,” Wright said.
   

City of Sarasota - FPL franchise agreement town hall and it's list of experts

The list of expert panelists for the City of Sarasota FPL franchise agreement town hall has been officially announced.

Here they are:

Former Mayor of Gainesville, Florida, Pegeen Hanrahan – she will talk about her city's experiences with a municipal utility.

Executive Director of the Florida Electric Municipal Association, Barry Moline - he will talk about the process of taking a city from an Investor Owned Utility (IOU), such as FPL, to a Municipal Utility.

City Manager of Winter Park, Florida, Randy Knight – he will talk about why his city decided to start their own utility.

Tallahassee Attorney, Schef Wright  from  the Law Firm of Young Van Assenderp, PA – Mr. Wright is representing the City of Sarasota in their negotiations with FPL and their franchise agreement.

FPL Reps: TBA

It is rumored, but not confirmed, that FPL will be bringing in some "heavy hitters".  Someone has said that representatives from FPL are coming from the headquarters in Juno Beach, Florida.  Another says it could be Sarasota Attorney, Nick Gladding  from the firm Ruden McCloskey.  Nick Gladding was appointed by Governor Crist to the Florida Energy and Climate Commission and has been retained by FPL to represent them in their negotiations with the City of Sarasota.   I will be updating as soon as I can confirm the FPL reps.

The audience will be packed with other business people and local citizens who have a very good knowledge base on the issues of renewable energy.  It will be worth your while to attend.

Remember it this coming Wednesday,

June 16th, 2010  
Sarasota City Hall  
1565 1st Street, Room 101
Sarasota, FL 34236
Phone: (941) 954-4115

Hours are 2p.m.- 5p.m.

Tonight: Vigil to stand in solidarity with those affected by the spill

Today is the 50th day since the start of the BP oil spill. Since BP has made the cuts to well and have placed a cap onto it, it is estimated that over 100,000 gallons are leaking into the ocean EVERY DAY!

It was the first week that volunteers were called into action, only to be put on hold by BP as they try to maintain control over the oil spill.  Here we are one and a half months since the well exploded and most of us have only the chance to sit and watch the tragedy that is taking place in the gulf of Mexico.  Waiting while nothing seems to be getting accomplished.  Even the Governor of Louisiana, Bobby Jindal, has been pleading for help as his coastline is poisoned with oil.  Two days ago the count for animal deaths we over a thousand.  And no one can even estimate the coast that each state will bare, from the losses of the fishing industry, tourism, and jobs.

Unlike earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and fires - the oil spill in the Gulf is unending.  There is no way we can calculate the damage.  Therefore we cannot even begin to pick up the pieces and salvage what we have left in order to build again.

Tonight, across the country, people will attend Oil Spill Vigils to stand in solidarity with those affected by the spill and call for an end to America's addiction to oil.  It's time that we stand up to the oil industry and demand more form our government.  This is your time to stand up and let everyone know that you support better efforts in the Gulf and better legislation that will prohibit this from happening again.

To find a vigil near you, click here

If you are a resident of Sarasota, Florida you can come out to:   City Island - Ken Thompson Parkway 7pm thru 9pm  for more information you can check out facebook.

5,000 free in-home charging stations from Ford Motor Company

Here is some good news -

Electric car charging stations are being offered for free through the Department of Energy (DOE) funding award and ChargePoint America.   

ChargePoint America will offer home and public charging stations to individuals and businesses. Charging stations are planned to be offered to businesses in nine areas of the United States - Washington (1), California(3), Michigan (1) , New York (1), Texas(1), Washington D.C.(1), and Florida (1).

Florida Businesses -  

In Florida, Orlando is currently the only designated city, but if enough interest is shown, there could be others.  Any business (Hotels, shopping centers, restaurants, public parking lots, etc.) that has an ideal location for the public to charge their electric vehicle(EV) can participate in the charging infrastructure that is being put in place to participate in the electric highway.  Tampa, FL is currently working on becoming an EV friendly community. Hopefully others are soon to follow.

Homeowners 

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) will partner with Coulomb Technologies to provide nearly 5,000 free in-home charging stations for some of the automaker's first electric vehicle customers.  

Under the Ford Blue Oval ChargePoint Program, residents in nine designated markets could receive a free ChargePoint® Networked Charging Station with the purchase of a Ford Transit Connect Electric vehicle. The nine markets designated by Coulomb Technologies include Austin, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York, Orlando, Sacramento, the San Jose/San Francisco Bay Area, Redmond, Wash., and Washington D.C. The installation of ChargePoint charging stations will begin immediately.

The Ford Blue Oval ChargePoint Program is part of Coulomb Technologies' $37 million ChargePoint America charging station infrastructure project made possible by a $15 million grant funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through the Transportation Electrification Initiative administered by the Department of Energy. - PR Newswire  

Businesses and homeowners interested in applying for free public charging stations: ChargePointAmerica

Important Dates for Sarasota, Florida

Today is World Ocean Day.
World Ocean Day Family Festival at Mote Marine
Ken Thompson Parkway
Sunday, June 6, 2010
11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Join us to celebrate World Ocean Day with the wild world of Dr. Seuss in honor of his book, "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish."

