Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschNovember 20, 2017

It’s been a good year for my friend Shawn Foster. This week, the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) of the Nature Coast named Foster, president of the Trinity-based Sunrise Consulting Group, as its 2017 Philanthropist of the Year. AFP honors individuals who exhibit and promote integrity, commitment, accountability fairness and trust in philanthropy. In its recognition, […]

Staff ReportsJune 16, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott on Friday evening announced he had signed another 13 bills from the 2017 Legislative Session into law. Those bills include SB 118, which Scott’s office said would “prevent businesses that publish arrest photos from charging a fee to remove them if requested.” The measure was aimed at the growing number of websites that showcase […]

Staff ReportsMay 4, 2017

The Florida Legislature has passed a bill that will give a renewable-energy tax break to commercial and industrial properties with solar installations. The measure (SB 90) was sent to Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday after passing the Senate unanimously. If signed into law, businesses that install solar panels to their properties would not have to […]

Associated PressApril 14, 2017

Florida businesses installing renewable energy devices on their properties would get tax breaks under a bill that is moving ahead in the Legislature. A Senate panel on Thursday unanimously advanced the bill (SB 90) to its last committee stop saying it was the “will of the people.” The bill differs from a house version (HB […]

Peter SchorschMarch 23, 2017

Florida’s solar industry has embraced a comfortable narrative – they are the small-business “little guys” facing giant corporations, which care little about consumers and renewable energy. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. And it reveals a dark side to sunny solar. For example, The Daily Caller is reporting on an investigation by […]

Drew WilsonMarch 1, 2017

Florida Power & Light announced Wednesday it would roll out eight new solar power plants across the state over the next year. “With the support of communities across the state, we are advancing smart, affordable clean energy infrastructure while keeping customer bills low,” said Eric Silagy, FPL president and CEO. “On a per-megawatt basis, these […]

Staff ReportsFebruary 20, 2017

Florida Power & Light Co. is doubling down on solar power, announcing Monday a significant expansion of renewable energy production through next year. FPL, currently the largest generator of solar energy in Florida, will build eight new universal solar power plants by early 2018 – boosting its production with more than 2.5 million solar panels. […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterNovember 28, 2016

Sen. Jeff Brandes will once again file legislation to repeal the state’s no-fault auto insurance requirement, saying it’s time for Florida to move away from the troubled system. The St. Petersburg Republican said repealing the state’s Personal Injury Protection (PIP) system will be one of his top priorities during the 2017 legislative session. The decision […]

Associated PressNovember 8, 2016

Voters in sun-bathed Florida will face a decision Tuesday that could weigh heavily on the use — and cost — of solar power in the state. The solar power industry is opposed to Amendment 1, a proposal to amend the state constitution that will appear on the ballot as “Florida Solar Energy Subsidies and Personal […]

Associated PressNovember 5, 2016

The Florida Supreme Court rejected a request to invalidate a proposed solar-power constitutional amendment that’s supported by power companies. The court made its decision Friday, four days before the election and after 5.2 million votes had already been cast by mail and at early voting sites. The challenge came after a leading proponent of Amendment […]

Tag: solar

Shawn Foster is having a good year

Rick Scott signs 13 more bills into law

Renewable-energy tax break bill headed to Rick Scott

Tax breaks still possible for businesses that use solar

Questionable practices, fraud, hidden costs: The dark side of Florida’s solar industry

Florida Power & Light building eight new solar plants

FPL to build 8 new Florida solar energy plants, add 2.5M panels by 2018

Repealing PIP, implementing Amendment 4 top priorities for Jeff Brandes in 2017

Voters in Florida face crucial solar power decisions

Florida Supreme Court won’t toss out solar ballot question