Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster
A solar power amendment is poised for passage, according to a new poll by the Florida Chamber Political Institute.
The survey found 66 percent of Florida voters would support solar power initiative, while 16 percent of respondents said they would vote against it.
“The Florida Chamber supports the solar energy policies in Amendment 1 and it appears Florida voters do too,” said Mark Wilson, the president and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, in a statement.
The amendment is backed by the state’s major electric companies, and outlines the rules for solar power in Florida. It would put existing law dealing with the rights of homeowners and businesses to own or lease solar equipment into the state constitution.
“Consumers for Smart Solar,” the political committee behind the amendment, has raised nearly $21.2 million since July 2015.
The committee raised more than $2.3 million between Aug. 27 and Sep. 16. That sum included $900,000 from Florida Power and Light Company, $250,000 from Duke Energy, and $325,000 from Gulf Power Company.
Consumers for Smart Solar had nearly $3.2 million cash on hand as of Sept. 16, records show.
5 comments
Kat
September 26, 2016 at 1:10 pm
This amendment 1 is not for the good of any Floridan, it is for the benefit of monopoly energy companies. Amendment 1 masquerades as a pro-solar amendment but it is not a good thing for Florida citizens. Vote no on amendment 1 and yes on amendment 4!!!
Pam Yelvington
September 26, 2016 at 2:33 pm
Looking forward to a cleaner energy! #NoFracking in FL!! #NoSabalTrails
Joan Davis
September 26, 2016 at 5:05 pm
I guess 66% of Floridians are idiots! This Amendment gives power to already far too powerful electric companies like FPL, Gulf Power and Duke Energy. This Amendment is ANTI SOLAR!! Floridians should VOTE NO ON AMENDMENT 1!!
John McMurran
September 26, 2016 at 7:37 pm
It is not so much that Florida’s voters are dumb, but that this amendment is a clever lie. The first part giving the right to have solar is the bait and the second part is the hook that gives the power companies the path to charge solar panel owners a fee and/or get rid of net metering. We already have the right to own solar panels of the first part does NOTHING.But the second part will hurt Solar bad. It is anti solar being sold as pro solar. The big lie! Vote NO!!!
Bill young
September 28, 2016 at 4:53 pm
False wording of the bill means that people polled marked wrong response which should be no, this is why people do not trust be government
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