Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Associated PressAugust 30, 2016

Voters in sun-soaked Florida will have a chance Tuesday to decide whether to approve an amendment to the state constitution that supporters say is aimed at encouraging the use of solar energy. A proposed Amendment 4 calls for tax breaks that could help both commercial and residential property owners install solar or renewable energy systems […]

Mitch PerryAugust 23, 2016

Supporters of expanding the use of solar power in Florida held a roundtable discussion on the University of South Florida-St. Petersburg campus on Tuesday to discuss how the passage of Amendment 4 next week could crack open resistance to alternative energy sources in the Sunshine State. Amendment 4 exempts solar devices and equipment from being subject […]

Mitch PerryAugust 2, 2016

A constitutional amendment on this month’s primary ballot, which would give commercial property owners a tax break when they install renewable energy devices, has not faced any opposition to date. Until now. Conservative activist Jason Hoyt announced the creation of “Stop Playing Favorites Political Action Committee “(Stop Playing Favorites PAC) on Monday, which he brands […]

Mitch PerryJuly 14, 2016

The League of Women Voters in Florida is going big on solar power this year. They’re putting their political muscle behind supporting one solar constitutional amendment on the ballot next month, while opposing another such measure in November. And somewhat outside their normal lane, they’re also going to organize solar co-ops to negotiate steep discounts on rooftop solar for homeowners across the state. […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 22, 2016

Consumers for Smart Solar, the utility backed constitutional amendment that would outline rules for solar power in Florida, has gathered 695,376, more than 11,000 beyond the required 683,149 valid petitions to get on the November ballot, the group says in a statement issued Friday afternoon. “Not only did we reach the required valid petitions milestone, […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 15, 2016

A leading environmental activist says the solar amendment being backed by Florida’s investor-owned utilities is doomed to rejection by the Florida Supreme Court. Susan Glickman, Florida director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, asserted that Friday during the Tampa Tiger Bay Club meeting. She blasted the Consumers for Smart Solar group, which she said had spent […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 11, 2016

The people behind Floridians for Solar Choice, the group behind of one of two competing solar-power constitutional amendments, say they’re filing an opposition brief later Monday to oppose the other initiative, pushed by the utility-backed by Consumers for Smart Solar. The group held a news conference Monday at the Florida Press Center in Tallahassee. Among other hurdles, proposed amendments must be cleared […]

Mitch PerryDecember 30, 2015

(UPDATED) Less than a week after acknowledging that a dispute with their signature-gathering vendor would severely imperil their chances of getting on the 2016 ballot, Floridians for Solar Choice (FSC) has sued PCI Consulting in federal court claiming breach of contract. The group — formed to advance a constitutional amendment to expand solar power rights for consumers […]

Mitch PerryDecember 18, 2015

The group behind one of two competing solar-power constitutional amendments is throwing in the towel on 2016 and “exploring options for a 2018 campaign,” according to a spokeswoman. As FloridaPolitics.com reported Thursday, a payment dispute with a signature-gathering firm made it unlikely that Floridians for Solar Choice would garner enough signatures to get on the ballot next year. The deadline […]

Mitch PerryDecember 17, 2015

A dispute with a signature-gathering firm makes it likely that the group attempting to expand solar power choice in Florida will fall short of acquiring the necessary signatures to qualify for the ballot next year. Floridians for Solar Choice (FSC) needs to get 683,149 signatures turned in to state Division of Elections by February 1. Currently, the state […]

Tag: Southern Alliance for Clean Energy

Amendment 4 would make solar cheaper for property owners

Advocates extoll the virtues of Amendment 4 in roundtable discussion at USFSP campus

New group emerges to oppose Amendment 4 solar measure on this month’s ballot

League of Women Voters going all in on solar power in Florida this year

Consumers for Smart Solar claims it has enough signatures to qualify for ballot

At Tampa Tiger Bay Club, clean energy leader slams utility-backed solar power amendment

Floridians for Solar Choice to fight opposing solar initiative in court

Floridians for Solar Choice sues PCI Consulting in signature petition battle

Solar-power amendment now looking at 2018 ballot initiative

Dispute with signature gathering firm to doom Florida solar power amendment from getting on 2016 ballot?