(task) Big, Exciting News Today: FL Solar Ballot Initiative Begins!

South Florida RS SFL RS

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solar, renewables, energy

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Albert Gomez <albert@icassemblies.com>
> Subject: Re: Big, Exciting News Today: FL Solar Ballot Initiative Begins!
> Date: January 8, 2015 at 9:25:44 AM EST
> To: Chris Carnevale <chris@cleanenergy.org>, Michael Mcdonald <michael.d.mcdonald@mac.com>, Kathy Gilbeaux <gilbojer@aol.com>
> Reply-To: Albert Gomez <albert@icassemblies.com>
>
> Here you go...
>
> Albert Gomez
> Industrial Components
> 305-477-0387X15
>
> From: Chris Carnevale <chris@cleanenergy.org>
> To: Albert Gomez <albert@icassemblies.com>
> Sent: Thursday, January 8, 2015 9:00 AM
> Subject: Re: Big, Exciting News Today: FL Solar Ballot Initiative Begins!
>
> Hi Albert,
>
> Thank you for sharing the news!
>
> Here is the Tampa Bay Times story that ran yesterday:
>
> http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/energy/republican-led-group-launches-ballot-petition-to-boost-solar-power-in/2212659
> Republican-led group launches ballot petition to boost solar power in Florida
>
> IVAN PENN
> Tampa Bay Times
> Tuesday, January 6, 2015 5:33pm
> Backers of broader use of solar energy in Florida have quietly launched a petition for the 2016 ballot that would allow those who generate electricity from the sun to sell the power directly to other consumers.
> If the measure passes, solar proponents argue that it would open up Florida's solar energy market, which has largely stagnated for years. The measure would allow business or property owners to produce up to 2 megawatts of solar powerand then sell that power directly to others, such as tenants, without having to go through a utility.
> Under Florida law, only utilities can sell electricity directly to consumers, though solar proponents argue that 36 states allow the practice. By removing the utilities as middlemen, the argument goes, it could help spur solar as a clean-energy alternative.
> Led by Republican Tory Perfetti, a Tampa resident and head of Conservatives for Energy Freedom, the effort is making for strange bedfellows.
> Some Republicans, including the Republican Liberty Caucus of Tampa Bay, and Democrats are teaming up to support the initiative that they say is long overdue. Environmental groups are expected to join the effort at a press conference Jan. 14.
> Under the political action committee Floridians for Solar Choice Inc., backers of the amendment criticize Florida utilities as having too much control over the Sunshine State's power. "Floridians have a right to choose where they are going to have their energy coming from," Perfetti said.
> The group started its petition drive this week but plans to make a major push over the weekend and early next week.
> "I think the people understand that … the power companies have been running the show in Florida for too long," said one supporter, Rep. Dwight Dudley, D-St. Petersburg. "I'm very excited and happy they're doing it."
> The Florida Department of State approved the petition Dec. 23 without fanfare. Perfetti waited until after the holidays to begin circulating it.
> Perfetti is working with Georgia tea party leader Debbie Dooley, who has pledged to push for more solar in Florida. Dooley has successfully pressed other regulators and policymakers for more solar in neighboring Georgia.
> Dooley said the reason the solar efforts have been successful in Republican-dominated areas is that opening up the free market and giving people choice is a core conservative principle.
> "Conservatives will be out front on this to give Floridians choice and a voice," Dooley said. "All too often, the only voice that is heard is the voice of these very powerful and deep-pocketed monopoly utilities."
> Scott McIntyre, president of the Florida Alliance for Renewable Energy and CEO of Solar Energy Management, said the issue was about free enterprise. Prohibiting the sale of electricity from solar power owners to consumers is "stopping the growth of solar power in Florida," he said.
> Floridians for Solar Choice has significant hurdles to overcome. First, the group must gain 683,149 signatures by Feb. 1, 2016, to get the initiative on the 2016 ballot. Then, the measure will need 60 percent support to pass.
> Advocates could face tough opposition from Florida's utilities, which have opposed the proliferation of rooftop solar.
> Utilities have argued that as more homeowners and business put solar on their rooftops, it puts more pressure on low-income and poor residents to pay to maintain power plants, power lines and other parts of the electric grid.
> Others counter that constantly building power plants hurts the poor more, and say the utilities simply are worried about losing revenue.
> Tampa Electric spokeswoman Cherie Jacobs said the utility expects the solar petition to be one of "many energy policy proposals that will emerge over the next few months. We will evaluate the proposal and support the ones that are fair and beneficial to all customers."
> Duke Energy Florida also said it wants to ensure any proposal benefits all customers.
> Contact Ivan Penn at ipenn@tampabay.com or (727) 892-2332. Follow @Consumers_Edge.
>
>
>
> -----
> Chris Carnevale | Coastal Climate and Energy Coordinator
> Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
> P.O. Box 13673, Charleston, SC 29422
> chris@cleanenergy.org | (843) 225-2371
> http://www.cleanenergy.org
> http://blog.cleanenergy.org
> On 1/8/15 8:48 AM, Albert Gomez wrote:
>
> Chris,
>
> Happy new year sir! Has any major newspaper covered this? I'm looking forward to putting this on the resilient system website, but need to confirm that it's been covered by major media.
>
> Thank you sir.
>
> Best regards,
> Albert Gomez
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Jan 7, 2015, at 2:50 PM, "Chris Carnevale via Florida Climate Alliance (Groupsite)" <mailer@groupsite.com> wrote:
>
>
> Florida Climate Alliance
>
