Scott maintains narrow view on water, energy issues

Scott maintains narrow view on water, energy issues

Bruce Ritchie, 01/07/2013 - 02:39 PM

On Friday, Gov. Rick Scott said he wants DEP to look at Florida's springs and that he wants to ensure the flow of natural gas to the state is not interrupted. Photo by Bill Prescott.

Gov. Rick Scott says he is asking DEP to look at Florida's springs and he said he wants to ensure that the flow of natural gas to the state is not interrupted.

Scott met with The Florida Current staff on Friday and was asked to lay out his legislative agenda on a variety of issues.

Asked about his goals and programs for leaving waterways for future generations, Scott talked about his Everglades restoration plan that won federal approval in 2012.

"It's going to focus on improving the flow of water and quality of water going to the Everglades," he said.

He also said, "What I have asked, what DEP (the Florida Department of Environmental Protection) is doing, is why do we have some of our springs that are way down?"

"I have asked, I want to make sure our water management districts are very focused on their jobs, their core missions -- not doing a mission other than that," he said.

Victoria Tschinkel, a former Department of Environmental Regulation secretary in the 1980s and founding member of the Florida Conservation Coalition, said Scott's comments reflect a "general understanding and anecdotal examples of problems."

"However, these problems are prevalent all over the state," she said. "We need a single, focused, well-financed program that connects the responsibilities of state agencies -- from DEP to agriculture to transportation -- working with local governments and water management districts if these problems are to be solved."

On energy issues, the Department of Economic Opportunity last week issued a report on the state's business climate that included a call for a statewide energy strategy "to ensure reliable and cost-effective sources of energy to sustain economic development while helping protect the environment."

Asked whether he agrees that an energy strategy is needed, Scott replied that the state is benefiting now from local natural gas prices.

"I think what we have to do from an energy policy standpoint is keep the flow of natural gas into the state from being disrupted. That is very important," he said.

Scott also said he was "very cautious" about offshore oil drilling after the 2010 Gulf oil spill.

Kevin Doyle, executive director of the Consumer Energy Alliance-Florida, said Florida should be concerned about federal regulations that could possibly restrict natural gas extraction by hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking." The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is studying the effects of fracking on drinking water.

"If any one of those agencies (studying fracking) start to impose regulations that are over-excessive, that can disrupt the supply chain," Doyle said. His group supports affordable and reliable energy including increased oil production.

Susan Glickman, an advisor to the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, said the state needs to develop energy supply diversity with renewable energy, conservation and increased efficiency.

"We are in this kind of transition stage that quite frankly requires leadership," she said. "Because of the influence of political (campaign) contributions at all levels, we just haven't seen much leadership in recent years."

Scott also said he will request funding for the Florida Forever land acquisition program in his 2013-14 state budget request but he did not say how much he will seek.

Reporter Bruce Ritchie can be reached at britchie@thefloridacurrent.com.