>>THIS WEEK ON NEWSNIGHT, THE STATE RAMPS UP FUNDING FOR MANATEE PROTECTION AMID ONGOING RESTORATION EFFORTS IN THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON.

ADVOCATES FOR SOLAR ENERGY LAUD GOVERNOR DESANTIS'S DECISION TO VETO A NET METERING BILL PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE.

PLUS A LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENS NOW IN THE FIGHT OVER THE FUTURE OF THE SPLIT OAK FOREST.

NEWSNIGHT STARTS NOW.

♪ MUSIC ♪ >>HELLO, I'M STEVE MORT.

AND WELCOME TO NEWSNIGHT WHERE WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BIG STORIES IMPACTING CENTRAL FLORIDA AND HOW THEY AFFECT ALL OF US.

JOINING US THIS WEEK, ERIK SANDOVAL.

HE'S AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER, COVERS THE ENVIRONMENT FOR WKMG CHANNEL 6.

>>GLAD TO BE HERE.

>>THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN.

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, WILL ROBINSON-SMITH.

HE COVERS BREVARD COUNTY FOR SPECTRUM NEWS 13.

THANK YOU, GUYS.

REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>>OF COURSE.

>>ABSOLUTELY.

>>ALL RIGHT.

FIRST TONIGHT, THREE CONSERVATION GROUPS THIS WEEK FILED SUIT AGAINST THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ALLEGING IT'S FAILING TO PROTECT FLORIDA'S MANATEES.

IT COMES AFTER THE STATE ALLOCATED 30 MILLION EXTRA DOLLARS FOR MANATEE CONSERVATION.

BUT AS NEWSNIGHT'S KRYSTEL KNOWLES REPORTS, MANATEES CONTINUE TO DIE AT A RECORD CLIP DESPITE EFFORTS TO CLEAN UP WATERWAYS LIKE THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON.

>>FOR THE FOURTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR, THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON RECEIVED A FAILING GRADE FROM THE MARINE RESOURCES COUNCIL IN BREVARD COUNTY.

ACCORDING TO MRC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DR. LISA SOTO, ALTHOUGH WATER QUALITY IS IMPROVING, THE SEAGRASS IS STRUGGLING TO MAKE A COMEBACK.

>>THE SEAGRASSES ARE DISAPPEARING IN THE LAGOON REGARDLESS OF WATER QUALITY.

HOW CAN WE FIGURE OUT WHAT'S CAUSING THE CONTINUED DECLINE OF SEAGRASS?

HOW CAN WE POSSIBLY PLANT 120,000 ACRES BACK?

>>THE RIPPLE EFFECT IS DEVASTATING TO MARINE LIFE.

LAST YEAR, 1,101 MANATEES DIED COMPARED TO 637 THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

THAT'S A 70% INCREASE.

AND SO FAR THIS YEAR, 537 MANATEES HAVE DIED.

THE SITUATION'S SO DIRE GOVERNOR DESANTIS HAS ANNOUNCED $30 MILLION TO SUPPORT MANATEE RESCUE, REHABILITATION, AND RESTORATION OF THEIR HABITATS.

>>IN THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON, FWC IS CULTIVATING SEAGRASS TO KICKSTART HABITAT RESTORATION AND EXPAND EXISTING SEAGRASS NURSERIES.

ADDITIONALLY, PARTNERS WITHIN THE MANATEE RESCUE AND REHABILITATION PARTNERSHIP HAVE RESCUED MORE THAN 50 MANATEES THIS YEAR, AND THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 71 MANATEES IN REHABILITATION FACILITIES THROUGHOUT FLORIDA.

>>DR.

SOTO WANTS TO DIG DEEPER INTO THE SEAGRASS PROBLEM BY RAMPING UP TESTING OF LAGOON WATERS.

>>WE'RE GOING TO LOOK FOR 81 DIFFERENT HERBICIDES AND PESTICIDES THAT COULD BE ENTERING THE LAGOON THROUGH THE RIVERS.

>>ED GARLAND FROM THE SEBASTIAN INLET DISTRICT SAYS HE'S SEEING MORE POSITIVE RESULTS IN THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE COUNTY.

SEAGRASS IS GROWING IN THE INLET, BUT HE SAYS HIS PORTION OF THE LAGOON HAS AN ADVANTAGE.

>>WE'RE FORTUNATE BECAUSE WE ARE AN INLET.

WE HAVE THIS TIDAL MIXING, THIS CHANGE, HIGH TIDE TO LOW TIDE TWICE A DAY, WHERE WE HAVE CLEAR WATER COMING THROUGH.

AND FOR THE SEAGRASS, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS HAVING WATER CLARITY.

AND BECAUSE WE'VE HAD THAT, I THINK IT'S COME BACK A LOT QUICKER.

>>MEANWHILE, DR. SOTO FROM THE MARINE RESOURCES COUNCIL REMAINS OPTIMISTIC DESPITE THE HUGE CHALLENGES REMAINING.

>>IT'S NEVER TOO LATE AND ESPECIALLY NOT FOR THIS ESTUARY.

THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON HAS COME BACK FROM MUCH, MUCH WORSE.

WE USED TO DUMP BILLIONS OF GALLONS OF RAW SEWAGE INTO THIS ESTUARY.

