Aug. 3, 2011 FPL gets green light for wind towers in western St. Lucie County Florida Power & Light can build meteorological towers to test wind speeds in western St. Lucie County. So can anyone else choosing to do so as long as the towers are not more than 262 feet high and meet other standards set by the county. Whether the winds justify the creation of turbines will be a topic for another day. TCPalm.com
July 27, 2011 Conservationists say county’s cost-cutting plan to may be costly in the long run A proposed county cost-cutting measure to save $191,000 by temporarily closing 11 nature preserves for up to three years has some conservationists wondering if the move would cost more than it saves. Scripps St. Lucie News-Tribune
Florida gopher tortoises to be considered for federal safeguards The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Tuesday that Florida gopher tortoises are being placed on a list of species to be considered for Endangered Species Act protection. TCPalm.com
Three people treated after exposure to rabies infected feral cat in St.
Lucie County Three people are undergoing rabies post exposure treatment
after a feral cat found in the 3100 block of South U.S. 1 tested positive
for rabies. This is the third rabid animal reported in St. Lucie County this
year. TCPalm.com
July 22, 2011 Editorial: Leave our state parks alone First came the idea to construct a golf course in several state parks, including Jonathan Dickinson State Park in south Martin County. TCPalm.com
July 20, 2011 Proposed closure of 11 of St. Lucie's nature preserves concerns conservationists A proposed county cost-cutting measure to save $191,000 by temporarily closing 11 nature preserves, including trails in Lakewood Regional Park, for up to three years has some conservationists wondering if the move would cost more than it saves. TCPalm.com
July 6, 2011 FPL's proposed wind towers unopposed at St. Lucie County Commission hearing Florida Power & Light Co.'s request to raise meteorological towers to monitor and measure wind speeds in western St. Lucie County breezed through an initial public hearing before the St. Lucie County Commission without public comment or objection Tuesday night. TCPalm.com (past stories on turbine plans)
July 4, 2011 Numbers up as sea turtle nesting season on Treasure Coast nears peak Local sea turtle experts are optimistic that an "upward tick" in nest numbers last year will become an "upward trend" this year. TCPalm.com
June 9, 2011 Rare beaked whale carcass found on Fort Pierce beach The body of a beaked whale found stranded Thursday morning on a South Hutchinson Island beach is expected to provide valuable information about the rare and evasive species. TCPalm.com
May 20, 2011 Letter: We did a good turn for precious creatures with Endangered Species Act On May 20, America will celebrate endangered species success stories, including the recovery of our nation's symbol, the American Bald Eagle. The U.S. Senate has unanimously proclaimed "Endangered Species Day," providing for the first-ever national celebration of America's commitment to protecting our wildlife heritage. TCPalm.com
May 12, 2011 28 Fla. species among 251 considered for endangered species list in deal A partial truce between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and two environmental groups requires the agency to decide within six years whether 251 imperiled species, including 28 plants and animals in Florida, belong on the endangered species list. TCPalm.com
May 3, 2011 St. Lucie County Commission delays hearing on FPL wind towers County commissioners pushed back a public hearing to discuss Florida Power & Light Co.'s request to gather wind data in western St. Lucie County. TCPalm.com (past stories on turbine plans)
Apr. 29. 2011 FPL wind towers in western St. Lucie County not creating controversy like turbine proposal Florida Power & Light Co.'s latest efforts to generate wind power in St. Lucie County should meet far less resistance than the company's controversial attempt to put turbines on Hutchinson Island. TCPalm.com (past stories on turbine plans)
Mar. 11, 2011 FPL wants to test the wind in western St. Lucie County Florida Power & Light Co. is exploring whether there is enough wind to justify building turbines in western St. Lucie County. TCPalm.com (past stories on turbine plans)
Jan. 20, 2011 Treasure Coast bird count shows decline of species unable to adapt to urbanization. An annual study that gives scientists a report card on environmental health was completed earlier this month by volunteers who count birds in the Treasure Coast (Ran in News 1/20, TCPalm.com dates it 1/13/11)
Jan. 7, 2011 Land developer Billy Buzzett to oversee Fla.'s growth management agency Gov. Rick Scott has appointed an executive of one of Florida's largest land development companies to oversee the state department charged with managing growth.
Oct. 28, 2010 FPL still looking at western St. Lucie for possible wind-power project Florida Power & Light is pursuing testing for a possible wind-power project on citrus land in western St. Lucie County while keeping its option open for a Hutchinson Island wind farm. TCPalm.com (For background on this story, see our turbines news page.)
Wood storks rebound, reigniting battle over loosening level of protection The endangered wood stork — the pterodactyl-like bird that faced extinction in the 1980s, has made a comeback. It graces the Everglades in rising numbers, and today often alights along urban ponds and canals. TCPalm.com
Oct. 13, 2010 St. Lucie Audubon Society (considers offer) to help Oxbow Center go green With the help of the St. Lucie Audubon Society, the Oxbow Eco-Center in Port St. Lucie could drop its annual utility costs from almost $5,000 to zero, provide on-the-job training for “green” construction workers, and become a demonstration center for the use of green technologies and recycled materials. TCPalm.com