Florida Chamber President Encourages Smart and Sustainable Water Solutions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Edie Ousley, 850-521-1231 or 850-251-6261
eousley@flchamber.com

“Florida will need to produce 28 percent more water by 2030,” says Mark Wilson

TALLAHASSEE, FL. (November 21, 2014) – Florida Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Mark Wilson today encouraged Central Florida leaders to help secure Florida’s future by identifying smart and sustainable solutions to meet Florida’s long-term water needs. Wilson, speaking at the Central Florida Partnership’s Regional Leadership Forum – Working Together to Advance a Regional Water Strategy – said Florida will need to produce 28 percent more water by 2030 to serve our state’s growing population.

“Water is Florida’s most precious resource,” said Wilson. “As Florida becomes the third most populous state in the nation, investing in Florida’s water infrastructure needs is necessary to keep pace with our growth and maintain our world-class environmental assets.”

The Florida Chamber, along with partners like the Central Florida Partnership, is helping lead a conversation both in Tallahassee and throughout the state to help identify smart solutions to address long-term water needs.

According to the Florida Chamber Foundation:

• Florida currently uses 7 billion gallons of water each day.
  By 2030, Florida’s population will grow by an additional 5 million people.
  Florida’s growing population will likely require 9 billion gallons of water every day by 2030.

“Smart and sustainable solutions will help answer questions like where extra water will come from, how water rates will be affected and how we will minimize any negative impacts to our environment,” Wilson explained. “These are the questions we must answer in order to secure Florida’s future.”

Florida’s long-term water needs are a top priority for the Florida Chamber. To secure Florida’s future, the Florida Chamber continues to work with Governor Rick Scott, the Cabinet and members of the Florida Legislature to identify sustainable, high-quality, affordable sources of water to support environmental and economic development initiatives. Florida’s water future is among the Florida Chamber’s advocacy initiatives outlined in the 2015 Florida Business Agenda.

###

The Florida Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business and the state’s largest federation of employers, chambers of commerce and associations, aggressively representing small and large businesses from every industry and every region. The Florida Chamber works within all branches of government to affect those changes set forth in the annual Florida Business Agenda, and which are seen as critical to secure Florida’s future. The Florida Chamber works closely with its Political Operations and the Florida Chamber Foundation. Visit www.FloridaChamber.com for more information.