WHEN THAT ENDED WITH THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON ACT IN 1996, 10 YEARS LATER THIS ESTUARY WAS BEAUTIFUL.

WE HAD 47,000 HECTARES OF SEAGRASS.

WE HAD WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS.

SO I HAVE COMPLETE FAITH THAT THIS ESTUARY IS RESILIENT ENOUGH TO COME BACK.

>>ALL RIGHT.

WELL, LET'S START WITH THAT $30 MILLION IN MANATEE CONSERVATION MONEY, WILL.

THE GOVERNOR CALLS IT A RECORD INVESTMENT.

HOW WILL THIS MONEY BE SPENT?

>>YEAH, RECORD INVESTMENT.

ABOUT 17 MILLION OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR IN TRYING TO HELP THE MANATEES.

SO 20 MILLION OF THAT IS GOING TO GO TOWARD IMPROVING THE MANATEES ACCESS TO SOME OF THESE SPRINGS AND SHELTERS THAT THEY SEEK, ESPECIALLY IN THE COLDER MONTHS.

AND 5.3 MILLION OF THAT IS GOING TO BE ADDING ABOUT 12 NEW POSITIONS AT FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE TO FURTHER EFFORT THOSE RESCUE AND RESERVATION EFFORTS.

AND IN FACT, WE JUST HAD A RELEASE AT BLUE SPRINGS BACK ON TUESDAY.

SO THIS IS AN ONGOING THING THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON.

AND IT WAS JUST LOOKING BACK AT THE MORTALITY DATA THAT WAS PUBLISHED AS RECENTLY AS MAY 6TH.

YOU KNOW, AS OF RIGHT NOW, 541 MANATEES HAVE DIED JUST IN THIS YEAR ALONE.

COMPARE THAT TO LAST YEAR, IN TOTAL 722.

SO WE ARE MORE THAN HALFWAY THROUGH LAST YEAR BEFORE THE HALFWAY POINT OF THIS YEAR.

SO IT'S DEFINITELY A PROBLEM THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO TACKLE.

>>REALLY SAD TOO.

>>CERTAINLY THE TRENDS ARE JUST NOT LOOKING PROMISING FOR THIS YEAR DESPITE ALL THOSE CONSERVATION EFFORTS, WHICH AS YOU SAY ARE ONGOING, WILL.

I MEAN, WE'VE TALKED ON THIS SHOW BEFORE ABOUT THAT FEEDING PROGRAM TO TRY TO STOP THE MANATEES FROM STARVING IS THAT THE SEAGRASS DIES.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF THAT FEEDING PROGRAM THUS FAR OR LACK THEREOF?

>>YEAH.

SO THAT PROGRAM WAS TAPERED OFF AROUND THE MARCH TIMEFRAME AND THAT WAS DUE IN PART BECAUSE THE MANATEES WERE LESS GATHERING IN LARGE QUANTITIES IN SOME OF THOSE WARMER WATER AREAS.

SO THEY'RE A LITTLE MORE DISPERSED.

FWC FEED ABOUT 202,000 POUNDS OF LETTUCE TO THE MANATEES.

AND THERE IS SOME DATA TO SUGGEST THAT IT DID HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT.

BUT THEY'RE STILL SORTING THROUGH A LOT OF THAT INFORMATION RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THERE WERE FEWER MANATEE DEATHS IN THAT DECEMBER 1ST TO MARCH 31ST POCKET.

BUT THE OVERALL HEALTH OF THE MANATEES IS STILL DECLINING.

SO IT'S A BIT OF A MIXED BAG AS FAR AS HOW MUCH THAT HELPED AND IF THEY WANT TO CONTINUE IT MOVING FORWARD.

>>THEY WEREN'T QUITE AS PARTIAL TO THE LETTUCE AS THEY ARE TO THE SEAGRASS, UNDERSTANDABLY, BECAUSE THAT'S THEIR NATURAL DIET.

I MEAN, ERIK, THE THREE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION GROUPS THAT FILED SUITS THIS WEEK AGAINST THE EPA OF THE MANATEE DEATHS THAT WE MENTIONED EARLIER, I MEAN, WHAT DOES THIS SUIT ALLEGE, AND WHAT DOES IT CALL FOR THE EPA TO DO?

>>WELL, WE SORT OF SAW THIS COMING.

YOU KNOW, THEY'VE BEEN MAKING GRUMBLINGS THAT THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION.

BUT THE THREE GROUPS, SAVE THE MANATEE, CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, AND DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE, THEY'RE BASICALLY SAYING THE EPA'S WATER STANDARDS RULES ARE OUTDATED.

EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE SET UP 10 YEARS AGO, THEY SAY THAT IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THESE WATER QUALITY STANDARDS THAT THEY SET UP 10 YEARS AGO ARE NOT WORKING.

>>YEAH.

>>THEY'RE SAYING THAT THE SEAGRASS ISN'T GROWING.

THE MANATEE ARE STILL DYING.

SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.

SO THEY SAY THAT THEY NEED TO REVAMP THE WATER QUALITY STANDARDS.

>>AND THAT'S WHAT WE HEARD LISA SOTO SAYING IN OUR PIECE BASICALLY.

>>ABSOLUTELY.

>>WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHY THIS IS STILL HAPPENING.

>>THEY'RE TESTING FOR PESTICIDES AND FERTILIZERS.