Enjoy games, crafts, prizes, educational activities, dunk tank, facepainting, entertainment and more!

Vigil for BP Gulf Disaster 
Date: Tuesday, 08 June 2010
Time: 19:00 - 21:00
Location: City Island - Ken Thompson Parkway

Join us on Sarasota's beautiful bayfront as we mourn the devastation that is destroying our precious Gulf of Mexico. Bring signs & candles - spread the word!

Hands Across the Sand event on Siesta Key Beach 
Date: Saturday, June 26, 2010
Time: 11:00am - 12:30pm
Location: SIESTA KEY BEACH, SARASOTA, FL

The parallels between the Ixtoc spill and the current Deepwater Horizon disaster

 (This was written yesterday, but still a valuable post)

While horrified by the Deepwater Horizon explosion and BP conduct, we might also recall that today is the anniversary of another horrendous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The parallels between the Ixtoc spill and the current Deepwater Horizon disaster, including failure of the blowout preventer, are striking.

 
Ixtoc I was an exploratory oil well being drilled in about 160 feet of water in the , in the Gulf of Mexico. On June 3, 1979, the well suffered a blowout resulting in one of the largest environmental disasters ever -- still counted as the second largest accidental oil spill in history.

The drilling was by Pemex (Petróleos Mexicanos), Mexico’s government-owned oil company. At the time of the accident, the drilling rig Sedco was operating at a depth of more than two miles (nearly 12,000 feet) below the sea floor, twice as deep as the Deepwater Horizon.

The details are complicated. One gathers, however, that the drill bit hit some kind of soft strata, which caused a loss of drilling mud, which in turn resulted in reduced hydrostatic pressure. When Pemex officials decided to remove the bit, mud began rising toward the surface. The blowout preventer malfunctioned, and oil and gas started escaping. The oil and gas fumes ignited on contact with operating pump motors, starting a fire that led to the collapse of the drilling tower, causing damage to underlying well structures and leading to release of huge quantities of oil.

Initial estimates put the flow from the damaged well at 30,000 barrels of oil per day. From the outset, Pemex officials minimized the extent of the damage, claiming that half of the oil burned on the surface, another third evaporated and the rest was contained or dispersed.

Meanwhile, like BP in the current crisis, Pemex tried a host of disparate measures. An initial effort to put a cap or funnel above the well (like the BP “Top Hat” containment attempt and actually called “Operation Sombrero”) failed. In July 1979, pumping drilling mud into the well (harbinger of BP’s “Top Kill”) reduced the flow from 30,000 to an estimated 20,000 barrels per day. In August, pumping nearly 100,00 metal balls (reminiscent of “Junk Shoot”) lowered it further to 10,000 or so barrels per day. Pemex also sprayed the chemical dispersant Corexit 9527 (used by BP today) on the area affected by the spill. Meanwhile, two relief wells were drilled, but oil continued to escape for three months following completion of the first one.

The bottom line was that, even according to Pemex’s own estimates, around 3.5 million barrels poured into the Gulf before the leak was finally plugged nearly ten months later, on March 23, 1980. The Ixtoc spill caused considerable injury in the United States as well as Mexico. Even thought he U.S. government had two months lead-time to prepare, more than 160 miles of U.S. beaches and countless other Gulf shore interests suffered serious damage.

On a local note, recalling Ixtoc, we in Florida might also question why the offshore drilling studies commissioned by our state Senate and House go back only 20 years for their risk assessment data. Could it be to avoid consideration of this important input some 30 earlier?

Jan Schneider
   

Hands Across the Sand event on Siesta Key Beach

Hands Across the Sand is a movement made of people of all walks of life and crosses political affiliations. This movement is not about politics; it is about protection of our coastal economies, oceans, marine wildlife, fishing industry and coastal military missions. Let us share our knowledge, energies and passion for protecting all of the above from the devastating effects of oil drilling.

What to do at a Hands Event:

STEP 1 Go to the beach at 11 AM for one hour, rain or shine.
STEP 2 Join hands for 15 minutes at 12:00 forming lines in the sand against oil drilling in our coastal waters.
STEP 3 Leave only your footprints.

Date: Saturday, June 26, 2010
Time: 11:00am - 12:30pm
Location: SIESTA KEY BEACH, SARASOTA, FL

Sign up: Facebook

Important Events for Sarasota!

Come Celebrate Alex Sink's 62nd Birthday! 

Please join our host committee: John Auer • Virgil Fabian • Chris Marlin • Mitchell Berger
Jed Thomas • Richard Pinsky • Bill Gunter (host committee in formation)
for a party celebrating Alex’s 62nd birthday!
 

 Alex Sink
Florida’s CFO and Candidate for Governor
Sunday, June 6, 2010
3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
at
The Home of Alex Sink and Bill McBrideThonotosassa, FL 33592
$162 per ticket
Contributions are limited to $500 per person or corporate entity.

