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Audubon Florida Climate and Energy News Roundup Today we share news about a hybrid artificial reef for Miami Beach, the untimely arrival of seasonal allergies, a guide to EV tax credits in Florida, and more.

Snowy Egret. Photo: Sandra Blair/Audubon Photography Awards

Florida EV Tax Credits Guide From U.S. News and World Report “Incentives for electric vehicle ownership in Florida can get complicated, as credits and rebates can vary based on the resident’s utility company rather than a universal statewide program. Here’s what you need to know. As incentive programs are subject to change, it is crucial that you research the current incentives before you buy, or consult a tax specialist to ensure you qualify for a rebate or tax credit. The information in this article is current as of its publication date.” Read the entire article.

Miami Beach Hybrid Reef Could Help Florida Coasts Battle Climate Change From WGCU News “A new manmade hybrid reef being tested off Miami Beach aims to do what climate change has increasingly foiled: provide a powerful protector to storm surge and rising seas hammering Florida’s shores. If successful, the University of Miami Rosenstiel-designed reef could become part of a larger U.S. Department of Defense project to better armor parts of the state…But this project has a loftier goal: to both protect the coast and create a thriving, self-sustaining reef populated with coral capable of surviving a warming planet and where natural reefs are disappearing.” Read the entire article.

Red Tides Sparked by Human Activity and Effects of Climate Change From the Miami Herald “A noxious red tide has descended on the U.S. East Coast, killing fish and ruining spring break before it's even begun. The red tides have been plaguing the Florida coast for the past few months, but this week has been particularly bad, with 89 out of 157 samples from the waters along Florida's Gulf Coast testing positive for the algal bloom, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. This has resulted in around 20 tons of dead fish and debris washing up on Florida beaches since December 12, the Tampa Bay Times reports, as well as dead turtles and manatees being found, and the BeachFest festival held annually in Indian Rocks Beach, Florida, being canceled a month in advance.” Read the entire article.

Huge Seaweed Bloom That Can Be Seen From Space Threatens Florida Beaches From the New York Post “A giant seaweed blob so large it can be seen from space is threatening to transform beaches along Florida’s Gulf coast into a brown morass, scientists say. The 5,000-mile-wide sargassum bloom — believed to be the largest in history at twice the width of the continental US — is drifting ominously toward the Sunshine State, NBC News reported… The thick algae mats are mostly harmless as they drift between Africa’s western coast and the Gulf of Mexico… Researchers have found that human activities and climate change are filling rivers that flow into the Atlantic with nitrogen and other nutrients.” Read the entire article.

Seasonal Allergies Are Here—And May Start Early Because Of Climate Change From Forbes “Several places across the country are experiencing early rises in pollen count, like Atlanta, which saw pollen counts rise to “extremely high” levels on March 6, the earliest in 30 years, according to the Atlanta Allergy and Asthma physicians practice. A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found climate change will increase the number of people affected by seasonal allergies. According to a recent report by Climate Central, allergy seasons are coming early and lasting longer due to climate change and greenhouse gas emissions.” Read the entire article.

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