Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaAugust 31, 2015

A new poll says only a minority of voters supports a proposed constitutional amendment on solar-generated electricity. The poll results came in a news release about 17 hours before lawyers are scheduled to argue for and against that amendment before the state Supreme Court. Of likely Florida voters, 41 percent support the amendment, according to the poll […]

Mitch PerryJune 10, 2015

Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed HB 7109 into law Wednesday, a bill that makes modest reforms at the state Public Service Commission. The law limits future Public Service Commission members to three consecutive four-year terms and requires commissioners to undergo annual ethics training. The bill was weakened when the House refused to accept a Senate amendment […]

Christine Jordan SextonJune 10, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott has a Wednesday deadline to either act on nearly 60 bills or allow then become law without his signature. The 56 bills awaiting Scott’s signature or veto include a contentious measure that requires a 24-hour waiting period for women seeking abortions and a bill that would allow terminally ill patients to try […]

Mitch PerryMay 28, 2015

Advocates for Floridians for Solar Choice say the central premise behind their attempt to have voters decide on a constitutional amendment is to make it cheaper for residents to buy solar power directly from a provider. The group says the free market doesn’t work in Florida when it comes to renewable energy choices. There are 55 public utilities […]

Bruce RitchieMay 1, 2015

Another legislative session dubbed the “year of water” failed to deliver in 2015 as the House went home early over a health care spending dispute with the Senate. HB 7003, a water bill that was a legislative priority of House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, passed the House by a 106-9 vote on the second day of […]

Bruce RitchieApril 29, 2015

The Senate on Wednesday voted to strip off amendments it passed to a bill involving Duke Energy Florida and financing for its Crystal River nuclear plant and sent the bill to the governor. HB 7109 would allow Duke Energy to issue bonds to cover $1.4 billion in operating costs prior to the shutdown of its Crystal […]

Bruce RitchieApril 29, 2015

A House bill establishing comprehensive water policy was amended and passed by the Senate on Wednesday, but was dead because the House had adjourned on Tuesday. House bills dealing with hydraulic fracturing were not voted on in the Senate because their Senate sponsor said they lacked the two-thirds vote needed. The 2015 Legislative Session continued […]

Bruce RitchieApril 28, 2015

The Florida House adjourned the 2015 Legislative Session on Tuesday, leaving bills dealing with water policy, hydraulic fracturing, septic tank waste and Duke Energy Florida in doubt. As the Senate was discussing fracking legislation, House Speaker Steve Crisafulli told House members there was no reason to keep House members in Tallahassee because of an impasse […]

Bruce RitchieApril 27, 2015

A bill that would allow Duke Energy Florida to issue bonds for the shutdown of its Crystal River nuclear plant isn’t necessarily doomed in the House because of bill changes made by the Senate on Friday, a leading House supporter said. HB 7109 allows Duke Energy Florida to issue bonds for the $1.4 billion nuclear […]

Bruce RitchieApril 24, 2015

The Senate on Friday voted to send an amended Public Service Commission bill back to the House after Sen. Jack Latvala indicated that Capitol lobbyists are not pleased with it. HB 7109 would limit PSC members to serving three four-year terms and require those who lobby to register the PSC Nominating Council to register as […]

Tag: Duke Energy Florida
Flamingos at Discovery Cove in Orlando.

Poll shows less than 50 percent support for solar amendment

Rick Scott OKs modest reforms to Public Service Commission, public utilities

56 bills waiting for Rick Scott to sign, veto or become law without signature

Florida public utilities boast of solar output at St. Petersburg energy conference

“Year of water” failed along with most environmental bills

Senate passes Duke/PSC bill after House rejected amendments

Water, fracking bills die as Senate meets without House

Fracking, land management and water bills left in doubt

Duke Energy bill not doomed by Senate changes, key House supporter says

Senate sends PSC bill back to House with changes that “folks in the hall” don’t like