Over the past year, Floridians were pummeled with a $20 million conservative ad campaign designed to trick them into voting against their own best interests and in favor of a proposed Amendment 1 entitled “Rights of Electricity Consumers Regarding Solar Energy Choice.”
Opponents warned that the amendment had been intentionally worded to sound like it was protecting consumers rights, when in fact it was about stifling solar development by prohibiting third-party solar leasing. In solar leasing, a solar company owns the panels, and then sells the electricity back to the homeowner or contract holder. Under the amendment, it would be legal for solar owners to use the energy they produce, but not to sell it.
Fortunately, just in time, the Center for Media and Democracy and the Energy and Policy Institute obtained and published an audio recording of a speech by James Madison Institute vice president Sal Nuzzo in an October address to a crowd of conservative state policy wonks where he said the following:
“The point I would make, maybe the takeaway, is as you guys look at policy in your state or constitutional ballot initiatives in your state, remember this: Solar polls very well…use the language of promoting solar, and kind of, kind of put in these protections for consumers that choose not to install rooftop.”
These remarks were widely reported, and dozens of newspapers in the state published op-eds urging voters to oppose Amendment 1. Yesterday the people did just that. See Florida voters reject utility-backed solar amendment:
“The Sunshine State voters have spoken clearly: they want more solar friendly policies and the freedom to harness the sun’s power for the benefit of all Floridians and not just the monopoly utilities.”
Power to the people indeed. An important step in favor of sustainable, self-sufficiency.
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