Who's operating renewable energy in Florida?

Only one tenth of one percent of all Florida utility customers owned a renewable energy system in 2015. That number -- .11 percent -- while modest, might be something to brag about. The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) touts the fact that of the 7.9 million utility customers in Florida, 11,626 of them operated customer-owned renewable systems -- a 36 percent increase over the 8,571 users in 2014. Many of those who own renewable energy systems are businesses. Full story from the PSC is here. Also read more at the Times/Herald.

See also:
» FPL to meet with Alachua County residents about proposed solar farm

In Tallahassee, the senators and representatives get richer

The 2016 Florida Legislature appears to have been the richest in recent history. And a couple of incoming freshmen, recently elected without opposition, could help make the 2017 class even wealthier. University of Central Florida political-science professor Aubrey Jewett, who was surprised at the findings, said, "Clearly, being wealthier gives a candidate a better opportunity to get elected as it allows a person to begin to bankroll their campaign and to have the time to spend on campaigning. You don't see a lot of blue-collar workers running, as their work schedules tie them down." [Source: Fort Myers News-Press]

» Search financial disclosure forms from state officials and departments, here.

Florida Trend Exclusive
Women leaders in Florida

Florida ranked No. 1 in the nation for growth of women-owned businesses, according to the 2016 State of Women-Owned Businesses report, commissioned by American Express OPEN. In this article, we profile a number of women leading Florida businesses, including Molly Solomon of the Golf Channel. Access full story.

Florida Supreme Court to hear hospital funding dispute

The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments Oct. 5 in a long-running dispute about a 2003 state law that directed Sarasota County to reimburse private hospitals for indigent care, according to an online docket. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]

Encounters between gators, humans on the rise in Florida

By the 1970s, the alligator population in Florida had dwindled to just several thousand, and the reptiles were classified as an endangered species, Magill told AFP. Today, thanks to conservation efforts, they number some 1.3 million. At the same time, the human population has also increased. [Source: Phys.org]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Weston startup raises $600,000 in funding [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Weston startup Candidate.Guru has raised $600,000 in funding led by The Fan Fund, an Orlando-based, early-stage fund that invests in technology and life science companies.

› Mercedes-Benz bringing more jobs to Jacksonville [Florida Trend]
Governor Rick Scott announced Tuesday that Mercedes-Benz USA will be relocating an engineering services division from New Jersey to Jacksonville. The company is adding the engineering services division to its Quality Evaluation Center in Jacksonville.

› Tampa-based Outback Steakhouse to open in the Middle East [Tampa Bay Times]
Tampa's famous Australian-themed restaurant, Outback Steakhouse, is expanding into new territories where a hefty cut of prime rib isn't the traditional delicacy.

› Industry ponders future of Florida Safeway grocery stores [Supermarket News]
Albertsons converted its three remaining stores in Florida to the Safeway banner in mid-June, leaving industry observers wondering why — and what the chain might do next.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› Hurricane season is here. Are P&C insurers still prepared for the worst? [Property Casualty 360]
With the season apparently off to an early start, and a prediction for more activity in 2016 than in recent past years, is the insurance industry prepared if a major hurricane strikes the United States, or has it grown complacent after enjoying 10 years without a major U.S. hurricane?

› Blue Origin, OneWeb start work on Space Coast additions [Orlando Sentinel]
Exploration Park at Kennedy Space Center has been a fairly quiet place since it was opened in 2011 to attract more space industry, following the end of the space shuttle program. But that is set to change fast now.

› Why Florida is waging war on lionfish [CBS News]
The first lionfish was found in the ocean here in 1985, believed to have been released from someone's personal aquarium. Now, Florida residents are waging war on the exotic fish that are harming the state's underwater ecosystem.

› Florida's traffic congestion is the 9th worst in the country - but some see this as a good sign [WLRN]
Nonprofit transportation research group TRIP released a study last week that names Florida’s interstate highways the 9th most congested in the country.