Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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. […]

Mitch PerryOctober 4, 2016

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House Majority PAC is out with its second ad of the political cycle attacking David Jolly — this time on Florida’s controversial nuclear cost recovery law. Called “Cost,” the ad hits the Congressional District 13 Republican for taking thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from Duke Energy while saying he was doing nothing to stop the utility […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterSeptember 19, 2016

The push to vote “Yes on 1” is underway. Mailers from Consumers for Smart Solar are hitting Floridians’ mailboxes, encouraging them to support the solar initiative. The mailers call the proposal a “straightforward plan that encourages solar.” The amendment is backed by the state’s major electric companies, and outlines the rules for solar power in […]

Joe HendersonSeptember 16, 2016

In the Aug. 30 primary, Florida voters made it unmistakably clear how they feel about solar energy. Nearly 73 percent of them voted to approve an amendment providing a tax break for businesses that convert to solar power. That was just what backers of clean energy in Florida wanted, of course. Now they have a […]

Joe HendersonSeptember 6, 2016

While city officials play those favored political parlor games of finger-pointing and pass-the-blame, thousands of residents remain without power. That’s all we ought to care about now. There are reports of price gouging. Large trees are down all over the city. People are steaming as they wonder about the competence of the power they have […]

Phil AmmannSeptember 3, 2016

Duke Energy will continue to supply electricity for the University of Florida. The University of Florida board of trustees voted Thursday to keep Duke Energy as the provider of both electricity and steam to UF’s main campus in Gainesville. The new agreement should be ratified and signed by the end of the year. Since 1992, […]

Phil AmmannSeptember 1, 2016

Duke Energy is getting ready for Hermine. As Florida’s Gulf Coast faces Tropical Storm Hermine — upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane as of 3 p.m. Thursday — Duke meteorologists are carefully monitoring the storm’s path and say they are ready to respond as necessary. Duke’s detailed storm response includes more than 1,200 line technicians, tree resources, […]

Mitch PerryAugust 30, 2016

A constitutional amendment intended to expand the use of solar power in Florida has passed. The measure is winning statewide by a huge 73 percent to 27 percent margin. The measure needed 60 percent to win. Amendment 4 exempts solar devices and equipment from being subject to the personal tangible property tax. A business that currently has solar […]

Peter SchorschAugust 16, 2016

Florida candidates and committees collected more than $10.5 million in contributions for the July 30 through Aug. 5 reporting period, though a lot of that money can be tagged to a handful of players. More than a quarter of that total came from utility companies pumping money into “Consumers for Smart Solar,” the committee backing […]

Peter SchorschAugust 15, 2016

The committee backing the solar power amendment on the November 2016 ballot raised nearly $2.8 million over two days to start the month after posting no contributions since June. Consumers for Smart Solar has raised more than $18.8 million since it began operations in July 2015, mainly through massive support from the utility industry. As […]

Tag: Duke Energy

Solar power advocates blast ‘deceptive strategy’ behind Amendment 1

Outside group hits David Jolly over nuke fees

Direct mail round up: Consumers for Smart Solar making pitch to vote ‘Yes on 1’

Joe Henderson: For solar energy supporters, Amendment 1 raises red flags

Joe Henderson: Hurricane Hermine leaves Category 5 mess in unprepared Tallahassee

UF votes to keep Duke Energy as campus electricity provider

Duke Energy prepares for Hermine, reminds customers to stay safe

Amendment 4 wins — measure would expand solar power in Florida

Utilities, trial lawyers give big in recent reporting period

Solar amendment supporters shine, raise $2.8M in 2 days