The Florida Specifier Editorial Board is back, with Brett Cyphers, Ryan Matthews, Patrick Gillespie, and Jeff Littlejohn taking a look at the issues shaping Florida’s environmental and policy landscape as the state heads into a major election year.

The conversation starts with Florida’s race for governor and what a new administration could mean for environmental priorities. The board digs into water quality and supply, Everglades restoration, growth and development, property taxes, environmental grant funding, and an important question that goes beyond campaign platforms: how could a change in leadership affect the way Florida’s environmental policies are actually implemented?

From there, the team turns to the latest edition of the Florida Specifier, including continued coverage of the Clean Water Act and Florida’s Section 404 permitting program, new survey data examining Floridians’ views on invasive pythons, ongoing efforts to restore Apalachicola River and Bay, and an innovative proposal to create a connected network of artificial reefs along Florida’s coast.

The episode also looks ahead to what’s coming from Specifier Media, including conversations recorded at Environmental Permitting Summer School and plans for a new multi-part podcast series exploring data centers in Florida—from water and power demands to land use, taxes, public policy, and the questions communities may soon be facing as the industry expands.

With environmental policy, permitting, politics, and a few unexpected topics mixed in, this episode gives listeners plenty to think about—and a preview of several conversations still to come.

To read the Specifier online (where we hope you’ll subscribe if you haven’t already), go here: https://floridaspecifier.com

To get the word out about how you’re making waves (pun intended) in Florida’s environmental world, make sure you reach out to Brett, Ryan, or Jamie at:

brett@floridaspecifier.com

ryan@floridaenet.com

jamie@floridaenet.com

A huge thank you goes out to Bagels and Biscuits for giving permission to use their music for the podcast.

This episode is a production of The Florida Specifier. Audio production and editing is by Karl Sorne and Dave Barfield at Lonely Fox Studios.

A special shout out goes to our very own Jamie Sheehan, Tracy Kistler and Meg Quap Holley for keeping us organized and moving forward.