Mitch Perry
The Everglades Coalition, an alliance of more than 50 local, state and national conservation and environmental organizations dedicated to full restoration of America’s Everglades, has endorsed the constitutional amendment being advocated by the group Floridians for Solar Choice.
“Water quantity and quality are critical for Everglades restoration, yet the Everglades ecosystem has competing demands for water from the power sector,” said Laura Reynolds, director of Tropical Audubon Society in a prepared statement issued Thursday. “Unlike conventional power plants, solar power uses no water – the Solar Choice initiative moves the state towards a water-smart and sustainable energy future.”
Floridians for Solar Choice is one of two competing solar amendments fighting to get on the 2016 ballot. If passed, its constitutional amendment would end the utilities’ hegemony on energy generation in Florida and give homeowners the flexibility to enter into contracts with solar companies, also known as Solar Power Purchase Agreements (SPPA). If passed, the initiative would make Florida the 47th state to allow SPPA’s.
Consumers for Solar Choice is the other campaign fighting to get on the ballot. It’s the solar power measure backed by the utility companies such as Florida Power & Light, Duke Energy and TECO.
Jennifer Hecker, director of Natural Resource Policy with the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, stated, “Expanding access to solar provides consumers more environmentally sustainable choices for meeting their energy needs. With the expansion of oil and gas proposals that can involve immense amounts of freshwater, and the need for additional freshwater flows to restore natural systems all over Florida including the Everglades, promoting less water intensive energy alternatives, such as solar, will be vital to the success of restoration efforts.”
“The Everglades ecosystem is threatened by two proposed Florida Power & Light natural gas power plants that will use enormous amounts of water. Removing barriers to access clean solar power will reduce the state’s reliance on natural gas to generate electricity. Additionally, rooftop solar power doesn’t destroy valuable habitat and migratory corridors for wildlife – expanding solar choice just makes good sense,” stated Rhonda Roff, Energy chairwoman, Sierra Calusa Group.
This past month the Florida Supreme Court approved the proposed ballot language for Floridians for Solar Choice.
Consumers for Smart Solar amendment has also collected the 10 percent of required signatures and is awaiting its chance for a court review.
Both groups are working to obtain the 683,149 petition signatures required to put the measure on next year’s ballot by next February.
