Please leave this field empty
Donate Monthly Make a Gift Renew Your Membership Ways to Give
Food & Water Watch Food & Water Watch Food & Water Watch
  • About
  • Problems
  • Campaigns
  • Impacts
  • Research
  • Contact
Donate Monthly Make a Gift Renew Your Membership Ways to Give
  • facebook
  • twitter
Please leave this field empty
Food & Water Watch Food & Water Watch
$
Menu
  • About
  • News
  • Research Library
  • Contact
  • Careers
  • Donate
Search
Please leave this field empty
  • facebook
  • twitter

Florida Is Ready To Ban Fracking: We’ll Prove It

In one southern state Republicans are leading the way towards a fracking ban

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • google-plus
  • envelope

We all need safe food and clean water.

Donate
Ban Fracking protestors
05.31.17

The fight to ban fracking in Florida is more than just an effort to preserve the especially vulnerable environment in the state. Florida’s economy thrives because of a robust tourism industry that is largely dependent on outdoor activities, most of them involving our precious water. Florida’s gorgeous beaches, it’s vacation destinations (like Orlando’s theme parks), and the extensive springs networks across Northern Florida are all now threatened by water-damaging industries like offshore drilling, massive new pipelines, and fracking oil rigs. It’s not just the quality of our air and water at risk. Or our health as Florida residents. It’s Florida’s reputation as the timeless paradise that millions dream about visiting from around the world.  

Food & Water Watch has been building a movement against fracking and the oil industry alongside local activists, community leaders and residents that form the core of the Floridians Against Fracking coalition. We all came together to fight off the ubiquitous and insatiable energy industry. There is much more at stake in Florida than just local and community level fights; we need statewide action and solidarity in order to protect ourselves from dangerous threats that would have negative impacts for generations.

 

 

In 2013, after the discovery of unpermitted unconventional fracking operations by a Texas-based oil company in Collier County, the battle for a fracking ban lit up across the state.  Since then, the anti-fracking movement has successfully mobilized four years worth of massive resistance against new fracking operations in the Everglades and the panhandle.

To date, 90 counties and cities had passed ordinances or resolutions in opposition to fracking in the state ( communities representing almost 75% of Florida residents). After three years of beating back pro-fracking legislation, this legislative session became the first where a bill to ban fracking was introduced with bipartisan support.  By the end of session, over 150 businesses had also come forward in support of the ban.

Though the bill did not pass this year, it had almost 50 cosponsors, including powerful Republican leaders, in both chambers. Half the state senate members supported the ban bill until it stalled amidst wide ranging tension over other issues in the Florida legislature, including a bill that seeks to clean up the Everglades from massive discharges that periodically pollute the region.

                                           

Like a good Hollywood plot story line, the fracking industry tested our mettle and struck back at the end of session with yet another costly, environmentally harmful, corporate giveaway of a bill.  Not only did the bill call for investing in fracking in Oklahoma, it also allowed energy utility companies to charge Florida customers for speculative out-of-state investments like the Oklahoma venture. Even though the risky plan had been ruled unconstitutional before and had already lost customers millions of dollars in years past, the oil industry tried to sneak it through once again. Anti-fracking advocates and good government watchdog organizations all united to oppose this special interest bill and won.

Although House Speaker Richard Corcoran stood up to the energy special interest cabal by killing the egregious pro-fracking bill, he failed to push the Florida fracking ban in his chamber. We need to change that. With another six months until next session, we expect his leadership, and others in the House chamber, to lead the fight to ban fracking next year.  While the concept of republicans leading the way towards a fracking ban in a southern state like Florida may sound like a pie in the sky dream, it’s become abundantly clear now that a ban in possible.

In fact, all eyes are on fracking right now, especially as an opposition to the offshore drilling in Florida steadily increases. Amidst a new federal plan to open up the Florida coast to drilling, and potential Deepwater Horizon-like disasters, we know onshore drilling will continue being deeply opposed as well. Meanwhile two drilling permits, in Calhoun and Collier county, that could easily turn into fracking operations, are already being sought this year. 

