It's not just South Florida looking at data center moratoriums - as people start to realize the trade off between quality of life and unrevealed financial costs, they can tell that current data centers are designed to benefit the wealthy few at the cost of the public good. #datacenters

AI data centers spark noise, environmental concerns as South Florida communities weigh moratoriums

South Florida communities are weighing moratoriums on AI data centers amid noise and environmental concerns ahead of August primary elections.

wptv.com

Mail in vote part 2 - looks like a light hurricane season, but do you really want to take that chance this November? Helping decide who wins the election shouldn't be a gamble. Sign up for mail in voting. #mailinvoting

Hurricanes are inevitable. Losing your vote to one isn’t | Opinion

“Our state needs to do more to guarantee the right to vote for all Floridians, even in a natural disaster,” writes the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Florida policy director.

sun-sentinel.com

Reminder that the deadline to request a mail in ballot for the primary is August 6th. Quick and easy to do - have your drivers license number available when you sign up. This is an important primary - a couple of races will be decided on August 18th.

St Pete solar workshop on Tuesday, 8/4 - here's the info you need. Obama Main Library, 3745 9th Ave N., 6-7pm. Have questions about going solar or the Switch Together solar program? Join Solar United Neighbors, St. Pete staff, & CONA to get your questions answered and learn about our programs.

St. Petersburg Solar Info Session · Solar United Neighbors

Have questions about going solar or the Switch Together solar program? Join Solar United Neighbors, City of St. Petersburg staff, and the Council of Neighborhood Associations (CONA) of St. Petersburg ...

mobilize.us

Will data centers be a big topic in the midterms? Being VERY skeptical about data/ai centers is totally bipartisan. These centers can be developed so they are less harmful to the economy and environment. Less profitable, too, which is why Big Tech wants to shove them through. #datacenters

A growing political reckoning is coming for data centers, POLITICO Poll shows

A new POLITICO Poll found that Americans’ attitudes toward data centers have grown increasingly sour and politically polarized in the past six months.

politico.com

It's estimated that we ingest about a credit card size amount of plastic every week. That can't be good! Here are some tips to reduce that. Also, patronize places that pack hot to go food in something that isn't plastic. #endplastics

6 simple swaps that cut my family’s exposure to microplastics in food

Scientists have found that small changes — such as cutting down on plastic food containers and canned foods — can help.

washingtonpost.com

We have a feeling that the mothballs are going to hurt their business more than the birds ever would. Deservedly so.

2 beachfront business owners accused of scattering mothballs on St. Pete Beach to deter birds

The men said in text messages that they believed nesting black skimmers were causing their businesses to lose up to $50,000, wildlife officials said.

tampabay.com

Some pretty cool stuff going on in August in Pinellas (plus we sneak one more July event in for Friday - Hurricane seminar for seniors). Butterflies, art for the birds, clothing swap, St Pete Eco Club, and more. Let's save the planet! #saveflorida

August's Green Events - Help the Planet and Have Fun - Sea Us Rise

Find some green August events to do, beat the heat and help save Florida and the planet. We have butterflies, clothes, and photos.

seausrise.org

Is Florida leadership cozier with AI developers than they would like us to think? When big utilities are happy about a law, you can bet it isn't what's best for citizens. A recently passed law does give some authority to municipalities to block data centers, but overall, is a boon to developers.

New law has Florida 'open for business' for AI data centers, utility execs say

Companies that sell electricity love Florida's new data center development law.

jasongarcia.substack.com

Duke Energy cost is up 49%. FPl is up 45%. TECO is up 86%. All in the last 5 or 6 years. FPL posts the highest profits in the nation. We need to elect people who will watch out for the consumers instead of the power companies. #FPL

Energy costs are high and unaffordable – what utilities, governments and communities can do to save consumers money | The Invading Sea

Energy insecurity is a pervasive and potentially dangerous predicament for millions of households.

theinvadingsea.com

St. Pete voters - there will be a referendum about fixing infrastructure on November's ballot. Read more here.

St. Petersburg voters to decide on new tax to hasten flooding, sewage fixes

City Council approved adding the question to the November general election ballot.

tampabay.com

Taking a little music break this Thursday morning with Childish Gambino's Feels Like Summer. Floridians, we are out there in the heat.

Childish Gambino - Feels Like Summer (Official Video)

YouTube video by ChildishGambinoVEVO

youtube.com

Could it be that our elected officials give more consideration to utilities than to the citizens? Naw, no way...

Why States Are Making It Harder to Save Money With Solar Panels (Gift Article)

The changes are costing homeowners money. But they also reflect a changing grid — and the need for home batteries.

nytimes.com

This is fantastic: 'New statewide collaborative aims to close Florida’s local election information gap'. Newsrooms across the state focusing on vital yet often overlooked races, starting with school boards across Florida. You might want to bookmark their information! #journalism #schoolboard

New statewide collaborative aims to close Florida’s local election information gap

A coalition of news organizations and university journalism programs have launched a new partnership to better cover local elections in Florida. The collaborative, which kicks off with school board el...

floridatrib.org

Changing the definition of 'harm' allows vast destruction in endangered species' habitat. Florida is the epicenter of this harm. Please contact your Representative & Senators & tell them to protect the Endangered Species Act & wildlife so it is there for future generations. #endangeredspecies

Environmental groups sue government to stop a big change to the Endangered Species Act

By altering the definition of the word "harm" as used by the Endangered Species Act, the Trump administration may limit how wildlife is protected in the United States. Environmental groups are suing.

npr.org

Today's the last day to register to vote in Florida for voting in the 8/18 primary. Some races are decided IN the primary, so your vote matters. Local elections are won by just a few votes sometimes. Registering is fast & easy. Be an awesome citizen and register if you haven't done it yet! #vote

Florida's Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), a state agency, secretly investigated people who disagreed with them. As in, on social media. Investigated! Is this really how you want Florida's government run, by thin skinned politicians afraid of a bumper sticker? Be better, Florida.