I MEAN, THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG.

>>WHAT ABOUT THE STATUS THEN OF THE CLEANUP OF THE LAGOON KIND OF WRIT LARGE, WILL?

I MEAN, WHAT ABOUT THESE EFFORTS TO PREVENT THESE ALGAE BLOOMS AND POLLUTION THAT'S KILLING THE SEAGRASSES?

HOW DO LOCAL CONSERVATIONISTS THAT YOU TALK TO SAY THAT THAT EFFORT IS GOING BROADLY SPEAKING?

>>WELL, IT'S KIND OF A MIXED BAG, RIGHT?

SO IN THAT MOST RECENT HEALTH REPORT CARD THAT LISA SOTO AND THE FOLKS AT MARINE RESOURCE COUNCIL RELEASED, THEY SAY THAT THE WATER QUALITY'S IMPROVING, THE SEAGRASS IS NOT.

AND THAT'S A DIVERGENCE THAT'S FAIRLY NEW IN THE LAGOON AND SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO SUSS OUT EXACTLY WHY THAT'S HAPPENING.

SO WHAT SHE BROUGHT UP IN THAT PIECE THERE, THAT EFFORT TO STUDY THOSE 81 ADDITIONAL POTENTIAL FACTORS, THAT'S PART OF A THOUSAND POINTS OF LIFE STUDY.

SO THEY'RE FUNDRAISING FOR THAT EFFORT.

ON TOP OF THAT, THE SAVE OUR INDIAN RIVER LAGOON HALF CENT SALES TAX THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE SINCE 2016, BEEN DRAWING FUNDS SINCE 2017, THERE ARE 372 TOTAL PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED FOR THAT AS OF NOW, 114 SORT OF IN THE PIPELINE, 57 HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.

AND SO I WAS TALKING WITH ONE OF THE FOLKS THAT'S IN THIS COMMITTEE THAT OVERSEES THOSE FUNDS AND HOW THOSE PROJECTS ARE RELEGATED, OR DELEGATED, I SHOULD SAY, AND HE SAID THAT THEY'VE MADE GOOD PROGRESS IN WATER CLARITY, THAT WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THAT.

AND NOW IS REALLY THE POINT IN TIME WHEN WE CAN START TO HONE IN ON THE SEAGRASS ISSUE BECAUSE IF THE WATER IS NOT CLEAR ENOUGH, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO PHOTOSYNTHESIZE.

AND SO YOU CAN PLANT, BUT IF IT'S NOT GOING TO SELF-PROPAGATE, IT'S NOT DOING A WHOLE HECK OF A LOT OF GOOD.

SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE HAVING A MEETING OF SEAGRASS EXPERTS, GROWERS, THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN LATER IN THE YEAR, TO REALLY HAVE SORT OF A WHOLE OF GOVERNMENT APPROACH ON WHAT ARE THE BEST WAYS TO TACKLE THE SEAGRASS COMPONENT OF THIS ISSUE.

>>MAKES SENSE.

>>YEAH.

SO MORE HOLISTIC APPROACH, RIGHT?

>>MM-HMM (AFFIRMATIVE).

>>ERIK, THE GOVERNOR'S BLUE-GREEN ALGAE TASK FORCE HAS BEEN IN PLACE SINCE 2019.

THIS ISSUE IS NOT GOING AWAY EITHER.

>>NO.

>>AND IT'S INEXTRICABLY LINKED.

IS THERE ANY INDICATION THAT THAT'S HAVING MUCH SUCCESS, AND HAS THE LEGISLATURE DONE MUCH ON THIS ISSUE?

>>NO.

IN A WORD, NO.

>>SHORT ANSWER.

YEAH.

>>THE TASK FORCE, BASICALLY THEY NEED THE LEGISLATURE TO HELP THEM DO THEIR JOBS.

AND THE TASK FORCE RECENTLY WHEN THEY WERE POLLED, THEY GAVE LAWMAKERS A C GRADE WHEN IT COMES TO CREATING LEGISLATION TO HELP THEM DO THEIR JOBS.

YOU KNOW, ALMOST ON A DAILY BASIS, I THINK YOU CAN SEE THIS IN YOUR EMAIL CHAIN THAT YOU GET FROM FWC AND EVEN LOCAL COUNTY GOVERNMENTS YOU HAVE ALGAL BLOOM ALERTS, DO NOT SWIM IN THIS LAKE, DO NOT SWIM IN THIS RIVER.

>>SEE IT A LOT.

>>THE PROBLEM IS NOT GOING AWAY IN THE LEGISLATURE, THEY SAY NEEDS TO DO MORE.

>>BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I JUST WANTED TO ASK ERIK ABOUT ANOTHER OFFICE THAT WAS ESTABLISHED DURING GOVERNOR DESANTIS'S TENURE.

AND THAT'S THE STATEWIDE OFFICE OF RESILIENCE.

THE GOVERNOR SIGNED A BILL JUST LAST WEEK THAT OFFICIALLY ESTABLISHES THAT OFFICE, RIGHT?

>>ABSOLUTELY.

AND I WANTED TO DO SO MUCH MORE ON THIS.

>>YEAH.

>>BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY PROGRESSIVE THINKING.

AND DESANTIS FOR THE MOST PART ENVIRONMENTALLY, HE'S BEEN PRETTY GOOD FOR THE STATE, WITH THE EVERGLADES AND OTHER TOPICS.

