Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Bruce RitchieApril 24, 2015

Attorney General Pam Bondi forwarded to the Florida Supreme Court on Friday a proposed constitutional amendment that would promote solar energy use. Floridians for Solar Choice proposes a constitutional amendment that would promote local, small-scale solar energy production and prohibit barriers to solar energy. The group collected enough petition signatures for Florida Supreme Court review but […]

Bruce RitchieApril 19, 2015

Can we find a way to tax the sunshine? That seemed to be the underlying issue recently when state analysts were trying to determine the potential cost of a proposed constitutional amendment that promotes solar energy. Representatives of utilities, cities and counties warned the analysts that increased use of solar energy could mean the loss […]

Bruce RitchieApril 19, 2015

Can we find a way to tax the sunshine? That seemed to be the underlying issue recently when state analysts were trying to determine the potential cost of a proposed constitutional amendment that promotes solar energy. Representatives of utilities, cities and counties warned the analysts that increased use of solar energy could mean the loss […]

Bruce RitchieApril 13, 2015

After a debate this past month, a Tampa Bay group that says it promotes a return to constitutional government and free markets has come out against a proposed constitutional amendment that would encourage the use of solar energy. Floridians for Solar Choice proposes a constitutional amendment that would promote local, small-scale solar energy production and […]

Bruce RitchieApril 10, 2015

A proposed solar energy amendment could unfairly shift the cost of maintaining electricity plants and power lines from homes and businesses with solar energy to other utility customers, representatives of cities and electric utilities said Friday. Floridians for Solar Choice proposes a constitutional amendment establishing that the state’s policy is to promote local, small-scale solar […]

Bruce RitchieApril 7, 2015

A Senate committee on Tuesday OK’d a bill amendment to provide for financing the shutdown of the Crystal River nuclear plant to save Duke Energy Florida customers more than $600 million. SB 288 was a bill that primarily strengthened ethics requirements for the Florida Public Service Commission. But Sen. Jack Latvala, a Clearwater Republican and […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 16, 2015

A House subcommittee unanimously voted to file a Public Service Commission committee bill after rejecting a series of amendments that included repealing a charge allowed for proposed new nuclear plants. The proposed committee bill, EUS 15-01, establishes term limits for commissioners, requires a person who lobbies the PSC Nominating Council to register as a lobbyist, […]

Mitch PerryMarch 16, 2015

It’s only the middle of March, but Floridians for Solar Choice, the political action committee pushing to get a solar-energy initiative on the ballot in 2016, are on the verge of having enough valid petition signatures to get a review by the Florida Supreme Court. The group submitted 66,493 valid petition signatures on Friday, just shy of […]

Mitch PerryMarch 12, 2015

As we reported this past weekend, no group has appeared more bothered by the prospect of a constitutional amendment giving Floridians the opportunity to install rooftop solar energy on their homes than Americans for Prosperity. The Koch Brothers-funded libertarian group has been feuding with Conservatives for Energy Freedom, who have been spearheading the effort to get […]

Bruce RitchieFebruary 17, 2015

A Senate bill intended to strengthen ethics requirements for the Public Service Commission and tighten regulation of utilities passed its first committee stop. But Sen. Jack Latvala, R-St. Petersburg, says the fate of the bill ultimately will lie in the House, where other Senate bills involving the PSC and utilities in recent years have not […]

Tag: Southern Alliance for Clean Energy

Pam Bondi sends solar amendment to FL Supreme Court

Bruce Ritchie: Is there a fair way to tax sunshine?

Bruce Ritchie: Is there a fair way to tax sunshine?

Conservative group opposes solar amendment after Tampa debate

Cities, utilities say amendment would let solar customers get away without paying

Panel OK’s Duke Energy deal; Jack Latvala says he couldn’t “find holes” in it

House rejects effort to repeal nuclear power fee

Constitutional amendment on solar power close to state Supreme Court review

Southern Alliance for Clean Energy main funder for Floridians for Solar Choice

Jack Latvala’s PSC bill passes first committee stop, but fate uncertain in House