The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) today found that Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) acted prudently in complying with environmental regulatory agencies’ requirements for its Turkey Point Cooling Canal Monitoring Plan. FPL asked to recover the plan’s costs through the PSC’s Environmental Cost Recovery Clause (ECRC).
The Commission found that while under the oversight of three different government agencies, and their respective monitoring requirements, none of the agencies found that FPL withheld or submitted false data. After a thorough review of the record, the PSC concluded that FPL was prudent in its actions and expenditures for the historic operation of Turkey Point’s Cooling Canal Monitoring Plan. As required for ECRC recovery, FPL’s monitoring plan is prudent and part of a government mandated regulation and, therefore, the plan’s costs are appropriate for recovery.
While finding that FPL acted prudently, the PSC disallowed recovery of the utility’s $1.5 million escrow payment required by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. FPL did not meet its burden of proof that the funds would be used to benefit FPL’s ratepayers. FPL’s 2017 and 2018 monitoring project costs and escrow payment removal are subject to true-up in future ECRC proceedings.
The PSC held an evidentiary hearing on October 25-27, 2017, which included parties from FPL, the Office of Public Counsel, the Florida Industrial Power Users Group, and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.
Solar Projects
Today, the PSC also approved FPL’s petition to recover its solar project costs through an increase in base rates, under the terms of its 2016 settlement. The PSC determined that FPL’s 2017 and 2018 solar projects are cost effective and are projected to save customers $96 million.
In its petition, FPL is proposing to build eight solar facilities to be located in Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto Counties. The projected in-service date for the 2017 solar projects is December 31, 2017, and the projected in-service date for the 2018 projects is March 1, 2018.
Nelson calls on Senate to block oil drilling off Atlantic coast
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) today urged his colleagues to take up and pass legislation he and others filed earlier this year to block the Trump administration from opening up additional areas to offshore oil drilling until at least 2022.
The move comes amid reports that the Trump administration is planning to unveil a new five-year oil and gas leasing plan that would open up the entire Atlantic coast to drilling. This new five-year plan, which would go into effect in 2019, would replace the current five-year plan not set to expire until 2022.
“The Trump administration is about to give a huge early Christmas present to the oil industry,” Nelson said on the Senate floor Tuesday. “The Department of Interior is preparing to unveil a new five-year plan for offshore oil and gas leasing – one that would open up the entire Atlantic coast.”
In April, Trump signed an executive order directing Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to open up new areas to offshore drilling by altering the current five-year oil and gas leasing plan that took effect earlier this year and doesn’t expire until 2022. In response, Nelson and others filed legislation that would prohibit Zinke from making any changes to the current five-year plan before it expires.
“I urge our colleagues to take up the bill filed earlier this year … that would block an attempt by the administration to open our coasts to oil drilling.” Nelson said. “The stakes are extremely high for the economies of our states.”
Nelson, a long-time opponent of having oil rigs too close to Florida’s coast, often cites the state’s unique environment, its multi-billion dollar, tourism-driven economy and the vital national military training areas as reasons why drilling should not be allowed near Florida’s coast.
In 2006, Nelson and then-Sen. Mel Martinez successfully brokered a deal to ban drilling off Florida’s Gulf coast through the year 2022. Nelson filed legislation earlier this year to extend that ban an additional five years, to 2027.
“Why is the Department of Interior in such a rush?,” Nelson said. “Because the oil industry wants to start drilling in these areas now, and the Trump administration is going to let them do it.”
Full text of the legislation Nelson filed earlier this year can be found here.
Video of Nelson’s speech on the Senate floor today is available here.
Here’s a rush transcript of his remarks:
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson
Remarks on the Senate floor
December 12, 2017
Sen. Nelson: Mr. President, there are all kinds of reports swirling around Washington, and we’re hearing those reports that the Trump administration is about to give a huge early Christmas present to the oil industry, because the reports are that the Department of the Interior is preparing to unveil a new five-year plan for offshore oil and gas drilling, one that would open up the entire Atlantic coast of the United States to drilling.