BUT THIS IS BASICALLY ESTABLISHING A BRAND NEW POSITION, CHIEF RESILIENCY OFFICER FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

THIS OFFICER IS GOING TO BE TASKED WITH LOOKING AT THE ENTIRE STATE AND SEEING WHICH AREAS ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE DANGERS OF SEA LEVEL RISE.

AND THIS MIGHT NOT JUST BE COASTAL.

THIS COULD BE INLAND TOO, WHERE EVERYTHING IS PUSHED UP TO ST. JOHNS RIVER, FOR EXAMPLE.

ROADS, BRIDGES, ARE THEY GOING TO BE IMPACTED?

BASICALLY, THEY NEED TO DROP A LIST OF THE MOST THREATENED INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, PRESENT THAT TO THE LEGISLATURE, AND THEY'RE GOING TO PRIORITIZE WHICH PROJECTS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED FIRST.

>>YEAH.

IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO WATCH HOW THAT SORT OF UNFOLDS GOING FORWARD.

AND DON'T FORGET, YOU CAN JOIN THIS CONVERSATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE'RE AT WUCF TV ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND ALSO ON INSTAGRAM AS WELL.

ALL RIGHT, NEXT TONIGHT, THE SOLAR INDUSTRY RECENTLY SCORED A BIG WIN AFTER GOVERNOR DESANTIS VETOED THE SO-CALLED NET METERING BILL.

THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION WAS BACKED BY UTILITY GIANT FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT AND WOULD'VE ALLOWED UTILITY COMPANIES TO HIKE FEES ON ROOFTOP SOLAR CUSTOMERS.

>>NET METERING IS A SYSTEM THAT LETS CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE ROOFTOP SOLAR PANELS SELL THEIR EXCESS ENERGY BACK TO THE GRID.

SUPPORTERS OF THE BILL, VETOED BY THE GOVERNOR, SAY THE NET METERING FORMULA NEEDS CHANGING BECAUSE THEY CLAIM SOLAR CUSTOMERS ARE EFFECTIVELY BEING SUBSIDIZED BY OTHER ENERGY CONSUMERS.

THE ARGUMENT GOES THAT SOLAR CUSTOMERS WHO GET GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES ARE STILL CONNECTED TO THE GRID SO THEY CAN SELL THE EXTRA ELECTRICITY THEY DON'T USE AT RETAIL PRICE WHILE UTILITIES AND BY EXTENSION THEIR NON-SOLAR CUSTOMERS ARE THE ONES WHO PAY FOR WHATEVER EXCESS THERE IS AND FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THAT GRID INFRASTRUCTURE.

BUT OPPONENTS OF THE BILL SAY ROOFTOP SOLAR OWNERS IN FLORIDA ALREADY HAVE TO PAY A MINIMUM $25 A MONTH TO PAY FOR THE UTILITIES FIXED COSTS.

AND THEY SAY THE NET METERING BILL WOULD'VE SEVERELY DAMAGED THE ROOFTOP SOLAR INDUSTRY AT A TIME OF SPIRALING ENERGY COSTS.

>>THE FIRST STEP THAT FLORIDA NEEDS TO CONSIDER IS WHERE DO WE WANT TO BE WHEN WE GROW UP IN TERMS OF FIVE, 10, 15, 20-YEAR ENERGY POLICY PLANNING, RIGHT?

WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE FLORIDA ENERGY MARKET AT A MORE HOLISTIC LEVEL AND SAY WHERE DOES FLORIDA WANT TO BE IN 2030, 2035, ET CETERA?

AND HOW DOES ROOFTOP SOLAR FIT INTO THAT?

AND HOW DOES PUBLIC POLICY PLAY A ROLE IN TERMS OF ACHIEVING THOSE GOALS?

>>IN DECEMBER, FLORIDA'S PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION ALLOWED UTILITIES TO INCREASE ELECTRICITY BILLS IN RESPONSE TO THE RISING COST OF ENERGY.

AND THOSE BILLS ARE LIKELY TO RISE AGAIN.

GOVERNOR DESANTIS CITED RISING COST TO CONSUMERS IN VETOING THE BILL, WHICH PASSED THE LEGISLATURE EASILY.

IN A LETTER EXPLAINING THE VETO, HE WROTE, "HB 741 AUTHORIZES PUBLIC UTILITIES TO IMPOSE ADDITIONAL CHARGES, TO RECOVER LOST REVENUES RESULTING FROM RESIDENTIAL SOLAR GENERATION THAT EXCEEDS THE PUBLIC UTILITIES ESTIMATE.

THE AMOUNT THAT MAY BE RECOVERED UNDER THIS PROVISION IS SPECULATIVE AND WILL BE BORN BY ALL CUSTOMERS.

GIVEN THAT THE UNITED STATES IS EXPERIENCING ITS WORST INFLATION IN 40 YEARS AND THAT CONSUMERS HAVE SEEN STEEP INCREASES IN THE PRICE OF GAS AND GROCERIES AS WELL AS ESCALATING BILLS, THE STATE OF FLORIDA SHOULD NOT CONTRIBUTE TO THE FINANCIAL CRUNCH THAT OUR CITIZENS ARE EXPERIENCING."

>>ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN BREAK THIS DOWN, ERIK.