Please make checks payable to “Alex Sink 2010”.
You may also contribute online at www.AlexSink2010.com/birthday
To RSVP please contact Ben Sohl
at Ben@AlexSink2010.com or (813)374-9175

In Transition 1.0
Tuesday, June 8th, 7 p.m.
At the Sarasota Friends' Meeting House, 3139 57th Street in Sarasota
Presented by WSLR 96.5 Community Radio, the Sarasota PEACenter, and Transition Sarasota

In Transition 1.0 is the first detailed film about the Transition Movement filmed by those that know it best, those who are making it happen on the ground. The Transition Movement is about communities around the world responding to peak oil and climate change with creativity, imagination, and humor, and setting about rebuilding their local economies and communities. It is positive, solutions focused, viral and fun.

Sarasota Power now has it's own website! A Town Hall is scheduled!!

As you might already know, the City of Sarasota is deciding whether or not the will reduce their franchise agreement.  And agreement which has expired on May 28, 2010.  FPL is requesting a similar agreement as to the one they signed 20 years ago, except this time they would like it for 30 years.

During the City Commission meeting held on May 17, 2010, the main issue for everyone was summed up by Commissioner Atwell when she said "With energy changing so rapidly, why would we want to sign a thirty year contract?"  Since then they has been a swell of support by local residents and businesses to follow the Commission's lead and explore the possibility of starting a city owned utility.

A group called Sarasota Power was immediately formed on Facebook where over two hundred members have signed up.  So much information has been pouring in from all over the state offering ways that the city can start their own utility that Sarasota Power has now started a website dedicated solely to this issue.

Originally, the City Commission and FPL were scheduled to reconvene on June 7th, 2010 to hear FPL's response to their requests, but since the meeting on the 17th, Mayor Kirschner has post-poned the meeting on the 7th and has scheduled a town hall.  Appearing at this town hall will be experts in the field of municipal utilities to explain all of the pros and cons for having your own utility.  The idea is to allow everyone the chance to not only understand how this will impact our city, but also give every one a chance to be heard.

The town hall is scheduled on June 16th, 2010.  It will be held at Sarasota City Hall from 2pm to 5pm.  There will be presentations, a chance for the Commissioners to ask questions, and then a chance for the citizens to give public statements.

To keep up with the latest information, go to www.SarasotaPower.org

SENATORS LEMIEUX AND NELSON IN RESPONSE TO GULF COAST DISASTER

 NEW AD CAMPAIGN DEMANDS ACTION BY SENATORS LEMIEUX AND NELSON IN RESPONSE TO GULF COAST DISASTER

Calls on U.S. to Break Oil Addiction; Pass Clean Energy and Climate Legislation

FLORIDA (May 26^th) – A new ad campaign running  in Florida this week turns up the heat on Senators LeMieux (R-Fl) and Nelson (D-FL) to help reduce America’s dependence on oil and move our country to cleaner, safer power sources. The ad, paid for by Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund, is running this week in eight states, including: Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Vermont and Wisconsin.

“We need Senators LeMieux and Nelson and leaders in Washington to break our country’s addiction to oil and put America back in control of its energy future,” said Heather Taylor, NRDC Action Fund Director. “Americans want cleaner, safer energy sources that will create millions of American jobs, jumpstart our economy, and protect our communities and our environment.”

As oil from the Gulf Coast continues to wash up on America’s shores, the ads call on Senators LeMieux and Nelson to help break our addiction on oil and support clean energy and climate legislation that will move America to safer sources of energy that are made in America. For too long, Big Oil and its dirty energy allies have held America hostage by blocking Congressional action on clean energy in order to protect their profits and bottom line.

America’s dependence on oil is also a national security threat that helps unstable and dangerous regimes. For example, each day the Senate delays in enacting clean energy and climate legislation, Iran gets an additional $100 million in oil revenue.

As recent polls show, Americans want their elected leaders to take action that would be put our country in control of its energy future – by enacting legislation that would shift to clean energy and climate protection. Last year, the House passed the historic clean energy and climate bill. A broad coalition is calling on President Obama, Senate Majority Leader Reid, and U.S. Senate to take bold action for America’s clean energy future.

To view the state ads and learn more, go to www.nrdcactionfund.org or here.

Script of “Change” Ads: “Change shouldn’t be this hard. Twenty-nine lost in a West Virginia coal mine. An economy in peril along our Gulf Coast. Mad men using oil profits to threaten the world. Deadly symptoms of a deadly addiction. And still, Congress won’t pass a clean energy climate plan, to cut our addiction to dirty fuels. Because Congress is still addicted to Big Oil influence. It’s time for politicians to break their addiction so we can break ours. Senator LeMieux: We need a strong clean energy climate bill. Now.”

“Change shouldn’t be this hard. Twenty-nine lost in a West Virginia coal mine. An economy in peril along our Gulf Coast. Mad men using oil profits to threaten the world. Deadly symptoms of a deadly addiction. And still, Congress won’t pass a clean energy climate plan, to cut our addiction to dirty fuels. Because Congress is still addicted to Big Oil influence. It’s time for politicians to break their addiction so we can break ours. Senator Nelson: We need a strong clean energy climate bill. Now.”