This new five-year plan, which would go into effect in 2019, would replace the current five-year plan which was finalized last year and doesn’t expire until 2022. So why is the Department of Interior in such a rush to waste taxpayers’ money to write a new one? Because the answer is because the oil industry wants to start drilling in these areas now, and the Trump administration is going to let them do it.
While it hasn’t been released yet, we are hearing that the administration’s new plan will open up the entire Atlantic coast to offshore drilling from Maine as far south as Cape Canaveral.
But, Mr. President, let me show you why that’s a problem. This is the east coast of the United States. This is Maine. This is Florida. This is Cape Canaveral. This is Fort Pierce, Florida. Look what happens in the Atlantic coast off of the eastern continental United States. These are all military testing areas. Every one of these hatched areas — every one of these blocks — are places that have limited access because of military testing.
So take, for example, all of this area off the east coast of Florida. There’s a place called Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. There’s a place called the Kennedy Space Center. We are launching commercial and military rockets, and within another year and a half we will be launching rockets, American rockets with American astronauts that, just like the space shuttle before them, will go to and from the International Space Station carrying crew as well as the cargo that it already carries.
Well, when you’re launching it to the International Space Station, or in two years we launch the largest rocket ever from the Kennedy Space Center, the forerunner to the Mars program, taking humans to Mars, where do you think the first stages, or in the case of the new mars rocket called the SLS, the Space Launch System, where do you think it drops its Solid Rocket Boosters? Precisely. Out here, which is exactly why you can’t have oil rigs out here.
Where do you think that all of the commercial rockets coming out of Cape Canaveral right now that put up the host of communication satellites, that is a constellation of satellites, how do you think we get our pinpoint GPS here on earth? Many of those rockets are coming right out of the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and increasingly, the commercial activity at the Kennedy Space Center, which is located with the Cape Canaveral air force station.
Or what about all of those scientific satellites that are out there that give us precise measurements on what’s happening to the climate so that when we then track hurricanes, we know precisely and have such great success in predicting the path and the ferocity of a hurricane. All of those rockets are coming out of Cape Canaveral, and they have first stages. And when the first stages burn out, they have to fall someplace. You can’t have oil and gas production out here.
And so the same would be off of Norfolk, Virginia. They also have a launching point there for NASA –Wallops Island — but in the Norfolk area, all of the military that does its training out in the Atlantic, you’re going to have a whole disruption.
Or take, for example, all of the military assets — spy satellites that go into orbit rocketed out of Cape Canaveral, those first stages when burned out have to fall. And that’s why you have a location like Cape Canaveral Air Force Station launching from west to east to get that extra boost of the earth’s rotation. Therefore, less fuel to get to orbit. This is the prime location.
You can’t put oil and gas out here. You can’t have oil rigs off of Cape Canaveral where all of these military NASA and commercial rockets as well as governmental payloads that are not military are going.
So we have heard the loud opposition of the department of defense, chambers of commerce, fishermen and coastal communities all along the Atlantic who weighed in against the administration’s plan to allow drilling off their coast.
We thought we had put this puppy to bed last year when the Obama administration backed off its plans to have these drilling areas. They backed off because of the opposition. They also backed off when it came to Florida. Why? Florida has more beaches than any other state. We don’t have as much coastline. Alaska has the greatest coastline. But last time I checked, Alaska didn’t have a lot of beaches. The one that is blessed with the beautiful beaches is Florida. And when it comes to beaches, that means people want to go to the beach. That means there is a significant tourism-driven economy.
