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

Three women at LWV table with red table cloth
Event Date: 
10/14/2023 - 10:00am to 1:30pm
Event location: 

Mt Olive AME Church

LWV of Alachua County is tabling at the NAACP Health Fair to assist attendees with voter registration (training required) and voter education. We will also be collecting petition signatures. 

Three women at LWV table with red table cloth
Event Date: 
10/07/2023 - 2:00pm to 4:00pm
Event location: 

Sweetwater Apartments

LWV of Alachua County is tabling at Sweetwater Apartments, a primarily student apartment complex. Join us to assist residents with registration (training required) and voter education. We will also be collecting petitions. 

Leon County Court House in background with text regarding hearing in blue box
News

Gainesville Residents United, Inc.'s September 20, 2023 update on GRU.
What you can do:
* If you can attend the September 22nd hearing in Tallahassee, it's bound to be interesting and a show of support is always nice.
* The swearing-in of the new Utility Authority appointees is currently scheduled for October 4th at noon (with the chance that it could be postponed or cancelled.
* And finally, the local legislative delegation is meeting on October 25th, and many folks are planning to discuss issues of importance with our legislators.

Red triangle on white background with black exclamation point in the middle. Attention in black text over top

Action Alerts

09/20/23: Gainesville Residents United, Inc. provides an update and timeline for the city lawsuit regarding the takeover of Gainesville Regional Utilities.

Green and black text on a tan background with headshot of a Black woman with long hair and a green top in a circle inset
Event Date: 
09/30/2023 - 9:30am to 4:00pm
Event location: 

United Church of Gainesville

The Alachua County NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Committee invites you to their Climate Change Summit on September 30th at the United Church of Gainesville.

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

Bryan Eastman provides an update and timeline for the city lawsuit regarding the takeover of Gainesville Regional Utilities.

Image of springs with bird in foreground. Text overlay "Natural Resources Committee Meeting"
Event Date: 
09/27/2023 - 5:30pm

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

Three women at LWV table with red table cloth
Event Date: 
09/20/2023 - 11:00am to 1:00pm
Event location: 

Santa Fe College Northwest Campus

LWV of Alachua County is honoring National Voter Registration Day (September 19th) on September 20th with a table at the Santa Fe College Constitution Week Civics Fair.

Three women at LWV table with red table cloth
Event Date: 
09/16/2023 - 10:00am to 4:00pm
Event location: 

Headquarters Library

LWV of Alachua County is honoring National Voter Registration Day (September 19th) on September 16th with a table at the Headquarters Library in Downtown Gainesville.

City of Gainesville City Hall Sign
News

The LWV of Alachua County (LWVAC) Natural Resources Committee continues to follow the Climate Officer position and whether it remains as a direct report to the City Manager or is reassigned to another reporting entity.

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