This is among my favorite photos from time spent in Hollywood, Florida in 2015, where I studied solar energy and related coursework while polling local hotel and business owners regarding their experiences with their local solar industry.

Just look at gorgeous Hollywood Beach, on a picture-perfect September day…

While there, I stayed at a small hotel about a block from the Broadwalk and the beach called JP’s Beachside Suites:

The owner of this small and very charming hotel full of little bungalows where I stayed summed it up quite succinctly upon my asking why she’d not installed rooftop solar: “I’d have $250,000 worth of permitting before I even got to it.”

Given the sea level rise combined with the king tides when they came in, I often had to wade across the front lawn here…

…do you see the white car attempting to turn onto Taylor Street in the distance? Lots of cars turned away.

Multiply that many times over and you come up with lots of losses to local businesses as well as the tourism industry, so popular in Florida. This is part of the effect caused by climate change, and Florida was – and is – feeling the brunt of it.

Hopefully the population there will demand more competency and sustainability from their leaders and business owners in acting as stewards of this beautiful place.

JP’s Beachside Suites, which is run by a wonderful owner who went out of her way to be helpful at all times, is a great place to stay:

Enjoy…and Be Well!

Alison