Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Staff ReportsNovember 8, 2016

Amendment 1, the contentious solar-power ballot initiative supported by the state’s investor-owned utilities, pulled an Icarus and melted down. The amendment failed Tuesday night with only 51 percent of the statewide vote. In Florida, proposed amendments must receive no less than 60 percent to pass. Public support for the initiative had cratered in recent months, according […]

Mitch PerryJune 28, 2016

A June online poll of Floridians by the Saint Leo University Polling Institute shows Floridians supporting two different alternative energy proposals that they’ll get the chance to vote for, one in August, and another in November. This fall, Floridians will vote on Amendment One, the controversial solar power initiative that grants Florida residents the right to own […]

Drew WilsonJune 11, 2016

The committee backing an amendment adding solar power rules to the state constitution spent more than $6.5 million on ad buys last month as contributions slowed to a trickle. According to the May report, Consumers for Smart Solar forked over more than three-quarters of its war chest to Virginia-based firm National Media Research, Planning and […]

Peter SchorschMay 6, 2016

On Wednesday, Robert Trigaux penned a column asking “three pointed questions” for Duke Energy in the fallout of a flat quarterly earnings report and its annual shareholder meeting in Charlotte, N.C. Trigaux prefaces his piece by proposing a mild winter is what brought lower demand for power – hence the softer earnings report. Next, he […]

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 […]

Jim RosicaDecember 29, 2015

A proposed constitutional amendment has crossed the 500,000 signatures line on its way to being approved for voter consideration on the 2016 ballot. The utility-backed Consumers for Smart Solar is sponsoring the amendment titled “Rights of Electricity Consumers Regarding Solar Energy Choice.” As of Tuesday morning, it had reported 513,375 valid signatures, according to the state Division of […]

Jim RosicaDecember 21, 2015

The Florida Supreme Court on Monday ordered legal briefs to be filed for a review of a proposed solar-power constitutional amendment. The utility-backed Consumers for Smart Solar is sponsoring the amendment titled “Rights of Electricity Consumers Regarding Solar Energy Choice.” The court asked for briefs by Jan. 11 – the day before the start of the 2016 Legislative […]

Jim RosicaNovember 24, 2015

Attorney General Pam Bondi on Tuesday formally asked the Florida Supreme Court to review a proposed constitutional amendment on solar power, one of two competing initiatives on the subject. The utility-backed Consumers for Smart Solar is sponsoring the amendment titled “Rights of Electricity Consumers Regarding Solar Energy Choice.” Bondi is bound as part of the constitutional amendment process to petition the Supreme […]

Jim RosicaNovember 11, 2015

Of the groups behind two solar-power constitutional amendments competing to get on the 2016 ballot, one currently has more signatures, but the other now has raised gobs more cash. The utility-backed Consumers for Smart Solar has raised nearly $3.8 million, including $2.3 million in October alone, according to online campaign finance reports. The latest disclosures were due […]

Jim RosicaNovember 9, 2015

The lawyer for the group behind one of two proposed constitutional amendments on solar power Monday told a panel of state economists he expected the initiative would have “no fiscal impact” if passed. Attorney Neal McAliley of the White & Case law firm, representing Consumers for Smart Solar, spoke before the Financial Impact Estimating Conference on Monday. McAliley told […]

Tag: solar amendment
Crowds gather to see Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. (Gabrielle Russon)

Solar Amendment 1 flames out

Poll shows solar power amendment backed by utilities gets 77% support from Floridians

Consumers for Smart Solar forks over $6.5M in ad buys last month, contributions slow

Responding to Times reporter Robert Trigaux’s ‘three pointed questions’ for Duke Energy

Solar amendment backers say they have 1 million signatures

Solar amendment now at 75 percent of needed signatures

Legal briefs ordered in solar amendment review

Pam Bondi asks high court to review “Smart Solar” amendment

Utility-backed solar amendment rakes in campaign cash

Lawyer for solar initiative predicts ‘no fiscal impact’