Yesterday, I was proud to join my colleagues from across Tampa Bay for a delegation meeting to address regional challenges and opportunities.

 

 

I have to hand it to our Republican chair, the first presentation was a hard-hitting presentation from the Tampa Bay Partnership on the effects climate change will have on our future economy. The partnership, is a consortium of business interests that were clearly sounding the alarm on the billions of dollars inaction will have on lost property values, the predictable costs of devastating storms, and increasing property insurance rates. Partisanship aside, it's time for ACTION!

 

Mote Marine Lab presented on Red Tide and gave preliminary feedback on our multi-million dollar investment in finding solutions to the effects these tides have on our ecosystems and tourism industry. My work for clam and oyster farmers helps keep the gulf water clean, and I asked the scientists about finding new ways for these natural filter feeders to help clean the Bay and help fight against the rising tides.

 

 

Finally, we got an update on Piney Point and the State's new plan for deep water injection to get the water off the site so it no longer threatens the Bay with a spill. Essentially, the plan is to drill down to 3,300 feet and inject the water there where it would be diluted into subterranean sea-water. That is below a multi-hundred foot thick layer of impermeable clay that should trap it thousands of feet below the aquafer. Sensors would then be installed below the aquafer to detect if any penetrations take place as a safety precaution. Apparently, this is the same process used across the state for discharging brine from desalination plants and other industries.

 

Once the water is gone, they will round-off the lake so no more water can accumulate there and the site will be permanently closed. I'm working on legislation that could one-day convert the site into a solar-farm to repurpose the land. I am trying to make the best of a bad situation all-around.

 

What do you think we should do with the wastewater? Let me know with a quick reply!

 
 
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