Natural Resources

Natural Resources

Mission

Florida's Natural ResourcesAdvocacy and education in support of expedited, just and effective policies and actions to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change and thereby restore and protect our area’s land, water, and air.

Leadership

Chair: info [at] lwv-alachua.org (Jay Rosenbek)

Ongoing Activities

  • Advocating with City Commission for hiring a Climate Officer and creation of a publicly available dashboard of the City’s goals, actions, and deadlines for reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2045
  • Similar advocacy with Alachua County Commission
  • Advocating for an end to GRU’s natural gas subsidies and extension of gas pipelines
  • Study of University of Florida’s proposed natural gas plant
  • Active monitoring of City and County Commission, Utility Advisory Board, Citizens Climate Action Committee meetings, including joint and subcommittee meetings and advocacy where appropriate
  • Active monitoring of environmental bills introduced into the State of Florida legislative session and advocacy where appropriate
  • Meet with local political leaders and attend League Lobby Days in Tallahassee
  • Advocacy for electrification of transportation
  • Advocacy for GRU to create new revenue streams and end reliance on expanding natural gas use

Recent Successes

Active Collaborations

  • League of Women Voters of Florida (LWVFL) Natural Resources Committee, all NR Committee Chairs statewide participate
  • NR Regional Working Group, a subgroup of especially zealous NR chairs in the state
  • North Central Florida Climate Action Team, a group of local environmental activists
  • NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Committee, a subcommittee of NAACP dedicated to clean air and water and healthy food
  • Suwannee-St. Johns Sierra Club

How You Can Help

  • Join the League of Women Voters of Alachua County
  • Join the Natural Resources Committee and attend our monthly meetings
  • Volunteer to attend local policy meetings and summarize deliberations
  • Be part of our periodic letter-writing campaigns
  • Contribute Letters to the Editor of The Gainesville Sun
  • Show up

Meetings

Meetings are typically held by Zoom on the 4th Wednesday of each month. Check the calendar for specific dates. Contact the info [at] lwv-alachua.org (Committee Chair) for more information
Committee Contact
Contact Name: 
Roberta Gastmeyer and Jay Rosenbek
League to which this content belongs: 
Alachua County

All Posts Related to this Committee

News

At our March 21st meeting the City Commission voted to move forward with putting the GRU Authority on the ballot for a full repeal this year. This came after a packed room of community members from the League of Women Voters, NAACP, the AFL-CIO, Labor Coalition and the Sierra Club came to the meeting asking for the voters to decide.

Image of springs with bird in foreground. Text overlay "Natural Resources Committee Meeting"
Event Date: 
04/24/2024 - 5:30pm

LWVAC NR Intern Hannah Wing will present her economic analysis of Climate Action Plans, and we will discuss NR's major advocacy plan for 2024 which will require all the committee's efforts in the upcoming months.

Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) Sign brown background with gold logo and brick base with gold letters
News

On March 21, 2024, I was privileged to represent the LWV of Alachua County at an important city commission meeting. A coalition of local leaders and organizations, including the League, the Alachua County Labor Coalition, Gainesville Residents United and unions worked together to pose an ask of the city commission. As the LWVAC president, I made the initial speech and asked the commissioners to create a referendum that would repeal Article VII, thus returning governance of GRU to local leadership.

Image of springs with bird in foreground. Text overlay "Natural Resources Committee Meeting"
Event Date: 
03/27/2024 - 5:30pm

The March Natural Resources Committee meeting has been canceled.

Red Box with White Text "Take Action Now!"

Action Alerts

The Florida Senate Fiscal Policy Committee is scheduled to hear Senate Bill 1624, Energy Resources, on Tuesday, February 27th, at 9 a.m. This is a dangerous bill that sets Florida back 15 years in addressing climate change and further locks Florida into the continued use of fossil fuels. The House version of this legislation (House Bill 1645) is set to be heard on the Floor in the coming days.

We're urging Florida League members to contact members of the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee to vote NO on Senate Bill 1624. We're also encouraging members to tell Speaker of the House Paul Renner and Senate President Kathleen Passidomo not to agenda HB 1645 and SB 1624, and to tell their respective Representative and Senator to oppose the bills.

Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) Sign brown background with gold logo and brick base with gold letters
News

As of Feb. 1, Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) stopped paying the City of Gainesville for services the utility received in fiscal year 2022. This leaves the city with a revenue shortfall of $1,447,252 in the middle of the current fiscal year and is a departure from the methodology that formed the foundation of this year’s balanced budget.

News

It’s going to be a very lively month between the GRU Authority and the City Commission, with a lot at stake. At the end of the month the City Commission and the GRU Authority will be having our first joint meeting to discuss the finances between GRU and General Government.

Image of springs with bird in foreground. Text overlay "Natural Resources Committee Meeting"
Event Date: 
02/28/2024 - 5:30pm

Join the Natural Resources Committee to discuss and take action on issues related to natural resources in Alachua County.

Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) Sign brown background with gold logo and brick base with gold letters
News

Janice Garry, president of the League of Women Voters of Alachua County, was among community leaders at a Jan. 16 event who spoke against a state law they say circumvents voter intentions.

News

The Gainesville Regional Utilities Authority and the City of Gainesville are coming to a crossroads in January. They will be deciding whether to cut $15.3 million from the funds transfer. By Bryan Eastman, December 22, 2023

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