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

LWVStPete Clean Water Zoom 230215
Event Date: 
Feb 15 2023 05:30 pm

The League of Women Voters of the St. Petersburg Area and League of Women Voters of North Pinellas County are hosting a virtual event on the Right to Clean Water campaign on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Learn about the campaign to amend the Florida Constitution with a fundamental 'Right to Clean & Healthy Waters'. The speaker is Joe Bonsai, Chair of SWFL Regional Director, Florida Rights of Nature Network. RSVP to request a zoom link.

Right to Clean Water Logo
News

LWV of Florida and Leagues in counties across Florida, including Alachua County, have joined the effort to get a constitutional amendment, called the Right to Clean Water, on the 2024 ballot. We need you!

Powerlines in background with purple overlay and Stop the GRU Takeover Bill text on top
News

The League of Women Voters of Alachua County appreciates that the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee has rightfully expressed concerns about the debt of the Gainesville Regional Utility. Our concern is that a suggested solution is to take management of GRU away from the city. Recently there have been credible reports that Representative Chuck Clemons intends to file a bill that would transmit GRU management to the state. As an organization that supports home rule and democracy with government serving those who are governed, the LWV of Alachua County firmly opposes any such move, as is detailed in the attached letter. 09/20/23 UPDATE: Gaineville Residents United, Inc. provides an update and timeline for the city lawsuit regarding the takeover of Gainesville Regional Utilities.

natural resource
Event Date: 
Jan 21 2023 01:30 pm
Event location: 

Florida Springs Institute

LWV of Alachua County is joining LWVFL in supporting the Florida Right to Clean Water campaign (RTCW), which is a constitutional amendment to clarify our priorities and a civi

Maya K van Rossum Presentation
Event Date: 
Jan 06 2023 06:00 pm
Event location: 

Civic Media Center

LWV of Alachua County will have a table at the Maya van Rossum presentation on Friday, Jan 6th, at 6 pm at the Civic Media Center, 433 South Main St. Contact Janice if you are interested in volunteering.

Maya K van Rossum Presentation
Event Date: 
Jan 06 2023 06:00 pm
Event location: 

Civic Media Center

On Friday, Jan 6th, at 6 pm at the Civic Media Center, 433 South Main St, you have an opportunity to hear Maya van Rossum's message about the pivotal power of a state constitutional Green Amendment and how it could effectively help solve Florida's environmental and economic water crisis.

Image of springs with bird in foreground. Text overlay "Natural Resources Committee Meeting"
Event Date: 
Feb 22 2023 06:30 pm

The meeting with County Commissioner Anna Prizzia has been rescheduled to February 22 at 6:30 PM (note the new time).

EV Demo Nov 19
News

The League of Women Voters (LWV) of Alachua County, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, and National Drive Electric Week will host an electric vehicle (EV) demonstration event on Saturday in Gainesville.

During Gainesville’s Annual Downtown Festival and Art Show, the LWV will have an EV Demo Booth from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. At the booth, people can learn about EVs and get directions to the public parking

Image of springs with bird in foreground. Text overlay "Natural Resources Committee Meeting"
Event Date: 
Nov 16 2022 05:30 pm

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

Map of Lee Property and Hickory Sink

Action Alerts

The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) recently heard an initial request for a large-scale development on 4000+ acres known as the Lee Property. LWVAC is asking the BoCC to reject this initial request, called a Special Area Study, until all efforts to secure funding for preserving the entire property are exhausted.

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