Well, we learned what happened when just the threat of oil on the beach — remember the Deep Water Horizon oil explosion off of Louisiana? Let me show you so that you don’t get confused with all these colors, but in essence all of this yellow over on the other side of Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, this area is off limits and it’s in law. And it’s a good thing, because when the deep water horizon spilled off of Louisiana and the wind shifted, and that oil started drifting to the east, and it got as far as Pensacola Beach, and it completely blackened the white sugary sands. And that photograph went all over the world. Pensacola beach is covered up in oil, and the winds kept carrying it forward, and some of it got into Choctawhatchee Bay and the sands of Destin and got as far east as some of the tar balls in Panama City Beach. And then the winds shifted and carried it back. That was the extent of the oil on the beach.
But for one solid year, a tourist year, the tourists did not come to the west coast of Florida because they had seen those pictures of what had happened to Pensacola Beach. All the way down the west coast the Tampa Bay area, the Sarasota, the Fort Myers area, the Naples, Marco Island, the tourists did not come.
And, so, when it comes to Florida, now let’s go back to the Atlantic. You start to do this, you are now threatening the lifeblood of Florida’s economy, its tourism-driven economy. It’s not only a threat to the environment, but it’s a threat to the multibillion-dollar tourism-driven economy.
And so we lost in 2010 an entire season that the tourists did not come to the west coast of Florida. And so that’s why when I gave the list of all those entities, including the U.S. Department of Defense, they don’t want it because of the military areas.
But I also said chambers of commerce. Well, they have awakened to the fact that oil on beaches is a killer of our economy. And thus, it’s not unusual that you will start to see local governments, when this plan is announced later today probably, you will see local governments spring into action, like the Broward County Board of Commissioners has already sent letters opposing drilling off of Florida’s coast.
Floridians understand this issue. That’s why in the past we’ve had such bipartisan agreement all over Florida. Republicans and Democrats alike to keep drilling off of our coast.
But if Big Oil gets its way, every inch of the outer continental shelf is going to be drilled. We saw what happened less than a decade ago, and the scientists would say that we’re still uncovering, for example, the full extent of that BP oil spill and its damage.
So I urge our colleagues to take up the bill filed earlier this year with this senator, Senator Markey and others, that would block an attempt by the administration to open up our coasts to oil drilling.
The stakes are extremely high for the economy of our states all along the eastern coast. Georgia has a substantial tourism-driven economy. You know South Carolina does: Myrtle Beach. What about North Carolina? What about Virginia’s tourism-driven economy? But especially all the military concentration there. And you could go right on up the coast.
Mr. President, the stakes are exceptionally high. We simply can’t risk it.
Mr. President, I yield the floor.
CFO and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis: Prevent a Holiday Fire with These Top Five Safety Tips
Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis is reminding Floridians to take steps to prevent a fire during the holidays. According to the National Fire Protection Association, an annual average of 200 home structure fires start with a Christmas tree resulting in an average of six deaths, 16 injuries and nearly $15 million in damages. In addition, 58 percent of Christmas tree fires occur in January and February when a tree is often neglected and becomes dry.
“In the midst of our holiday traditions, we tend to forget the dangers that a dry and improperly placed Christmas tree can pose to the safety of our families and neighbors,” said CFO and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis. “It only takes a matter of seconds for a dry Christmas tree and its surrounding furnishings to catch fire. Keep your trees watered, placed in a safe area and have them immediately removed from the home following your holiday festivities.”
Be sure to remember these top five fire safety tips to help prevent a Christmas tree fire from ruining your holiday:
1. Make sure your tree is healthy. Choose a tree with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched.
2. Keep the tree away from sources of heat within the home. Make sure the tree is at least three feet away from any fireplaces, radiators, candles or heat sources.
3. Keep your tree hydrated. After your tree is up, add water to the tree stand and be sure to add water daily.
4. Decorate the tree with the proper lighting. Never use lit candles to decorate the tree and inspect your lights and accessories to make sure there aren’t any broken bulbs or damaged wiring.
5. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Don’t exceed the recommended number of light strands that can be connected to one another and make sure you are using indoor and outdoor lights when appropriate.
