Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonFebruary 29, 2016

Nearly three out of four Florida voters are in favor of Amendment 1 according to the first opinion poll since the Consumers for Smart Solar initiative made the ballot in late January. Hill Research Consultants polled 607 likely Florida voters and found 73 percent support for the amendment. “We are proud to have more than […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 24, 2016

The Florida Supreme Court on Wednesday rescheduled oral arguments for a hotly-contested proposed constitutional amendment on solar power. Arguments are now set for 11 a.m. on March 7, the court announced, with no more than 30 minutes allowed for each side. Among other requirements, proposed amendments to the state constitution must be OK’d by the court to ensure they cover only […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 28, 2016

The day after the Florida House approved a controversial measure that would regulate and study fracking in Florida, Tampa Bay area Democratic U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor blasted the idea of fracking coming to the Sunshine State. “You have to understand the geology of Florida. We are built on a porous limestone, a very thin rock layer,” Castor […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 25, 2016

San Mateo, California, is about halfway between San Francisco and Santa Clara, the site of Super Bowl 50 in 13 days. It’s also the hometown of Tom Brady, generally considered (after last year’s Super Bowl) The Greatest Of All Time (GOAT), when it comes to ranking NFL quarterbacks in history. He wasn’t Sunday, though, was […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 22, 2016

Consumers for Smart Solar, the utility backed constitutional amendment that would outline rules for solar power in Florida, has gathered 695,376, more than 11,000 beyond the required 683,149 valid petitions to get on the November ballot, the group says in a statement issued Friday afternoon. “Not only did we reach the required valid petitions milestone, […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 15, 2016

A leading environmental activist says the solar amendment being backed by Florida’s investor-owned utilities is doomed to rejection by the Florida Supreme Court. Susan Glickman, Florida director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, asserted that Friday during the Tampa Tiger Bay Club meeting. She blasted the Consumers for Smart Solar group, which she said had spent […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 11, 2016

As promised, the backers of one proposed solar-power constitutional amendment have filed a legal brief opposing the other and asked for oral argument. Floridians for Solar Choice, supported by the solar industry and business and consumer interests, on Monday filed its opposition brief against the utility-backed Consumers for Smart Solar. Its attorneys advanced the filing earlier in […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 11, 2016

The people behind Floridians for Solar Choice, the group behind of one of two competing solar-power constitutional amendments, say they’re filing an opposition brief later Monday to oppose the other initiative, pushed by the utility-backed by Consumers for Smart Solar. The group held a news conference Monday at the Florida Press Center in Tallahassee. Among other hurdles, proposed amendments must be cleared […]

Jim RosicaDecember 30, 2015

Supporters of a proposed constitutional amendment on solar power now say they have 1 million signatures, further ensuring the question will be on the 2016 ballot. “More than 1 million Florida voters have gone on record in support of our Smart Solar amendment,” Consumers for Smart Solar co-chair Dick Batchelor said in a prepared statement released Wednesday. “We are […]

Mitch PerryDecember 30, 2015

(UPDATED) Less than a week after acknowledging that a dispute with their signature-gathering vendor would severely imperil their chances of getting on the 2016 ballot, Floridians for Solar Choice (FSC) has sued PCI Consulting in federal court claiming breach of contract. The group — formed to advance a constitutional amendment to expand solar power rights for consumers […]

Tag: Consumers for Smart Solar

Turn out the lights, election is over: Nearly 75% of Florida voters support Smart Solar Amendment, poll shows

Supreme Court reschedules oral argument for ‘Smart Solar’ amendment

Kathy Castor slams idea of fracking in Florida

Mitch Perry Report for 1.25.16 — Santa Clara will now be Peyton’s Place

Consumers for Smart Solar claims it has enough signatures to qualify for ballot

At Tampa Tiger Bay Club, clean energy leader slams utility-backed solar power amendment

Solar amendment showdown goes to court

Floridians for Solar Choice to fight opposing solar initiative in court

Solar amendment backers say they have 1 million signatures

Floridians for Solar Choice sues PCI Consulting in signature petition battle