The Century Commission for a Sustainable Florida, a policy arm of the Legislature, is planning a summit meeting to discuss the issue of offshore oil drilling and its impact on the state. State Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, serves on the commission.
The group held a Water Congress in Orlando last year. The oil drilling summit is expected to be a similar event and provide input to a special legislative committee studying the issue headed by Rep. Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park.
Cannon is also speaker designate and primary sponsor of the 2009 session's House bill on offshore drilling. That bill passed in the House, but was not taken up in the Senate.
According to the commission's Web site, the summit will focus on the facts about the potential benefits, impacts and consequences of oil drilling on Florida's economy, tourism, marine industries and ecosystems. Participants in the discussion are to include scientific, government and industry experts.
No date has yet been set for the summit. To receive updates as planning goes forward, sign up for the commission's newsletter at www.centurycommission.org or send an email to [email protected].