Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorNovember 4, 2016

Over the years, the Hispanic community has grown to be a major force within the U.S. economy. In 2015, the Hispanic population in the United States spent $1.3 trillion on consumer products — a number that’s projected to grow to $1.7 trillion by 2020. Over time, Hispanic Americans have developed a strong presence across a […]

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 ReportsSeptember 30, 2016

Most Floridians say they are backing a solar amendment on the ballot this November, even though they may not be entirely sure what it will do. POLITICO Florida is reporting on a new St. Leo University poll that voters are strongly behind the solar ballot initiative Amendment 1, which claims to give Florida residents the […]

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 […]

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 […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 13, 2016

With the recent passage of Amendment 4, you might be under the impression that the Sunshine State is making hay from our abundant natural resource and creating a healthy amount of energy from solar. Not so. In fact, although Amendment 4 is a step in the right direction, it’s actually natural gas that carries the […]

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 […]

Jim RosicaAugust 4, 2016

Using a favorite joke, state Sen. Jeff Brandes said he had brought together “the Baptists and the bootleggers” in support of his proposed solar-energy constitutional amendment. Brandes, a St. Petersburg Republican, led a news conference Thursday at Tallahassee’s Florida Press Center. “This is something Republicans and Democrats have come together on,” he told reporters. “It’s about […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJuly 26, 2016

Contributions to Consumers for Smart Solar fizzled out in July. State records show the fundraising committee — which is backing the solar-energy ballot initiative — received no contributions between July 2 and July 15. The two-week period marks the two most recent fundraising periods. The group has raised more than $16 million since July 2015. […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJuly 14, 2016

The number of advanced energy jobs is on the rise in Florida, and experts said the industry could add more than 5,000 new jobs by the end of the year. A new report from the Advanced Energy Economy Institute found there were more than 140,000 advanced energy jobs in the state in 2015. The industry […]

Tag: solar

Javier Palomarez & Julio Fuentes: Yes on Amendment 1: Small business supports solar, fair policies for all

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

Polling shows voters support solar Amendment 1, without understanding what it does

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

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

Tom Matthews: Amendment 4 is good start, but natural gas necessary for Florida economy, environment

Amendment 4 wins — measure would expand solar power in Florida

Amendment 4 backers want voters to see the light

Fundraising for solar-energy amendment slows in July

Advanced energy fields in Florida poised for growth