PROPONENTS OF ELIMINATING THE NET METERING CREDIT SAY THIS IS A MATTER OF FAIRNESS, RIGHT?

THE OPPONENTS SAY THIS BILL WOULD'VE BENEFITED UTILITIES OVER CONSUMERS.

CAN WE SAY WHO'S RIGHT?

>>DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ASK.

RIGHT?

LITERALLY.

>>THAT'S THE JOURNALIST ANSWER, YEAH.

>>YOU KNOW, SOLAR CUSTOMERS BASICALLY SAID ONE OF THE PERKS, PART OF THE REASON THAT WE GOT OUR SOLAR PANELS WAS TO HAVE OUR LOWER ELECTRIC BILLS.

I MEAN, YES, IT WAS GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT THEY COULD SELL BACK THEIR EXCESS POWER TO THE POWER COMPANIES.

AND UNDER THE TERMS OF THIS BILL, IF IT WAS SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR, THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY BE QUASHED TO A WHOLESALE RATE.

SO I UNDERSTAND THE SOLAR CUSTOMERS AND TO A CERTAIN EXTENT I UNDERSTAND THE UTILITY COMPANIES.

BUT THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS NO.

>>WE CAN'T REALLY DETERMINE, NO.

>>WE CAN'T REALLY, NO.

>>I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF NUMBERS TO CRUNCH ON IT.

>>WILL, THE AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER, NIKKI FRIED, RECENTLY OUTLINED RENEWABLE GOALS FOR FLORIDA.

ONE OF THE ONES THAT STUCK OUT TO ME IS THAT PART OF HER GOAL IS TO COMPLETELY ELIMINATE RELIANCE ON FOSSIL FUELS BY 2050.

I MEAN, A LOT OF PEOPLE I'VE SPOKE TO SORT OF SAY THAT'S COMPLETELY OUT OF BOUNDS IN TERMS OF ACHIEVABILITY.

IS FLORIDA'S UPTAKE OF SOLAR REALLY LIKELY TO BE ANYWHERE NEAR ENOUGH TO MEET THOSE GOALS?

>>IF YOU LOOK AT IT TODAY, NO.

>>YEAH.

>>BUT I THINK THE GOAL IS TO REALLY TRY TO RAMP IT UP THROUGH BOTH TRADITIONAL ROOFTOP SOLAR AS WELL AS SOME OTHER INNOVATIVE MEASURES BECAUSE THERE ARE EVOLVING TECHNOLOGIES IN WAYS THAT YOU CAN INTEGRATE SOLAR THERMAL ENERGY INTO EVERYDAY OBJECTS, WHETHER THAT'S WEARABLES, SIDEWALKS, DRIVEWAYS.

SO I THINK THERE ARE SOME CREATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT THE STATE CAN APPROACH WITH THIS IF THEY WANT TO HAVE SOLAR BE SORT OF THE MAIN DRIVER OF IT.

>>BUT RIGHT NOW, IT'S ABOUT 5% OF FLORIDA'S OVERALL ENERGY IS COMING FROM RENEWABLES RIGHT NOW.

SO IT'S A LARGE WAY THAT THEY HAVE TO GO.

THAT FIRST BENCHMARK THEY'RE TRYING TO REACH IS ABOUT 40% BY THE FIRST SEVEN YEARS.

>>YEAH.

>>AND THEN 82% BY 2040.

TRYING TO RECYCLE BY 2050 IS AMBITIOUS, BUT IT'LL REALLY DEPEND ON THAT ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY FROM NIKKI FRIED'S POSITION IS NOT WITHIN HER OFFICE.

THAT'S WITHIN A DIFFERENT ORGANIZATION ALTOGETHER.

SO YOU GOT TO HAVE SOME COOPERATION ACROSS THE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.

>>WE'RE THE SUNSHINE STATE TOO DON'T FORGET.

>>RIGHT.

>>THAT'S RIGHT.

>>SO IT'S OUR BREAD AND BUTTER.

>>YEAH, EXACTLY.

>>AND CERTAINLY YOU WOULD TAKE A BIG PORTFOLIO SHIFT BY THE UTILITIES IN ORDER TO SWITCH OUT OR TO ACHIEVE A GOAL LIKE THAT.

I MEAN, ERIK, THIS BILL IT DID HAVE SUPPORTERS FROM BOTH PARTIES, RIGHT?

I MEAN, IT PASSED THE LEGISLATURE PRETTY EASILY.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT'S ROLE IN PUSHING THIS LEGISLATION?

I MEAN, THEY'RE A BIG FORCE IN TALLAHASSEE, RIGHT?

>>THEY WERE A BIG FORCE BEHIND THIS BILL ESPECIALLY.

>>YEAH.

>>YOU KNOW, THERE WERE SOME REPORTS THAT THEY LITERALLY AUTHORED THIS BILL FOR A LEGISLATOR TO SUBMIT IT IN TALLAHASSEE.

AND OF COURSE, IN COMMITTEES IN BOTH HOUSES IT WAS FINESSED A LITTLE BIT.

YOU KNOW, THE TIER STRUCTURE OF NET METERING WAS PLAYED WITH A LITTLE BIT.

BUT THEY ARE STILL STANDING BY.