FWC secretly investigated outspoken environmental activists, records show

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida wildlife officials repeatedly searched personal driving records as they secretly investigated at least a dozen outspoken environmental activists who opposed the state’s eff...

yahoo.com

Some news this Friday. An anonymous donor helped secure sensitive land in south Florida. Earlier this week, a woman amassed precious natural land, and then donated it to preserve. We love it when people use their $ for the good of the planet, instead of the other way around. #saveflorida

A secret fan donates nearly $1 million to help save South Florida's rare pine rocklands.

The anonymous donation of $975,000 was handed over to Miami-Dade County's Environmentally Endangered Lands program

wlrn.org

The redefinition of 'harm' by the federal government can lead to the deaths of so many different species. So short sighted.

New federal rule could ramp up risks for sea turtles in Florida

The new rule redefines one key word: "harm." Conservation groups say it could be devastating for vulnerable species.

cfpublic.org

Huge development in downtown St. Pete, considered a 'Green City'. So, how environmentally positive will the Gas Plant District be? #stpetersburgfl #GreenDevelopment

So How Green is the New Gas Plant District Supposed To Be? - Sea Us Rise

The Burg group was chosen to develop the Gas Plant District. We are wondering how much green is in this huge proposal.

seausrise.org

Wetland mitigation is a promise developers have to make in order to build on sensitive lands. In FLA, they still have to fulfill it - but where they want to put it, not where the wetlands are. Why do our leaders keep deciding that destroying Florida to give rich people more $ is the best idea?

‘A handout to developers’? New Florida law has meant more Tampa Bay wetlands filled in

Last summer, the owners of an East Tampa trucking company illegally filled an acre of wetlands. Regulators fined the company but ultimately allowed it to continue building as long as it restored anoth...

yahoo.com

Updated with new events! Rainwater, wildflowers, composting - lots of local green events for St. Pete and Pinellas friends.

July's Local Events: Help the Planet and Have Fun - Sea Us Rise

Lots of environmental events going on this July in St, Pete and Pinellas County. Hope to see you out and about.

seausrise.org

Why do people think it is ok to destroy an entire species so they can make more $? Gopher tortoises in Florida are listed as endangered, but they are listed as threatened in other states, and have lost their protected status. What explanation do we give our grandkids? Money is more important?

Gopher tortoises 'critically endangered' as Trump Administration removes habitat protections for endangered species

The International Union for Conservation of Nature has determined gopher tortoises are more at risk of extinction than ever before. The U.S. government does not agree.

wusf.org

Less than 100 Rice's Whales are left, and they all live in the Gulf. Are we really going to let politics kill them? #savethewhale

Amid federal scrutiny, research reinforces this rare Gulf whale is a unique species

With fewer than 100 left, Rice’s whales run the risk of inbreeding if the population continues to decline, researchers warn.

tampabay.com

“So we’re paying as taxpayers to keep economically unviable [coal] plants open, and meanwhile those are doing immeasurable harm to the local environment, to people’s health, and to the climate, which costs us more, too.” #climateemergency #ThereIsNoPlanetB

Climate Tracker@climate.skyfleet.blue · 4w ago

‘He’s forcing higher bills’: Trump spends billions to kill clean energy and keep coal alive #Climate

Farmers sue to halt African oil pipeline eldik.r.sp1-brevo.net/mk/mr/sh/1t6...

More new green music for you. We have some dance, Latin, and rock. Artists sing about how nature cures us, and how we can do more. Hope you enjoy! And maybe are a little bit inspired. #ecomusic

Four New Green Songs for Your Listening Pleasure - Sea Us Rise

Ed O’ Brien’s beautiful new album and title song The healing power of nature, from Brazil to Wales, in the second solo album by the Radiohead guitarist. Mirby’s “Be In Nature (while it’s still there)”...

seausrise.org

As rising seas invade the #Florida Everglades, roseate spoonbills are finding new homes www.miamiherald.com/news/local/e... via @harrisalexc.bsky.social

As rising seas invade the Everglades, spoonbills are finding new homes

Plus, good nesting news this season.

miamiherald.com

Take a moment to listen to Ed O'Brien's Blue Morpho. The Radiohead guitarist's beautiful solo album and song is about the healing powers of nature. Sea Us Rise's song of the week, a swirly lovely ride. You can hear the sounds of the Welsh wilderness.

Ed O'Brien - Blue Morpho (Official Video)

YouTube video by EOBOfficialVEVO

youtube.com

The Tampa Bay Times is hosting an event focusing on the crux of housing & the environment. July 16th, in conjunction with the Foundation for a Healthy St. Pete. “Rising Seas, Shifting Neighborhoods: Climate Change’s Impact on Tampa Bay Housing” is at The Palladium, doors open at 5pm, free.

Tampa Bay Times hosts community Spotlight event on climate change and housing

How is a warming world reshaping Tampa Bay’s neighborhoods? A panel of local experts weighs in.

tampabay.com