Drill here? Drill now?! It's not foreign oil we must wean ourselves off; it's oil, period. ...more

September 14, 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

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

As the city of Tampa works on a new long-term agreement with Tampa Electric Co., it might be worth keeping in mind three changes on the horizon for electric utilities. ...more

December 23, 2008

There's lots of complaining and finger-pointing when it comes to high gas prices. But in the 35 years since our first experience with price spikes and short supplies during the OPEC embargo in 1973, our vehicles have gotten bigger and the miles we drive has increased. ...more

February 23, 2008

The dark clouds and drizzle of rain didn't hinder the Coleman seventh-graders' Stop the Engines! campaign. Knocking on car windows and asking parents to cease idling, they pleaded their case against carbon dioxide emissions. ...more

February 20, 2008