Picture a fuel that doesn't come from the Middle East, costs as much as six times less to produce than corn ethanol and could actually help the environment.
That's ethanol from sugarcane, which grows like weeds in Florida, and it made something of a star of Bradley Krohn on the first day of Adam Putnam's second annual Florida Energy Summit in Orlando.
Krohn is manager of Highland Envirofuels LLC.
Just days before the start of a possibly contentious hearing before state regulators,Florida Power & Light said Wednesday it will seek approval of a settlement agreement that would increase customers' base electric rates next year by $548 million.
FPL, the state's largest utility, reached the proposed settlement with groups representing large electricity users and scaled back an earlier proposal to raise base rates by about $690 million in 2013.
Over the last century, the landscape of the energy industry has changed dramatically.
I have already gone on record saying that the Romney campaign has not been mean and tough enough.
The new energy giant in Florida is claiming civic pride and investments in sound leaders for its political contributions that have made the Charlotte, N.C.-based company a major sponsor of the upcoming Democratic National Convention.
Duke Energy Chief Executive Officer James E. Rogers defended the companys DNC contributions by noting that money has been given to both parties' national presidential-ticket coronation events, which because of the recent $18 billion merger with Progress Energy has put the two political showcases in their coverage area.
In what may well be one of the greatest congressional upsets in Florida history, large-animal veterinarian and political newcomer Ted Yoho scored a very narrow victory over 12-term congressman Cliff Stearns, R-Ocala, in one of Tuesdays most hotly contested primary races.
Stearns trailed Yoho 34 percent to 33 percent, losing by only 829 of the nearly 64,000 votes cast in the race.
Early returns show 10-term Congressman John Mica, R-Winter Park, handily defeating freshman Congresswoman Sandy Adams, R-Orlando, in a volatile race that saw the rare spectacle of two incumbents facing off in a primary as a result of earlier congressional redistricting. Early returns show Mica carrying the race with about 61 percent of the votes.
Incumbent Congressman Allen West has handily won his partys nomination in the Republican primary in Floridas U.S. Congressional District 18.
By 9 p.m. on the coast, well-funded West had 74 percent of the vote to Martin County Sheriff Bob Crowder's 26 percent.
Crowder was widely considered a long shot for the nomination, after he alienated himself from much of his partys conservative base in 2010 when he endorsed Democrat Alex Sink in the 2010 Florida gubernatorial race.
Mitt Romney made a smart executive decision selecting Paul Ryan as his vice presidential running mate.
