Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterNovember 6, 2016

Supporters of Florida’s solar power amendment spent big money last week, hoping to make one last push to convince voters to vote “yes” on Amendment 1. State records show Consumers for Smart Solar spent $4.3 million between Oct. 22 and Nov. 3. That brings overall spending to more than $25.4 million. Consumers for Smart Solar […]

Mitch PerryNovember 2, 2016

With less than a week to go before Floridians finish voting, critics of Florida’s Amendment 1 filed legal actions on Wednesday against the measure, calling on the Florida Supreme Court to reject the results of the vote because they contend the measure was created to intentionally deceive Florida voters. Citing new information unearthed from a leaked audio recording […]

Peter SchorschNovember 2, 2016

Consider the eye-grabbing Tampa Bay Times’ front-page headline Wednesday: $43M spent to limit solar. Beyond the silliness of assuming that every dollar utilities donated this cycle is part of a plot to fight rooftop solar — as if there is nothing else they care about — the story is screwed up six ways to Sunday. If a politician were […]

Mitch PerryNovember 1, 2016

According to a poll published Monday, Florida’s Amendment 1 on solar power is on the ropes. While the St. Leo University survey shows the measure almost exactly at 60 percent — the percentage required to pass and ultimately become law — it’s down more than 24 percentage points from a similar poll conducted in September. The survey of […]

Drew WilsonOctober 31, 2016

The committee backing Amendment 1 took in $3.5 million in contributions last week, including another $3 million from utility companies. Consumers for Smart Solar received $2 million from Florida Power & Light, $1 million from Duke Energy, and $250,000 each from conservative retirement group the 60 Plus Association and from a group called “Let’s Preserve […]

Staff ReportsOctober 24, 2016

The committee backing Amendment 1 took in another $560,000 between Oct. 7 and Oct. 14, all of it from Florida Power & Light. Consumers for Smart Solar has now raised more than $22 million this cycle and had about $1.5 million of that money on hand Oct. 14. FPL has donated about $6.1 million of […]

Mitch PerryOctober 19, 2016

Critics of Amendment 1 on next month’s ballot in Florida teed off on the sponsors of that measure on Wednesday, following an explosive report in the Miami Herald quoting a policy director with the James Madison Institute as saying the utility industry is trying to deceive voters into supporting restrictions on solar power by supporting the amendment. […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterOctober 17, 2016

Add another $300,000 to Consumers for Smart Solar’s coffers. State records show Consumers for Smart Solar, the group backing the solar power amendment, raised $300,000 between Oct. 1 and Oct. 7. Records show the committee received two contributions for $150,000 each from the Partnership for Affordable Clean Energy and the Florida Faith and Freedom Coalition. […]

Peter SchorschOctober 13, 2016

Electrical workers have joined Florida firefighters and others in supporting the constitutional amendment to expand solar energy in the Sunshine State. On Thursday, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) announced its endorsement of the Consumers for Smart Solar, the coalition of business, civic, and faith leaders behind Florida Constitutional Amendment 1 on the Nov. […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterOctober 7, 2016

Consumers for Smart Solar is continuing to spend big on advertising, dropping hundreds of thousands of dollars on direct mail in the last week of September. Records show the group behind the solar power ballot initiative spent $311,085 between Sept. 24 and Sept. 30. That sum includes $208,422 to an Orlando-based firm for a direct mail […]

Tag: Consumers for Smart Solar

Consumers for Smart Solar spends another $4.3 million

Solar power advocates go to Florida Supreme Court to half the vote count of Amendment One

Tampa Bay Times’ mind-boggling figures in ‘rooftop solar fight’ don’t add up

Bob Graham says passage of Amendment 1 could affect the solar initiative passed in August

Solar Amendment 1 committee takes in another $3.5M, now at $25M raised

Solar Amendment 1 backers raise another $560K, now at over $22M

Solar power advocates blast ‘deceptive strategy’ behind Amendment 1

Consumers for Smart Solar raises $300K during first week of October

Electrical Workers Union latest group saying ‘yes’ to Florida solar Amendment 1

Consumers for Smart Solar raises $75K in one week