Gov. Scott: Wayfair to Create 100 New Jobs at Three New Distributions Centers Across the State
Governor Scott announced that Wayfair Inc., one of the world’s largest online retailers for home goods, is opening three new distribution centers in Tampa, Orlando and Miami. This expansion will create 100 new jobs and allow Wayfair to continue to expand delivery to millions of consumers from these Florida locations.
Governor Scott said, “I am proud to announce that Wayfair has chosen to expand in Florida with three new locations in Tampa, Orlando and Miami. This expansion will also create 100 new jobs across our state, which is further proof that our work to make Florida the most business-friendly location is helping encourage global companies to invest in our state. I look forward to seeing Wayfair’s continued success in Florida.”
James Savarese, Chief Operating Officer of Wayfair, said, “We are excited to expand our presence in Florida, where we will benefit from the region’s strong talent pool as we expand our logistics network to support the incredible growth of our business. The expansion of our operations in Tampa, Orlando and Miami will ensure that we continue to provide exceptional service every step of the way as we transform the shopping experience for home all the way through to delivery. We are pleased to open three new state-of-the-art facilities in Florida and contribute to the creation of new job opportunities across the state. We have worked very closely with Enterprise Florida, the state’s principal economic development organization, Governor Rick Scott’s Office, the City of Pompano Beach, as well as the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, all of which have been great partners throughout the entire process.”
To accommodate its expanding logistics operations, Wayfair has opened a 45,004-square-foot facility in Tampa, a 43,120-square-foot facility in Orlando and a 47,320 square-foot facility in Miami’s Pompano Beach. Wayfair is continuing to search for new talent across the state, and the new jobs include positions in management, warehouse, concierge and customer service functions.
Harry Sideris, Enterprise Florida board member and Duke Energy’s state president in Florida, said, “We are excited that Wayfair has selected Florida for its three, new warehouse locations as it expands its distribution network. This expansion showcases that our state has the diverse workforce and business friendly climate needed for any company wishing to expand its operations. Economic development is integral to building stronger communities and, ultimately, a stronger Florida and we look forward to assisting more companies like Wayfair in the future. We appreciate the dedication of Governor Scott to make Florida the best place to work and raise a family.”
For more information on hiring and career opportunities in Florida, visit wayfair.com/careers.
Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) is a partnership between Florida’s businesses and government leaders and is the principal economic development organization for Florida. EFI facilitates job growth through recruitment and retention, international trade and exporting, promotion of sporting events, and capital funding programs to assist small and minority businesses. EFI launched “Florida – The Future is Here” to promote the state as the nation’s premier business destination.
CRC Committee Holds Workshop on Victims’ Rights; Marsy’s Law for Florida Discussed
Supporters from across the state demonstrate support for Marsy’s Law for Florida
The Florida Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) Declaration of Rights Committee today held a workshop focusing on victims’ rights, where a proposal to create a Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights in the state constitution, known as Marsy’s Law for Florida, was discussed. Members of the committee heard victims’ rights presentations and testimony on Marsy’s Law for Florida, which would provide victims of crimes with rights and protections equal to those of the accused and convicted.
Immediately following the committee meeting, a group including CRC members, victims and victim advocates gathered at a press conference to support Marsy’s Law for Florida.
“Marsy’s Law for Florida is about bringing equity to the criminal justice process. I believe victims should have the same rights and protections as those accused or convicted of a crime – nothing more and nothing less. By placing clear, enforceable rights and protections in our state’s most powerful legal document, we ensure victims and their families have a voice,” said CRC Commissioner Timothy Cerio who put forth a proposal to amend Florida’s Constitution to include the victims’ right and protections outlined in Marsy’s Law (Proposal 96).
Florida is one of only 15 states that does not provide constitutional-level protections for victims of crimes. Criminals and those accused of crimes have 20 distinct rights outlined in the U.S. Constitution.
