It's difficult enough for car dealers to contend with a struggling economy that has hit them hard. But Saturn dealers also have to deal with the future of their products and their company. ...more

March 29, 2009

Is Tampa doing enough to conserve energy and reduce its carbon footprint? Determining that will be one of many tasks awaiting a new citizens task force created by Mayor Pam Iorio that over the next several months will work on implementing a new citywide energy conservation initiative with Tampa Electric Co., the city's main utility. The task force will come up with recommendations for energy conservation, renewable energy and climate-change initiatives for implementation by city officials and TECO. ...more

March 18, 2009

Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio has taken some hits from some city council members from not being sufficiently green, particularly during the city's recent discussion of renewing its franchise agreement with TECO. ...more

February 7, 2009

The start of Obama's presidency is a new chance for our nation to actively push for 21st century innovations and clean technology that the public health, our natural world, and future generations deserve. Energy is a fundamental issue in our rapidly changing world, and 2009 is poised to be the year for legislative action. But citizens must participate in this important process. ...more

January 24, 2009

"Let them eat cake" is how Tampa City Councilman John Dingfelder characterized his four colleagues' refusal to listen to hundreds of citizens on the TECO franchise agreement. Forty-two TECO customers pointed out numerous shortcomings in the franchise agreement, while Councilwoman Mary Mulhern held up a huge stack of letters pleading for a better deal. ...more

December 9, 2008

Push TECO To Be Greener After nearly three and a half hours of facts, figures, opinions and pleas, Tampa City Council members Charlie Miranda, Gwen Miller, Thomas Scott and Joseph Caetano voted against delaying approval of the 25-year franchise agreement with Tampa Electric Company. The delay would have given all of us time see and hear the changes sought by President-elect Barack Obama pertaining to energy generation and its effect on climate change as well as the effect the fiscal crises might have on jobs and other opportunities in the near future. The delay would have given concerned citizens and groups time to work with the city and TECO to solve the problems pointed out by the 40-plus people present and the hundreds who communicated with council members with letters and e-mails. ...more

December 6, 2008

Opponents of a franchise agreement with Tampa Electric Co. tried to force Mayor Pam Iorio's hand, but in the end, they didn't have enough support to make it happen. ...more

December 5, 2008

Today, Tampa City Council members will hold the final vote on the city's franchise agreement with Tampa Electric Co. In the last few months members have gone back and forth about approving it, with at least three hoping to use the negotiations to push the utility toward cleaner environmental policies. ...more

December 4, 2008

A day before the Tampa City Council planned to vote on a 25-year franchise agreement with Tampa Electric, community leaders urged the council to postpone its vote. ...more

December 4, 2008

A day before the Tampa City Council votes on a 25-year franchise agreement with Tampa Electric, community leaders urged the council to postpone its vote, saying the agreement should be changed to promote the use of renewable power. ...more

December 3, 2008