AFTER THE GOVERNOR VETOED IT, THEY STILL STOOD BY THE FACT THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE HARMED BY MORE SOLAR CUSTOMERS.

SO I DON'T THINK YOU'VE HEARD THE LAST FROM FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT ON THIS.

>>IT'S VERY INTERESTING THAT THE GOVERNOR VETOED THAT BILL AFTER IT RECEIVED SORT OF WHAT COULD BE CALLED BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN THE LEGISLATURE.

WILL, IF YOU COULD JUST GET YOUR CRYSTAL BALL OUT FROM UNDER THE DESK HERE, I JUST WANTED TO FIND OUT WHETHER YOU THINK THIS IS LIKELY TO BE THE END OF THE MATTER.

I MEAN, WE SEE THE UTILITIES AND THEIR SUPPORTERS CONTINUE TO SAY THEY'RE GOING TO PUSH FOR CHANGE TO NET METERING.

>>WELL, I THINK THAT'S THE ANSWER RIGHT THERE, THAT IT'S GOING TO BE AN ONGOING DISCUSSION.

AND YOU HAVE FOLKS LIKE LISA EDGAR, WHO IS WITH THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, WHO SAYS THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS CONVERSATION CONTINUE AND THAT THERE ARE POTENTIAL BENEFITS FROM THIS.

SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE AN EVOLVING CONVERSATION.

I CERTAINLY DON'T THINK WE'VE HEARD THE LAST OF THIS BY ANY MEANS.

>>ABSOLUTELY NOT.

>>PROBABLY NOT.

>>YEAH.

>>WELL, YOU CAN FIND A LINK TO THE NET METERING BILL VETOED BY THE GOVERNOR ON OUR WEBSITE.

AND YOU CAN ALSO FIND MY FULL INTERVIEW WITH JUSTIN VANDENBROECK FROM THE FLORIDA SOLAR INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION.

IT'S ALL AT WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

>>OKAY, FINALLY TONIGHT, CAMPAIGNERS AGAINST A TOLL ROAD THROUGH THE SPLIT OAK FOREST SAY THEY PLAN TO FIGHT ON AFTER A STATE BOARD VOTED TO APPROVE THE EXTENSION TO THE OSCEOLA PARKWAY.

WELL, NEWSNIGHT'S KRYSTEL KNOWLES HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THIS STORY TOO.

SHE'S BEEN BUSY THIS WEEK.

AND EARLIER I SPOKE TO KRYSTEL WHILE SHE VISITED SPLIT OAK.

>>THE PROPERTY IS ABOUT 1,600 ACRES AND IS HOME TO ENDANGERED SPECIES, INCLUDING FOX SQUIRRELS, SANDHILL CRANES, AND MORE.

PEOPLE COME HERE TO HIKE, TO FISH, TO BIRD WATCH, AND TO ENJOY THE NATURE.

SINCE THE 90S, IT IS COVERED IN PART BY THREE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, TWO HELD BY FWC AND ONE HELD BY SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.

IT IS ALSO COVERED ENTIRELY BY DEED RESTRICTIONS HELD BY THE FLORIDA COMMUNITIES TRUST.

THIS WAS SET ASIDE FOR CONSERVATION EFFORTS.

THE PROGRAM WAS FUNDED SEVERAL DECADES AGO BY FEES PAID BY DEVELOPERS WHEN THEY ENDED UP DESTROYING SOME PLACES WHERE ENDANGERED SPECIES USED AS HABITATS.

>>KRYSTEL, GIVE US THE BACKSTORY ON THE PLANS FOR THIS TOLL ROAD EXTENSION THROUGH SPLIT OAK?

>>YEAH, STEVE.

SO IN 2019, ORANGE COUNTY MAYOR DEMINGS AND FOUR OTHER COMMISSIONERS APPROVED A $800 MILLION TOLL EXTENSION.

THEN DESPITE A 2020 VOTE BY ORANGE COUNTY RESIDENTS OPPOSING THE TOLL ROAD BY AN 86% MARGIN, THE CENTRAL FLORIDA EXPRESSWAY AUTHORITY'S PLANNING ON EXTENDING THE OSCEOLA PARKWAY THROUGH SPLIT OAK.

>>FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING.

>>AND LAST MONTH, THE STATE AGENCY, THE FLORIDA COMMUNITIES TRUST BOARD VOTED FOUR TO ZERO TO HAND OUT A PERMIT FOR THE PROJECT, BUT CONDITIONED AN ORANGE AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES PROVIDING AN ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT.

THE ORLANDO SENTINEL REPORTS THAT OSCEOLA COUNTY IS LEADING THE ASSESSMENT AND PUTTING TOGETHER A PLAN FOR HOW THE FOREST WILL BE CARED FOR.

AS PART OF THE STATE APPROVAL, THE DEVELOPER IS DONATING ABOUT 1,500 ACRES OF CONSERVATION LAND TO BOTH COUNTIES.

>>SO HOW IS THIS DEVELOPMENT BEING RECEIVED BY ENVIRONMENTAL CAMPAIGNERS?

>>IT'S NOT BEING WELL RECEIVED AS OF RIGHT NOW.

