Many current political statutes and regulations do not promote a necessary concern for our environment. The environment is often only seen as a commodity and is exploited for human use. As a 501 c4 nonprofit organization, Earth Action takes a greater approach in implementing Earth Ethics mission by involving ourselves in advocacy, lobbying, and political activity. With Earth Action we strive to change current political regulations and push for policies that take into consideration the welfare and safety of the environment.

Due to our current workload, we are unable to continuously post our ongoing actions. If you are interested in learning more about Earth Action campaigns, email earthethicsaction@gmail.com or like our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/earthethics

Florida Power and Light is seeking another rate increase. 

America’s largest utility Florida Power and Light is yet again poised to seek more rate hikes on Florida customers – their third since 2021. This time, the utility plans to increase rates by over $10 billion, the largest rate hike request in United States history. If the Florida Public Service Commission approves FPL’s request, you could pay at least $200 more annually for basic electricity by 2029– and potentially more. FPL currently gets one of the highest returns on equity in the country at over 10%. That means Florida families are paying big to put money in the pockets of shareholders. FP&L wants to increase that to 11.9%. FPL’s executives are making record salaries while Floridians cut back on A/C in the dead of summer to afford their bills.

There will be a series of virtual and in-person meetings that will allow the public to speak to this proposal. The attached Rate Case Overview FPL RCO gives the details on how to register for virtual meetings and how to sign up for on the phone participation. Details are below as well.

VIRTUAL: Online registration for the virtual service hearings will open on May 20, 2025, at 9 a.m. ET, and close at noon ET on June 2, 2025. Customers may register to speak at the virtual service hearings in one of the following ways:

(1) register using the PSC’s online registration form, which will be available at www.FloridaPSC.com, under the “Hot Topics” heading,

(2) call the PSC at 850-413- 7080 or

(3) email speakersignup@psc.state.fl.us.

IN-PERSON: Sign-ups for in-person service hearings will be available at the venue.  There are NO online sign-ups for in-person meetings.

VIA PHONE: If you do not have access to the internet, you may call 850-413-7999 to listen to the hearings. Customer participation in the virtual hearings will be by phone.

For those of you who would like to provide comments to the Public Service Commission now requesting additional in-person meetings in the panhandle – here is the information needed to do so:

Email to  CLERK@PSC.STATE.FL.US

Subject: Reject FPL’s Rate Hike – Hold In-District Hearings for Public Input

Re: Docket No.20250011 -El

Petition by Florida Power & Light Company for Base Rate Increase

Finally, if you have a relationship with any of the city council or county commissioners in Escambia, Santa Rosa, or Okaloosa Counties, please encourage them to sign on to this letter: The letter is requesting additional in-district PSC meetings to address FPL request for another rate increase.

Florida Elected Call for FPL Rate Hike Public Hearings

Oil and Gas Exploratory and Drilling 

–UPDATE— 

Judge recommends against drilling near the Apalachicola River

A Florida administrative judge is recommending that state regulators turn down a permit for oil and gas drilling in Calhoun County near the Apalachicola River that was first greenlighted a year ago by the Department of Environmental Protection.  The order comes as the Florida Legislature is moving ahead with a proposal to ban oil exploration and drilling near the river that flows into Apalachicola Bay.

Apalachicola Riverkeeper Files Legal Challenge to Block Oil Drilling Permit

“Apalachicola, FL –– Apalachicola Riverkeeper announced a legal challenge to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (FDEP) Notice of Intent to issue a permit to Clearwater Land and Minerals FLA, LLC. This permit would allow exploratory oil and gas drilling within the floodplain and adjacent to the Apalachicola River. Apalachicola Riverkeeper will be asking an administrative law judge to issue a recommended order to deny the permit based on several factors, including the potential damage to the river, its surrounding ecosystems, and local economies.” – https://apalachicolariverkeeper.org/oil-gas-drilling-in-apalachicola-river-floodplain/

Please consider making a donation so they can continue this important fight. At the link above, you can read about the intent to issue permit, about their petition for an administrative hearing, and how you can donate to the cause!  There was a widely successful press conference (aka opposition event) held on Monday, December 9^th in Tallahassee where the kickoff of the administration has begun. Here are some of the news coverage that it received (hopefully there is no paywalls):

On government’s front steps, Big Bend environmentalists oppose exploratory oil drilling

Groups protest oil drilling in Florida OK’d by DeSantis administration

On government’s front steps, Big Bend environmentalists oppose exploratory oil drilling

Earth Action is working hard to provide comments in opposition to numerous existing permit applications for Oil and Gas exploration and drilling in Northwest Florida. Visit http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/mines/oil_gas/drill-apps.htm  to learn about all the current applications and permits.

Unfortunately, it’s business as usual for the FDEP, “Enclosed is a copy of the executed transfer of permit for the referenced project. The transfer of this permit to Clearwater Land & Minerals FLA, LLC is hereby approved and effective as of the date of this letter. Please attach a copy of this letter and the enclosed transfer of permit to your permit and make them available on site during construction. When referring to this project, please use the permit number indicated.” Read more here  OCULUS – Search Results, 

Gulf of Mexico Five-Year Leasing Plan

As part of this plan, several areas within the Central and Western Planning Areas, Lease Sales 259 and 261, will be “auctioned” for oil and gas exploration and drilling. You can see the map of Lease areas here. Lease Sale 259 is scheduled to be held in March 2023. In addition, “On Jan. 9, 2023, BOEM announced it has prepared a Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for two Gulf of Mexico oil and gas lease sales: Lease Sales 259 and 261, which are being held pursuant to the Inflation Reduction Act and inform the decisionmaker on impacts from a representative lease sale, mitigations, and other action alternatives. According to Mr. John Filostrat, Bureau Ocean Energy Management, Office of Communications, there is no public comment for the Final EIS since there was a public comment period for the draft EIS (held in October 2022).  You can read about the Final EIS here: https://www.boem.gov/GoM-Sales-259-and-261-SEIS

Florida’s Offhore Protection

In 2018,  Amendment 9 passed in Florida’s midterm election adding a ban on offshore drilling in state waters to the state’s Constitution. The ballot initiative received approximately 68 percent of the vote, as Floridians across the state voiced their support for protecting our coasts.

The ban prohbibits drilling for exploration or extraction for both oil and gas in Florida’s state waters, which extend three nautical miles from the shore on the Atlantic coast and nine nautical miles on the Gulf coast.  More specifically, “To protect the people of Florida and their environment, drilling for exploration or extraction of oil or natural gas is prohibited on lands beneath all state waters which have not been alienated and that lie between the mean high water line and the outermost boundaries of the state’s territorial seas. This prohibition does not apply to the transportation of oil and gas products produced outside of such waters. This subsection is self-executing.”

In 2020, a decade-long ban on oil drilling off the coast of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina was issued. The moratorium for not drilling off the coast of Florida was set to expire in June 2022. The moratorium is now set to expire in 2032. Learn more here .