“As a survivor of sexual violence, I understand the fear and isolation victims go through. In Florida, the scales of justice are far from balanced. Victims and their families should not fear that they will go unheard or that the criminal justice process will cause them additional trauma or revictimization. They should never feel like an object in an investigation or worse,” said Sen. Lauren Book. “That’s why we need Marsy’s Law for Florida – so victims and their families will finally be given the equal rights, dignity and respect they deserve.”
Marsy’s Law for Florida would provide victims and their families with basic rights, including the right to be notified of major developments in the criminal case, the right to be informed if any changes to the offender’s custodial status, the right to restitution and the right to have a voice in court proceedings, plea bargains or parole hearings.
“On March 23, 2017, I found my beautiful wife of more than 41 years beaten to death on the floor of our kitchen. While grieving this tragic loss of life, my family has endured 10 court hearings that were strategically derailed while the murderer challenged his own competence. Nothing else has occurred while Debbie’s murderer held us all in limbo as he pretended to become mute. There are no sanctions for this delay. There is no cost to him. He can play these games because at his rights are enumerated and all but sacrosanct. If he was to have been uninformed of his rights, charges against him could be dismissed,” said Michael Liles. “Sadly, my family and I must await justice while there are no set procedures for victims and their families to even know what rights if any might exist. We need Marcy’s Law for Florida.”
“A rapist should never have more rights than his or her victim. Too often, victims of sexual violence do not report the crimes committed against them and even fewer pursue prosecution of their attacker. They fear the additional trauma of reliving the crime over and over again through the criminal justice system’s proceedings,” said Jennifer Dritt, executive director of the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence. “Should they decide to seek justice through the courts, they should have guarantees that they will be afforded the same levels of rights and protections as their attacker. The Florida Council Against Sexual Violence stands fully behind this measure.”
Marsy’s Law has been enacted in six other states: California, Illinois, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Montana. The bill recently passed in Ohio in November with 83 percent of voters voting in favor of Marsy’s Law. A survey commissioned by Marsy’s Law for Florida in October showed 87 percent of likely Florida voters believe victims should have, at the very least, the same protections in the state constitution as those given to those accused of committing crimes. When read specific ballot language and informed of the background behind Marsy’s Law, 85 percent of those surveyed said they would vote for a constitutional amendment that guarantees victims’ rights in the Florida Constitution.
“The real-world experience with Marsy’s Law shows what an important difference it can make for crime victims. California passed its version in 2008 and many victims and criminal justice professionals have reported a dramatic improvement in the way victims are treated. Contrary to the predictions of critics, fiscal impacts have been minimal to non-existent with extending right to victims in the criminal justice process. Florida can expect significant improvements in its treatment of victims if it adopts a similar measure,” said University of Utah law professor Paul Cassell, a former federal judge and federal prosecutor.
If passed by the CRC, Marsy’s Law for Florida would be placed on the 2018 General Election ballot as a constitutional amendment. The proposal must receive 60 percent of the vote to be placed in the Florida Constitution.
About Marsy’s Law
Marsy’s Law is named after Marsalee “Marsy” Nicholas of California who was stalked and killed by her ex-boyfriend in 1983. Only one week after her death, Marsy’s mother and brother, Henry T. Nicholas, walked into a grocery store where they were confronted by the accused murderer. The family, who had just come from a visit to Marsy’s grave, was unaware that the accused had been released on bail. In an effort to honor his sister, Dr. Nicholas, co-founder of Broadcom Corporation, has made it his mission to give victims and their families constitutional protections and equal rights. He formed Marsy’s Law for All in 2009, providing expertise and resources to victims’ rights organizations nationwide.
PSC Approves Florida’s First Renewable Natural Gas Program
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) today approved a Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) program for Peoples Gas System (Peoples), marking the first time a Florida natural gas utility will offer biogas producers the option of delivering RNG into its distribution system.
RNG—biogas that has been processed to meet pipeline quality standards–is produced from materials such as wastewater treatment plants, landfills, municipal solid waste, livestock manure, and agricultural waste. Peoples has been approached by landfill operators and wastewater treatment plant owners who want to deliver RNG into its distribution system.
