The federal government said Thursday it found elevated emissions of sulfur and other chemicals from drywall imported from China, but it can't yet link them to the illnesses or corrosion reported by thousands of homeowners. ...more

October 30, 2009

It will be difficult, dangerous and plain foolish to balance next year's budget through spending cuts alone. So why is there no discussion of an increase in the county gasoline tax? With every single source of revenue in decline, and little reason to expect a reversal anytime soon, the BOCC must look for additional sources of income. Five cents per gallon would generate $20 million for Hillsborough County. Such a broad-based tax would create significant revenue while minimizing the pain. It is hard to argue an additional $1 per tankful is an unmanageable burden when gas was $2 a gallon higher just a few months ago. But this is more than a source of badly needed funds. It is the type of policy we need to wean ourselves off oil and reduce emissions. No one likes a tax increase, but compared to some of the budget cuts being proposed, it is the lesser evil. As one local baseball manager might say, 5 cents equals $20 million. ...more

May 2, 2009

Tampa Electric has completed construction of two natural gas-fired peaking units - each capable of generating 60 megawatts of power - at the utility's Bayside Power Station. ...more

April 28, 2009

Tampa Electric has completed the construction of two natural gas-fired peaking units — each capable of generating 60 megawatts of power — at the utility's Bayside Power Station. The units are designed to provide power during periods of peak demand. The utility plans to build three more peaking units by September. ...more

April 27, 2009

Florida is flat as a pancake with minimal elevation and is all but surrounded by water. The farthest point inland from the Gulf or Atlantic is just 70 miles, while most of the population lives within 25 miles of the coast on land no more than 20 feet above sea level. We are 18 million people living on a sand bar with more at risk and more to lose from sea level rise than anywhere in the world. ...more

March 29, 2009

Those who accept Darwin's evolution philosophy consider the great apes to be the closest relatives of homo sapiens. In actuality, our closest relatives are sheep. Even most people with graduate degrees will blindly follow propaganda. ...more

March 21, 2009

Two high-tech weigh stations set to open Tuesday will allow trucks to get back on the road faster while cutting emissions. The "weigh-in motion stations" on Interstate 4 near Kingsway Road in Mango allow vehicles to keep moving at 45 mph while being weighed to determine whether they exceed legal limits. ...more

January 5, 2009

Progress Energy Florida has asked federal regulators to extend the life of its nuclear plant in Crystal River another 20 years. ...more

December 20, 2008

Progress Energy Florida has asked federal regulators to extend the life of its nuclear plant in Crystal River another 20 years. ...more

December 19, 2008

It's official: A chemical plant at the edge of a Tampa neighborhood stinks. ...more

October 26, 2008