As we wrote about last summer, large power companies are backing a proposed state constitutional amendment supporters say would expand solar power (when all it does is reinforce the status quo, which obviously is not doing that).
Originally, Consumers for Smart Solar was one of two dueling amendments dealing with solar power in Florida, the other being Floridians for Solar Choice.
While "Smart Solar" embeds the status quo into the state constitution (which backers say is needed to fend off what they call a solar industry power grab), "Solar Choice" would allow property owners to generate and sell solar power without power company involvement.
Advocates for the latter included solar industry leaders and environmental groups as well as Tea Party activists, who said "Smart Solar" was merely an effort to confuse voters as both efforts required over 600,000 signatures to get on the ballot.
"Solar Choice" failed to meet the signature threshold on time and backers say it will try to get the proposal on the 2018 ballot, but its language did get approval from the Supreme Court. "Smart Solar" not only got enough signatures (the campaign paid petition gathers much more generously than the opposition) but now has Supreme Court approval—however narrowly, with Justice Barbara Pariente writing what Associated Press called a "scathing dissent."
On the heels of that news, "Solar Choice" advocates called the amendment a "sham" and a "wolf in sheep's clothing."
“We are disappointed that the court let through an amendment that was clearly designed to enshrine the status quo in this state," said Tory Perfetti, chairman of Floridians for Solar Choice, in a written statement. "The Consumers for Smart Solar amendment is more of the same and continues the pattern of doing nothing to help Florida move into the 21st century regarding how we create, distribute, and use energy.”
They vowed to continue pushing the message to voters that the amendment is not what it seems.
“It is shameful that the utilities would go so far, and spend millions to manipulate and deceive their own customers,” said Steve Smith of Southern Alliance for Clean Energy in a written statement. “We will absolutely continue to shine a light on their dirty tricks and hope that the voters of Florida will see their ballot initiative for what is it: a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a sham designed to keep more money in the power companies pockets.”
This article appears in Mar 31 – Apr 6, 2016.