 

Fracking Rally Florida

But let’s remember the most crucial part: Florida’s groundwater is the drinking water source for 90 percent of Florida residents and a key part of our tourism and agricultural-based economy. Potable aquifers lie under over 85% of the state and Floridians pump over 3 billion gallons per day from our aquifers. Our fight for a fracking ban is only more important and more urgent than ever. We’re coming back next session with a stronger and larger anti-fracking movement and we will pass a ban on fracking in Florida!

Follow Our Florida Facebook Page!

 

Related Links

  • How One Activist is Fighting to Get Florida Off Fossil Fuels
  • Fracking ban in Florida gets early Senate support
Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly version

Monsanto's Roundup is a "probable human carcinogen." We need to ban it!

Get the latest on your food and water with news, research and urgent actions.

Please leave this field empty

Latest News

  • BLUE COMMUNITIES: Learn What They Are And Get Started

    BLUE COMMUNITIES: Learn What They Are And Get Started

  • Tom Vilsack’s Cozy Relationship With Big Ag Makes Him A Non-Starter at USDA

    Tom Vilsack’s Cozy Relationship With Big Ag Makes Him A Non-Starter at USDA

  • Trump’s Out, Biden’s In! Now The Fight Of Our Lives On Climate Begins.

    Trump’s Out, Biden’s In! Now The Fight Of Our Lives On Climate Begins.

See More News & Opinions

For Media: See our latest press releases and statements

Food & Water Insights

Looking for more insights and our latest research?

Visit our policy & research library
  • Eversource’s Plan to Privatize New Hartford’s Water

  • The Urgent Case for a Moratorium on Mega-Dairies in New Mexico

  • Fracking, Power Plants and Exports: Three Steps for Meaningful Climate Action

Fracking activist with stickersFracking activist in hatLegal team loves family farmsFood & Water Watch organizer protecting your food

Work locally, make a difference.

Get active in your community.

Food & Water Impact

  • Victories
  • Stories
  • Facts
  • Trump, Here's a Better Use for $25 Billion

  • Here's How We're Going to Build the Clean Energy Revolution

  • How a California Activist Learned to Think Locally

Keep drinking water safe and affordable for everyone.

Take Action
food & water watch logo
en Español

Food & Water Watch mobilizes regular people to build political power to move bold & uncompromised solutions to the most pressing food, water, and climate problems of our time. We work to protect people’s health, communities, and democracy from the growing destructive power of the most powerful economic interests.

Food & Water Watch is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

Food & Water Action is a 501(c)4 organization.

Food & Water Watch Headquarters

1616 P Street, NW,
Washington, DC 20036

Main: 202.683.2500

Contact your regional office.

Work with us: See all job openings

  • Problems
    • Broken Democracy
    • Climate Change & Environment
    • Corporate Control of Food
    • Corporate Control of Water
    • Factory Farming & Food Safety
    • Fracking
    • GMOs
    • Global Trade
    • Pollution Trading
  • Solutions
    • Advocate Fair Policies
    • Legal Action
    • Organizing for Change
    • Research & Policy Analysis
  • Our Impact
    • Facts
    • Stories
    • Victories
  • Take Action
    • Get Active Where You Live
    • Organizing Tools
    • Find an Event
    • Volunteer with Us
    • Live Healthy
    • Donate
  • Give
    • Give Now
    • Give Monthly
    • Give a Gift Membership
    • Membership Options
    • Fundraise
    • Workplace Giving
    • Planned Giving
    • Other Ways to Give
  • About
  • News
  • Research Library
  • Contact
  • Careers
  • Donate
Learn more about Food & Water Action www.foodandwateraction.org.
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • 2021 © Food & Water Watch
  • www.foodandwaterwatch.org
  • Terms of Service
  • Data Usage Policy