Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

Staff ReportsOctober 20, 2016

Florida Power & Light Co. plans to upgrade its communications system to a digital format. The company promised improved responses to power outages and connections to first responders during emergencies. The utility said Thursday it would abandon its existing analog network in favor of a digital system supplied by Harris Corp, including command consoles and […]

Phil AmmannOctober 7, 2016

Florida power companies are prepared for Hurricane Matthew, which is already causing significant power outages throughout the state. But the storm, a Category 3 as of this writing, also represents a test — whether North Florida’s energy infrastructure can handle powerful winds and the resulting storm surge flooding. While utilities throughout the Southeastern U.S. have […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 15, 2016

Florida’s top utility is kicking its solar capacity into high gear, celebrating the halfway mark of an audacious goal of one million solar panels in operation by the end of 2016. Florida Power & Light, the state’s largest solar power generator, announced Thursday the installation of its 500,000th solar panel, part of a plan to […]

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 […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 6, 2016

In their clearest explanation yet, Tallahassee city officials said Tuesday they did not “reject” offers of help from outside utilities in the wake of Hurricane Hermine, but rather just didn’t say “yes” to everyone right away. That was because too many workers, rather than being a boon, would have presented a coordination and safety nightmare, […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 6, 2016

Social media continues to swirl about what Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum knew and when he knew it regarding offers of help from outside utilities to get Tallahassee’s juice flowing again. City and outside electric repair crews are still working throughout the capital after Hurricane Hermine. The state reported 17,099 customers in Leon County, including those served by other […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 5, 2016

The mayor of Tallahassee on Sunday said he was “never aware” of a formal offer by Florida Power & Light to aid in the city-owned utility’s effort to restore power to thousands of residents impacted by Hurricane Hermine. Andrew Gillum‘s acknowledgement is a stunning development in a series of back-and-forths between city officials, the governor’s office and […]

Peter SchorschAugust 28, 2016

Agriculture-Commissioner-Adam-Putnam-L-and-FPL-President-and-CEO-Eric-Silagy-simultaneously-pull-the-switches-on-the-first-two-beams-at-the-Manatee-Solar-E-1024x1024.jpg

With pro-solar constitutional amendments on ballots this year, it’s a good time to talk about the state of clean energy in Florida. Contrary to the fear-and-loathing narrative that portrays the Sunshine State as a clean energy laggard, the reality is Florida’s energy landscape is bright. Consider these widely repeated claims: “Florida ranks third in solar potential […]

Michael MolineAugust 22, 2016

The Florida Public Service Commission opened hearings Monday on Florida Power & Light Co.’s request for nearly $1.3 billion in rate increases during the next three years, with an array of customers on hand to oppose the hikes. The increases are “unprecedented and unwarranted,” said Patricia Christensen of the Office of Public Counsel, which represents […]

Tag: FP&L

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

FPL upgrading field communications system

Hurricane Matthew represents a major test for Florida utilities

FPL halfway to sunny goal of 1 million solar panels installed by year’s end

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

Tallahassee officials say they did not ‘reject’ offers of help with power restoration; they just didn’t say “yes”

Tale of the tape: What and when did Andrew Gillum know about outside help with power restoration

Tallahassee mayor says he was ‘unaware’ of power company’s offer to send as many as 575 workers to help with power restoration

Eric Silagy: Florida Power & Light endorses solar amendments, urges optimism about clean energy in Florida

PSC opens hearings on FPL rate hike