SO FRIENDS OF SPLIT OAK, THAT STARTED AN EFFORT TO SAVE THIS LAND, VALERIE ANDERSON SAYS IF THE DEVELOPERS ARE ABLE TO USE THIS LOOPHOLE TO BUILD THE TOLL ROAD, IT WOULD CREATE A RIPPLE EFFECT AND BE THE BLUEPRINT FOR DEVELOPERS TO BE ABLE TO BUILD ON SITES THAT HAVE ENDANGERED SPECIES AND HAVE WILDLIFE PROTECTIONS.

>>ALL OF THE PROTECTIONS AVAILABLE TO CONSERVATION LAND IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA ARE AFFORDED TO SPLIT OAK FOREST.

YOU LOOK AT SOME OTHER CONSERVATION LAND, IT'S LESS PROTECTED.

THE CHANCE IS IT'S MUCH LESS PROTECTED THAN SPLIT OAK.

AND I JUST THOUGHT THEY CAN'T DO THAT.

THEY'RE GOING TO SEE THOSE, AND THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, "YEAH, WE'RE JUST GOING TO GO AROUND."

THEY CAN'T DO THAT.

AND I WENT TO THAT MEETING AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE PLANNING ON DOING.

>>YEAH.

AND WHAT ABOUT THE POSITION OF ORANGE COUNTY MAYOR JERRY DEMINGS?

WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD FROM HIS OFFICE?

>>I REACHED OUT TO HIS OFFICE A COUPLE OF TIMES THROUGHOUT THE WEEKS, BUT THEY SAID RIGHT NOW HE'S UNABLE TO HAVE MEETINGS WITH US BUT HE IS CURRENTLY MONITORING THAT SITUATION.

HIS OFFICE ALSO TOLD US THAT THE PROPOSED OSCEOLA PARKWAY EXTENSION ONLY IMPACTS THE OSCEOLA COUNTY PORTION OF SPLIT OAK, AND HIS SPOKESPERSON HIGHLIGHTED THE CONSERVATION LAND THE COUNTY WOULD RECEIVE.

>>I WAS ABLE TO GET IN CONTACT WITH COMMISSIONER NICOLE WILSON, WHO OPPOSES THE TOLL ROAD, AND SAYS SHE WAS TRYING TO HAVE A SIT-DOWN MEETING WITH THE MAYOR, BUT WAS UNABLE TO.

NOW, SHE WANTS TO POINT OUT IF THEY ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS, THEY SHOULD BE FOLLOWING WHAT THEIR RESIDENTS SAY.

AND IN THIS CASE, MOST OF THEM DO NOT WANT THE TOLL ROAD.

>>I THINK HE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT A REFERENDUM THAT WAS PASSED BY THE VOTERS OF ORANGE COUNTY.

YOU KNOW, HE ASKED LAST WEEK FOR US TO APPROVE THE TRANSPORTATION SALES TAX TO GO ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER.

AND I ASKED, "HOW CAN WE ASK THE PUBLIC TO TRUST US WHEN WE HAVEN'T ENFORCED THINGS THAT WE'VE ALREADY PASSED IN THIS COUNTY?"

>>FRIENDS OF SPLIT OAK SAYS THEY ARE NOT GOING DOWN AND OUT WITHOUT A FIGHT.

THEY HAVE ABOUT FIVE ATTORNEYS ON STANDBY AND THEY SAY THE NEXT STEP IS TO SUE.

>>KRYSTEL KNOWLES THERE.

ERIK, THIS IS A REALLY COMPLICATED ISSUE, RIGHT?

>>YEAH, IT IS.

>>I MEAN, YOU AND I WERE JUST SORT OF TALKING ABOUT IT OFF CAMERA AND TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT EXACTLY.

LET'S JUST BACKTRACK A LITTLE BIT AND TALK ABOUT HOW THIS FOREST IS MANAGED NOW AND THE HISTORY BEHIND IT.

>>SO IF YOU KNOW THE AREA, WHICH IS RIGHT OFF NARCOOSSEE ROAD, SOUTH OF 417, THAT AREA'S JUST EXPLODED WITH HOUSING, WITH NEW DEVELOPMENT.

>>SO IT WAS PART OF THAT LAKE NONA AREA, RIGHT?

>>ABSOLUTELY.

EXACTLY.

AND THIS AREA WAS BASICALLY SET ASIDE AS A MITIGATION CONSERVATION AREA TO MAKE UP FOR THAT EXPLOSION OF GROWTH.

>>YEAH.

>>IT'S, AS KRYSTEL JUST SAID, IT'S BASICALLY OWNED BY ORANGE AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, BUT IT'S MANAGED BY FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE.

SO THAT'S THE STATUS.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL AREA THOUGH.

>>AND THERE'S MULTIPLE AGENCIES INVOLVED.

I MEAN, THE TOLL ROAD IS GOING TO BE PART OF THE EXPRESSWAY SYSTEM.

BUT THIS IS KIND OF WHERE IT GETS TRICKY.

I MEAN, IT'S SUBSIDIZED BY ONE OF THE BIGGEST DEVELOPERS IN FLORIDA.

>>TAVISTOCK.

>>THIS IS THE TAVISTOCK GROUP, WHICH IS BUILDING A HUGE NUMBER OF HOUSES NEARBY.

WHAT MORE DO WE KNOW ABOUT THAT PROJECT?

>>WELL, THE PROJECT'S GOING TO BE BIG.

AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE CONCERN AMONG THE CONSERVATIONISTS BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING THOUSANDS OF HOMES GOING INTO THIS AREA.