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> Chris Carnevale wants you to know about the following
> (View Chris Carnevale's profile)
> Dear Florida Climate Alliance,
>
> Big, exciting news today... have you heard that there is a solar ballot initiative starting in Florida? This morning's Tampa Bay Times covered the story here (story copied below).
>
> The initiative seeks to open the monopolized market a little wider for solar and allow for consumer choice. The initiative should be on the 2016 ballot, but between now and then, it needs to get a lot of signatures to make it on the ballot. This is big!
>
> If you want to see solar on the ballot next year, please sign the petition and do some of these easy things to help spread the word:
> Print and sign the petition (must be registered to vote), attached and online at http://election.dos.state.fl.us/initiatives/fulltext/pdf/64491-1.pdf. Mail to: Floridians for Solar Choice; 120 E. Oakland Park Blvd. Suite 105; Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334
> Forward this email on to your networks and encourage your family and friends to print and sign the petition.
> Take a picture of yourself with your signed petition and post it on Instagram and/or Facebook. Include #flsolarchoice and tag @flsolarchoice
> Like and share the Facebook page for the initiative (https://www.facebook.com/flsolarchoice) and follow the campaign on Twitter and retweet the posts (@flsolarchoice) with the hashtag #flsolarchoice to spread the word
> Make a donation to the crowdfunding page: http://flsolarchoice.causevox.com
> If you have any questions or if you'd like to volunteer, email the campaign at FLsolarchoice@gmail.com
> Here's the Tampa Bay Times article...
> Republican-led group launches ballot petition to boost solar power in Florida
>
> IVAN PENN
> Tampa Bay Times
> Tuesday, January 6, 2015 5:33pm
> http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/energy/republican-led-group-launches-ballot-petition-to-boost-solar-power-in/2212659
> Backers of broader use of solar energy in Florida have quietly launched a petition for the 2016 ballot that would allow those who generate electricity from the sun to sell the power directly to other consumers.
> If the measure passes, solar proponents argue that it would open up Florida's solar energy market, which has largely stagnated for years. The measure would allow business or property owners to produce up to 2 megawatts of solar powerand then sell that power directly to others, such as tenants, without having to go through a utility.
> Under Florida law, only utilities can sell electricity directly to consumers, though solar proponents argue that 36 states allow the practice. By removing the utilities as middlemen, the argument goes, it could help spur solar as a clean-energy alternative.
> Led by Republican Tory Perfetti, a Tampa resident and head of Conservatives for Energy Freedom, the effort is making for strange bedfellows.
> Some Republicans, including the Republican Liberty Caucus of Tampa Bay, and Democrats are teaming up to support the initiative that they say is long overdue. Environmental groups are expected to join the effort at a press conference Jan. 14.
> Under the political action committee Floridians for Solar Choice Inc., backers of the amendment criticize Florida utilities as having too much control over the Sunshine State's power. "Floridians have a right to choose where they are going to have their energy coming from," Perfetti said.
> The group started its petition drive this week but plans to make a major push over the weekend and early next week.
> "I think the people understand that ... the power companies have been running the show in Florida for too long," said one supporter, Rep. Dwight Dudley, D-St. Petersburg. "I'm very excited and happy they're doing it."
> The Florida Department of State approved the petition Dec. 23 without fanfare. Perfetti waited until after the holidays to begin circulating it.
> Perfetti is working with Georgia tea party leader Debbie Dooley, who has pledged to push for more solar in Florida. Dooley has successfully pressed other regulators and policymakers for more solar in neighboring Georgia.
> Dooley said the reason the solar efforts have been successful in Republican-dominated areas is that opening up the free market and giving people choice is a core conservative principle.
> "Conservatives will be out front on this to give Floridians choice and a voice," Dooley said. "All too often, the only voice that is heard is the voice of these very powerful and deep-pocketed monopoly utilities."
> Scott McIntyre, president of the Florida Alliance for Renewable Energy and CEO of Solar Energy Management, said the issue was about free enterprise. Prohibiting the sale of electricity from solar power owners to consumers is "stopping the growth of solar power in Florida," he said.
> Floridians for Solar Choice has significant hurdles to overcome. First, the group must gain 683,149 signatures by Feb. 1, 2016, to get the initiative on the 2016 ballot. Then, the measure will need 60 percent support to pass.
> Advocates could face tough opposition from Florida's utilities, which have opposed the proliferation of rooftop solar.
> Utilities have argued that as more homeowners and business put solar on their rooftops, it puts more pressure on low-income and poor residents to pay to maintain power plants, power lines and other parts of the electric grid.
> Others counter that constantly building power plants hurts the poor more, and say the utilities simply are worried about losing revenue.
> Tampa Electric spokeswoman Cherie Jacobs said the utility expects the solar petition to be one of "many energy policy proposals that will emerge over the next few months. We will evaluate the proposal and support the ones that are fair and beneficial to all customers."
> Duke Energy Florida also said it wants to ensure any proposal benefits all customers.
> Contact Ivan Penn at ipenn@tampabay.com or (727) 892-2332. Follow @Consumers_Edge.
>
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