According to Peoples, the biogas producer could use the RNG onsite or contract with a customer who will purchase the RNG from the biogas producer. Potential customers may include compressed natural gas (CNG) fill stations and industrial customers, or Peoples could purchase the RNG, thus displacing a portion of traditional (geologic) natural gas with RNG.
Potential RNG projects include waste-to-energy requests for proposals issued by local governments, including Hillsborough, Polk, and Volusia Counties, and the City of St. Petersburg to reuse gas that now escapes into the atmosphere or is flared (burned off).
FDOT to Hold Public Meeting on State Road 436/South Semoran Boulevard Safety Improvements
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will conduct a public hearing Tuesday, December 19, from 5-7 p.m. regarding proposed safety improvements on State Road (S.R.) 436/South Semoran Boulevard just south of S.R. 552/Curry Ford Road. The meeting will start as an open house at 5 p.m. with a presentation at 6 p.m. followed by public comments, and will be held at the FDOT Urban Office located at 133 South Semoran Boulevard, Orlando, FL, 32807.
The proposed safety project addresses operational and safety concerns in the area by converting the full median opening at the Ross entrance driveway to a bi-directional median opening with a new traffic signal providing a protected left turn from S.R. 436. This modification reduces traffic conflict points at the intersection, improving safety. Southbound and northbound left turns into the shopping centers will still be permitted, but left turns out will be prohibited. As part of the improvements, the left turn lanes to the south of this driveway intersection will also be lengthened, allowing for more queue space.
This public hearing is being conducted to give interested persons an opportunity to express their views concerning the location, conceptual design, and social, economic, and environmental effects of the proposed improvements. Draft project documents are available for public review until January 2, 2018 at the FDOT Urban Office, 133 South Semoran Boulevard, Orlando, FL, 32807, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5p.m.
Persons wishing to submit statements, in place of or in addition to oral statements, may do so at the hearing, or by sending them to: Dave Mixon, FDOT, District Five Roadway Design, 719 S. Woodland Boulevard, M.S. No. 562, DeLand, FL 32720 or [email protected].
Persons with disabilities who require special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or persons who require translation services (free of charge) should contact Kelly Hiden, Public Involvement Coordinator, 407-508-0839, or [email protected]. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact us by using the Florida Relay Service, 1-800-955-8771 (TDD) or 1-800-955-8770 (Voice).
Public participation is sought without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability or family status. Persons wishing to express their concerns relative to FDOT compliance with Title VI may do so by contacting Jennifer Smith, FDOT District Five Title VI Coordinator at [email protected].
Media inquiries can be directed to Communications Manager Steve Olson, 386-943-5479, [email protected].
ACA Enrollment Group Releases New Radio PSA
The Epilepsy Foundation of Florida, the state’s second largest provider of free, in-person ACA enrollment assistance, has released a new radio PSA to promote Florida’s extended December 31 enrollment deadline.
Floridians have until December 31 to enroll in coverage through the federal Health Insurance Marketplace, due to impacts from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced on September 28 a special enrollment period allowing Florida consumers extra time to enroll. More on the extension from NPR affiliate WUSF.
EFOF produced the 30-second PSA to promote both their free enrollment assistance and the extended enrollment deadline. The spot is currently running on more than 27 radio stations across the state, in the West Palm Beach, Miami, Naples, and Pensacola markets.
The PSA can be listened to and linked to here.
“While we’re seeing continued enthusiasm for this life-saving health coverage, there’s also persistent misinformation among consumers,” said Karen Basha Egozi, CEO of the Epilepsy Foundation of Florida. “With a 90 percent cut to ACA advertising this enrollment period, we had to get creative and think outside the box to ensure Floridians knew where to turn for help getting covered.”
