Mitch Perry
60 Plus, the self-described conservative alternative to AARP, has endorsed one of the dueling constitutional amendments on solar power that its backers are hoping to get on the ballot next year in Florida.
“We are pleased to join this effort to protect Florida seniors through the proposed constitutional amendment being sponsored by Consumers for Smart Solar. As the “oldest state in the nation,” it is vital that Florida’s seniors are protected from bad actors in the solar industry, as they remain the most vulnerable age group to higher utility bills,” Matthew Kandrach, vice president of the 60 Plus Association, said in a prepared statement last week. “This amendment offers much needed protections and stability for consumers to know they are safe investing in solar energy in Florida.”
Consumers for Smart Solar is the recently formed group that will allow consumers to own or lease solar equipment installed on their property to generate electricity for their own use. It was formed in part as an alternative to the constitutional amendment proposal by Floridians for Solar Choice, an amalgamation of progressive, retail and consumer groups whose measure limits/prevents government and electric utilities from imposing barriers to supplying local solar electricity.
Though Floridians for Solar Choice had all the early momentum, gathering more than 100,000 signatures to qualify to have the Florida Supreme Court review their ballot language next month, they’ve been quickly eclipsed by the more corporate friendly Consumers for Smart Solar proposal. A Mason-Dixon poll released last week shows the new amendment getting broad support, while Floridians for Solar Choice’s proposal is trailing. They survey showed the new amendment winning, 66 percent to 22 percent.
Meanwhile, the proposal from Floridians for Solar Choice is trailing, getting just 30 percent support, with 45 percent opposing, and 25 percent undecided.
Debbie Dooley is with the Green Tea Coalition and Conservatives For Energy Freedom, both supporters of the Floridians for Solar Choice amendment. She says it’s not surprising to hear of 60 Plus’ endorsement.
“60 Plus strongly opposes excessive EPA Regulation and rightly so,” Dooley said. “It is unfortunate that in Florida, they are joining with the monopolies to keep regulation in place that denies Floridians choice in who they purchase their power from and the right to engage in commerce with excess power generated on private property. They are joining with Florida Power & Light and others that appear to believe solar should be regulated under the guise of consumer protection.”
Dooley said, “Consumers are not protected now with a PSC under the influence of utilities. Don’t conservatives believe the ultimate consumer protection comes from free market choice? Principled conservatives work to remove regulations, not keep regulations in place.”
Dooley, an original founder of the national Tea Party, is clearly growing weary of having her conservative credentials being assailed. Undoubtedly some of that conservative backlash is coming because she’s working closely with the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE), a progressive environmental organization that has contributed significant amounts of funding to Floridians for Solar Choice to get their proposal on the 2016 ballot.
“I am a lifelong conservative, driven by principles that is one of 22 people that founded the tea party movement in 2009, ” Dooley said in a prepared statement. “I have repeatedly stated that I am the one that approached SACE in February of 2014 about working to advance solar in Florida. I was appalled when I found out the influence the money of monopolies like Florida Power & Light and Duke Energy had on legislators and the Florida PSC.”
Dooley predicts that Consumers of Smart Solar’s amendment proposal will be rejected by the Florida Supreme Court when/if it gets the necessary number of signatures (more than 680,000) to qualify for a court review of its ballot language.
“The language of the Consumers for Smart Solar ballot initiative being pushed by Florida’s monopolies will never be approved by the Florida Supreme Court in our opinion because it doesn’t meet the very strict requirements, ” Dooley said. “Consumers for Smart Solar is simply a campaign ploy that keeps things as they are. It is not a pro solar initiative; it is a pro monopoly amendment.”
Naturally, advocates for Consumers for Smart Solar disagree.
“We believe that is up to the Florida Supreme Court to decide,” said Kristen Bridges, a spokeswoman for the group.
Bridges says the Smart Solar amendment does several things, such as:
- Places the right of individuals and businesses to own and lease solar equipment to generate their own electricity;
- Provides certainty to those considering a significant investment in solar and, thus, encourages such investment, as well as providing specific legal authorization for the leasing of solar equipment; and
- Allows state and local government to continue their duty to protect consumers.
“And, our campaign is assembling a broad coalition to alert voters to the serious dangers and unintended consequences of the Shady Solar Amendment, make the case for smarter solar energy solutions and explain why our measure is a better choice for Florida’s consumers,” Bridges said.
