Mitch Perry
Floridians for Solar Choice, one of two groups fighting to put a constitutional amendment proposal regarding solar power on the 2016 ballot, received an endorsement Tuesday from the Florida Wildlife Federation, the statewide organization working to protect the Sunshine State’s wildlife for nearly 80 years.
“The Florida Wildlife Federation Board of Directors recently voted to support the Floridians For Solar Choice Amendment as a needed step to bolster clean renewable energy’s future in Florida,” said Florida Wildlife Federation President Manley Fuller in a prepared statement. “We believe that passage of the amendment will serve as a needed catalyst to help expand and broaden the production of solar energy here in Florida. We very strongly believe that Florida should be a national and world leader in solar energy and this amendment will help achieve that goal.”
The environmental group now joins a coalition of more than 60 businesses, industry associations, conservative groups, faith communities, clean energy advocates and environmental organizations that have officially endorsed the Solar Choice amendment.
There is a rival solar ballot proposal being pushed by Consumers for Smart Solar, which includes Florida Power & Light Co. and the state’s other major electric utilities as some of its benefactors. The Florida Chamber of Commerce and the National Black Chamber of Commerce also back the measure. It would maintain the status quo and codify a consumer’s right to own and lease solar equipment installed on their property to generate electricity for their own use.
Both groups are seeking to collect the required 683,149 signatures by Feb. 1 to quality to be on the November 2016 ballot.
