The Economic Perspective 10/9/2026
The Latest Trending Economic, Environmental and Infrastructure News Curated for You by The Balmoral Group
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Happy Friday!
Hello and welcome back to another edition of the Economic Perspective! This Saturday, October 10 is World Migratory Bird Day, which reminds us of the importance of public participation in collecting data on migratory bird populations and shedding light on conservation priorities. Be sure to step outside and bird watch or learn more about migratory birds this World Migratory Bird Day!
Last Friday, TBG's Cortney Cortez presented at the Florida Resilience Conference, highlighting our recent work for the One Lagoon Council on measuring the economic value of coastal ecosystem services and restoration in the Indian River Lagoon system. The presentation explored how economic valuation can help demonstrate the benefits of ecosystem restoration and inform investment and resource management decisions. The conference provided a great opportunity to connect with resilience professionals, share insights, and learn about ongoing efforts to strengthen Florida’s coastal communities and natural resources
Our articles this week cover state conservation land acquisitions, USDOT transportation funding, industries adopting sustainable practices, the introduction of the Bipartisan American Affordability Act, and more. Our Data Visualization covers the climate vulnerability of recreational fishing in the United States and other countries around the globe.
Department of Transportation Announced Funding to Improve Freight Mobility
On October 1, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced $426 million in federal funding to finance infrastructure improvement projects. The goal is to reduce freight bottlenecks by modernizing aging freight infrastructure and expand highway capacity. The funds will be allocated across 12 projects in 12 states. The Florida Department of Transportation was given $85 million to create a general-use lane in both directions of traffic in a 20-mile sector of Interstate 4. California, Georgia, and Kansas, among other states received funding to reduce freight congestion. Read more here.
Senate Committees Introduce Bipartisan Permitting Reform
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and the Energy and Natural Resources Committee introduced the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 with the stated aim of assisting the delivery of energy and infrastructure projects. The general outcomes of this bill include firmer timelines for federal reviews and permits, narrowing what constitutes a “major federal action” under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and limit NEPA and Clean Water Act challenges to a 150-day judicial review period. Read more about the issue here and here.
UF Conducts Research on Residential Mosquito Bite Exposure
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) reported that Aedes aegipti, the species responsible for transmitting dengue, is relatively abundant in the yards of Indian River County residents. The UF study, “How often, when, and where do people get bitten by mosquitoes? Characterizing human–mosquito contact using Bite Diary,” used a temporary app called Bite Diary, to track mosquito bite instances. The study revealed that the number of reported mosquito bites did not correlate with the number of mosquitoes collected in a yard. An interesting finding from the study was that participants who spent more time outside in the evening reported more instances of mosquito bites. Scientists highlighted the importance of monitoring residential yards for mosquito activity and urged residents to use bite protection and minimize water-holding containers in yards. Read more here.
Washington Department of Commerce to Fund Sustainable Industry Practices
Seven companies and organizations in Washington will receive $2.4 million from the Washington State Department of Commerce (WDC) Industrial Symbiosis Grant Program. The funded projects will transform diverted industry waste into inputs for other industries. This grant program will help advance the state’s circular economy, which in turn will lead to economic growth and reduced environmental impacts. Examples of funded projects include Clean-Vantage’s research and development of a biological process that converts carbon dioxide from wet organic waste into renewable natural gas, and Palouse Fiber, which will capture, process, and reintegrate disposed fiber waste as productive feedstock. Read more about the grant program and selected projects here and here.
More than 10,800 Acres of Conservation Lands Approved in Florida
On Tuesday, September 29, the Florida Cabinet and Governor Ron DeSantis approved approximately 10,800 acres for conservation across the state, with more than 2,700 acres within the Ocala-Osceola Wildlife Corridor. This land conservation effort represents an investment greater than $72.6 million. A 3,567-acre conservation easement was added within the Panther Glades Florida Forever Project, and a 2,708-acre easement was added within the Etoniah/Cross Florida Greenway Florida Forever Project. Since 2019, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has acquired approximately 500,000 acres for conservation with state funds allocated through the Florida Forever Program. Read more about the new acquisitions here.
Venezuela Temporarily Closes Refinery After a Fire
After a ruptured natural gas line sparked a fire, PDVSA, a Venezuela state-run oil company, halted their production of 310,000 barrels per day. This refinery is part of a larger refinery, Paraguana Refining Center, which produces 955,00 barrels per day. These occurrences are fairly common and often lead to production and supply disruptions. Specifics of the fire are still being investigated, and further information on when the facility will be reopened has not been released as of this writing. Read more about updates on the facility here.
Data Visualization of the Week
Recreational Fishing Vulnerability to Climate Change
Countries around the world face challenges related to recreational fishing as a result of climate change. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) measures the climate vulnerability of recreationally harvested fish species using a score ranging from 0 to 1, with higher values indicating greater vulnerability. The United States has an average climate vulnerability score of 0.42, approximately 50,222,600 recreational fishers, and a total consumable harvest of 35,591,697 kg. The selected red point in the graphic below represents the United States, where each inland recreational fisher consumes approximately 710 grams of fish. Read more about U.S. recreational fisheries and explore other countries in the graphic here.
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