The head of the state’s environmental agency visited a gathering of Sarasota business leaders to tout Gov. Rick Scott’s environmental successes.

Florida Department of Environmental Protection secretary Noah Valenstein said he expected it to be a busy year as Scott has called for $1.7 billion for environmental projects in the next state budget. During the Argus Foundation luncheon at the Sarasota Yacht Club on Tuesday, he discussed how his department was “focused on partnerships” between state and local entities to tackle environmental projects whether it was the effort to save Celery Fields or improving water quality at the Everglades.