AND THEY CLAIM THAT THIS EXPRESSWAY EXTENSION IS NEEDED TO ACCOMMODATE FOR THAT MASSIVE GROWTH IN THAT AREA OF ORANGE COUNTY.

BUT AGAIN, AS KRYSTEL SAID, THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT WHO IS SAYING YES TO THIS PROJECT BECAUSE OF THE POLITICAL CONNECTIONS TAVISTOCK HAS.

>>AND OF COURSE, THIS IS BEING BUILT ON DESERET RANCHES LAND, RIGHT?

WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY THE MORMON CHURCH, WHICH IS THE BIGGEST LANDOWNER I THINK IN FLORIDA.

>>ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND THE CENTRAL FLORIDA EXPRESSWAY ACTUALLY MET ON THURSDAY OF THIS WEEK.

AND CONSERVATIONISTS BEEN PUSHING FOR SOME KIND OF LEEWAY, SOME KIND OF RAY OF HOPE IN THEIR FIGHT.

AND OUR REPORTERS AT WKMG ARE TELLING US THAT THEY SORT OF GOT THAT ON THURSDAY.

CENTRAL FLORIDA EXPRESSWAY ACCEPTED THE DONATION OF 1,550 ACRES OF LAND IN THAT AREA AS A CONSERVATION AREA.

TAVISTOCK DONATING THAT LAND TO SORT OF MAKE UP FOR THE LAND THAT WOULD BE TAKING OVER BY THIS EXPRESSWAY EXTENSION.

AND THEN THE CENTRAL FLORIDA EXPRESSWAY WOULD MANAGE THAT ACREAGE FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS.

SO THE CONSERVATIONISTS SAID AT LEAST WE GOT SOMETHING.

>>AND WHEN I LISTENED TO THE COMMUNITIES TRUST BOARD MEETING, THEY BASICALLY SAID THAT DONATION OF LAND IS GOING TO HELP US TAKE A POSITIVE VIEW OF THIS PROJECT OVERALL.

I MEAN, WITHOUT LOCAL SUPPORT FROM ORANGE, OSCEOLA COUNTY, I MEAN, THESE FLAT OUT ACTIVISTS HAVE GONE TO THE STATE AND THE FLORIDA COMMUNITIES TRUST VOTED, AS WE HEARD, FOUR TO ZERO.

YOU KNOW, WHAT MORE DO WE KNOW ABOUT THAT MEETING?

AND I MEAN, IT SEEMED THAT IT WASN'T EVEN UP FOR DISCUSSION.

>>AND THAT'S WHAT'S SORT OF SHOCKING TO ME AS A RESIDENT, THAT HEY DIDN'T HEAR.

AND OF COURSE, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS BEHIND THE SCENES.

YOU KNOW?

>>YEAH.

>>BUT THE SCOPE AND WHAT IT APPEARED TO LOOK LIKE SAID THEY HEARD THEM.

BUT THEY STILL SAID THAT THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE EXCEPTIONS IN THE LAW AND APPROVE THIS.

AND TO YOUR POINT, I THINK THAT'S WHY SOME OF THE CONSERVATIONISTS WERE REALLY DISAPPOINTED BY THIS.

>>WILL, I DON'T KNOW WHY I KEEP ASKING YOU TO GET YOUR CRYSTAL BALL OUT.

BUT I'M WONDERING... >>I REALLY GOT TO STOP PUTTING THAT THING AWAY.

>>I KNOW.

THAT'S RIGHT.

>>SO IT SHOULD HAVE A RESIDENCY IN THE DESK.

>>I'M WONDERING IF WE CAN SAY WITH ANY CERTAINTY WHERE WE GO FROM HERE.

I MEAN, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE SORT OF INEXORABLY ON A PATH TO HAVING THIS EXTENSION GO THROUGH SPLIT OAK.

>>WELL, SORT OF IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE, OSCEOLA COUNTY'S GOING TO BE DOING AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT.

>>YEAH.

>>BECAUSE AS YOU MENTIONED, THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF IMPACT FROM THE CLOSE-BY DEVELOPMENT AND JUST WITH THIS NEW ROAD.

SO THAT PROCESS IS GOING TO TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS TO CONDUCT.

OUR REPORTING PARTNERS AT THE ORLANDO SENTINEL TALKED TO MARK PINO, THE COUNTY SPOKESPERSON, WHO SAID THAT THIS IS NOT A SHORT PROCESS BY ANY MEANS AND A LOT OF IT'S GOING TO START WITH GETTING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE FLORIDA COMMUNITIES TRUST WANTS OUT OF THIS.

>>YEAH.

SHOUT OUT TO KEVIN SPEAR AS WELL AT THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, WHO'S DONE A LOT OF IMPORTANT... >>GREAT REPORTING.

>>IMPORTANT REPORTING ON THIS ISSUE.

>>WELL, THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS WEEK I'M AFRAID.

MY THANKS TO ERIK SANDOVAL FROM WKMG CHANNEL 6 AND ALSO WILL ROBINSON-SMITH, FANTASTIC DEBUT, FROM SPECTRUM NEWS 13.

>>GOOD JOB.

>>THANK YOU.

YOU TOO.

>>WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 8:30 HERE ON WUCF.

FROM ALL OF US HERE AT NEWSNIGHT, TAKE CARE.