After December 15, Florida consumers can shop for health plans with EFOF Navigators, who will connect them with the Health Insurance Marketplace to complete the enrollment process. Consumers can find locations and make an appointment by visiting EFOF.org/ACAnavigation or calling toll-free 1-877-553-7453.
EFOF has discussed ACA enrollment in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Associated Press, and in statewide and local media. EFOF has educated and assisted more than 250,000 Floridians at thousands of events in 35 counties.
ABC of Florida Statement Regarding CRC Proposal 23
Associated Builders and Contractors of Florida (ABC) Chief Lobbyist Carol Bowen released the following statement regarding CRC Proposal 23.
“As the voice of commercial construction in Florida, Associated Builders and Contractors of Florida is opposing a proposed constitutional amendment—CRC Proposal 23—that would harm Florida’s businesses and negatively impact Floridians.
“The broad and vague language of this proposal would open Florida’s construction industry up to countless frivolous lawsuits—regardless of compliance with existing laws or valid permits—and seriously harm development in our state. Challenges would be brought—potentially even by non-Floridians or business competitors—just to obstruct or delay legal activities, assuring prolonged uncertainty and creating judicial gridlock.
“Thoughtfully crafted and thoroughly debated environmental protections are already included in Florida’s constitution, and our state’s laws provide various ways to address concerns over air and water quality when needed. This proposal is simply unnecessary and would cause more problems than it would solve.”
Florida’s Congressional and Military Leaders to Convene with Defense and Aerospace Industries at Upcoming Expo in Orlando
Top officials and thought leaders from the U.S. defense and aerospace industries and the Florida companies that serve them will gather here this winter when the Florida Defense Contractors Association (FDCA) hosts the sixth annual Florida Defense Expo. Providing attendees with educational sessions, industry networking and business development opportunities, the Expo will take place Feb. 20 at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando.
The Expo brings together U.S. military, Department of Defense, Homeland Security and organizations serving the nation’s defense with businesses dedicated to providing high quality, safe and innovative products and services to its warfighters. Federal, state and local leaders also will be on-hand.
“The Expo is a fantastic opportunity for attendees to learn more about the Florida defense and aerospace industry, its strategic role in America’s national security mission and how it helps grow the economy and create jobs,” said Gene Moran, FDCA Executive Director. “For the sixth year in a row, companies large and small will be gathered under one roof to tell our state’s defense story.”
Confirmed Expo speakers include: U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (FL 25th District); U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist (FL 13th District); Chester Kennedy, CEO, International Consortium for Advanced Manufacturing Research; Bruce Grant, Vice President, Military & Defense Programs, Enterprise Florida, Inc.; and other leaders in the Florida defense and aerospace industry. The Expo also will include a trade show representing small and emerging companies as well as global top-100 firms and the organizations that help support them.
“FDCA is uniquely positioned to lead a statewide business network on behalf of Florida defense contractors,” said FDCA Chair Noel McCormick, President of McCormick Stevenson.
Current sponsors for the event include McCormick Stevenson, Capitol Integration, R-Squared Solutions, EEI Manufacturing Services, General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, Chemring Ordnance, Alakai Defense Systems, Shutts, Lockheed Martin, Gulf Coast Underwriters, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, PricewaterhouseCoopers Advisory Services, On Point Defense Technologies, BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards, Embraer Aircraft Holding and Actron Entities, The Boeing Company, Pinellas County Economic Development and the Florida Chamber Foundation.
The event will kick off at 9 a.m. on Feb. 20 at the Orlando Rosen Plaza Hotel.
Expo sponsorship opportunities are available by contacting Gene Moran at (616) 951-4688 or [email protected].
The FDCA is a statewide business development and education group for Florida defense and aerospace businesses of all sizes. The FDCA’s goal is to make Florida the premier state where defense and aerospace companies conduct business and create jobs.
To learn more or to register for the Expo, go to fl-dc.com/calendar/6th-annual-fdca-florida-defense-expo. For hotel information and reservations, go to the Rosen Plaza website or call 1-800-627-8258.
