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Progress Florida has been working closely with a growing coalition of organizations that includes the Sierra Club, Audubon of Florida, Natural Resources Defense Council, Defenders of Wildlife, Clean Water Action, Gulf Restoration Network, Environment Florida and many, many others, to defeat state legislative efforts to open Florida’s near-shore waters to oil and gas drilling. Below are a couple of recent highlights:

On Wednesday, August 26th 2009, Progress Florida joined Sen. Bill Nelson and representatives of the Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council and Tampa Bay-area tourism officials in speaking out against renewed efforts by Big Oil to open up Florida’s gulf coast to offshore oil drilling. Along with the release of a new report by the Sierra Club on the economic harm that industrializing our shores would cause, groups hand delivered more than 9,000 petitions to Sen. Nelson urging him to continue fighting for Florida’s white sand beaches and tourism-driven economy.

The event received extensive television and radio news coverage. As reported by WMNF in Tampa, Nelson concluded the event by promising a filibuster “if the drilling provision isn't removed from the energy bill.”


Progress Florida Director Mark Ferrulo presents Sen. Nelson with 6,000 internet signed petitions from our members urging the Senator to filibuster pro-oil drilling legislation.

After researching potential ties between the Florida Solar Energy Industry Association (FlaSEIA) and the Texas oilmen funded Florida Energy Associates to figure out why FlaSEIA recently endorsed oil drilling, Progress Florida discovered that five registered lobbyists for FlaSEIA are also on the payroll of Big Oil. We brought this to the attention of the FlaSEIA board of directors and membership via an open letter to FlaSEIA’s executive director that was also sent to the press.

A number of FlaSEIA members responded in opposition to the decision to support Big Oil and we put them in touch with interested reporters. Our letter and the subsequent fallout received coverage from the St. Petersburg Times, Miami Herald, this article in the Tampa Tribune and the NY Times. Expect more media scrutiny and anti-drilling backlash as this story develops.


Director Mark Ferrulo wrangles his way into a $500 a plate fundraiser for the Florida GOP on October 9th, 2009 and confronts Gov. Charlie Crist on his seemingly flip-flopped position on oil drilling. The Governor listens intently but gives no indication that he’s concerned about the selling of our coast to the highest bidder.

Today the Everglades are a little safer from poorly planned development.

Thousands of Floridians from around the state signed the Progress Florida/Hold The Line petition to Gov. Charlie Crist urging his Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to reject two developments, including a Lowe's big box retail center that threatened the Everglades. On Friday July 18th, 2008 DCA did exactly that.

Lowe's, who still wanted to cement urban sprawl to the edge of the Everglades, fought this decision. There are 111 Lowe's stores in Florida but there's only one Everglades. Finally, in July 2009, the Florida Cabinet upheld a judge's ruling that effectively shuts down Lowe's and the uber growth-happy Miami-Dade County Commission from following through on this would-be debacle. Progress Florida will continue fighting to protect Florida's greatest asset -- her natural beauty -- from rampant, poorly planned development.

Progress Florida has these goals:

Build a stronger progressive movement in Florida.
Progress Florida uses innovative, internet-based organizing and communication tactics to expand public support for progressive causes, organizations and leadership.

Win advances in progressive public policy.
Working closely with other progressive organizations and the “net roots” community, Progress Florida offers concerned citizens effective, easy and fun ways to make their voices heard on critical policy decisions that impact our quality of life.

Generate hard hitting tradional and new media coverage.
Progress Florida works to generate news coverage that shines the public spotlight on progressive solutions to real problems. We work with our extensive network of members and advisors to maintain a 24-7 rapid response media operation that pulls no punches when taking on the radical right.

Increase civic participation and educate the public.
Progress Florida activates our members and ensures that the progressive voice is heard on issues that matter to Floridians. We watchdog the actions of Florida’s elected leaders and hold accountable those officials who are in the pocket of special interests.

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