florida<u+2019>s <u+201c>deceptive<u+201d> solar initiative, backed by utilities companies, loses support <u+2018>it's a monopoly wolf in solar sheep's clothing<u+2019> by nika knight posted on november 4, 2016 by nika knight 




as utilities companies funnel millions of dollars into a last-ditch effort to convince florida voters to pass an anti-solar initiative, the latest polling data shows support for the measure falling . 




florida<u+2019>s amendment 1 is <u+201c> deceptive ,<u+201d> environmentalists argue, as it is written in pro-solar language but would in actuality block widespread adoption of solar power in the sunshine state. 




the measure is backed by a political committee formed by utilities companies, which has so far raised more than $26 million to fund the campaign. 




<u+201c>as we like to say, <u+2018>it<u+2019>s a monopoly wolf in solar sheep<u+2019>s clothing,<u+2019><u+201d> dr. stephen smith, executive director of southern alliance for clean energy and a founding member of floridians for solar choice, told the sierra club<u+2019>s sierra magazine. <u+201c>we are in a pitted battle to stop the utilities from choking off citizen-owned solar.<u+201d> 




the initiative would <u+201c>write people<u+2019>s right to own or lease solar panels and other equipment into the state constitution,<u+201d> insideclimate news explains . <u+201c>but it would also make it unconstitutional to require a utility<u+2019>s non-solar customers to subsidize those who do go solar. those subsidies have helped make home solar affordable and are the best incentive to push the fast-growing energy source to widespread use.<u+201d> 




support for the measure fell markedly after an audio recording leaked to the public last month in which a lobbyist working for electric companies bragged about the measure to industry insiders. 




the miami herald/times , which released the recording, reported : 




sal nuzzo, a vice president at the james madison institute in tallahassee, [ . . . ] called the amendment, which has received more than $21 million in utility industry financing, <u+201c>an incredibly savvy maneuver<u+201d> that <u+201c>would completely negate anything they [pro-solar interests] would try to do either legislatively or constitutionally down the road,<u+201d> according to an audio recording of the event supplied to the herald/times . 




he offered others a recommendation: <u+201c>as you guys look at policy in your state, or constitutional ballot initiatives in your state, remember this: solar polls very well,<u+201d> he said. 




<u+201c>to the degree that we can use a little bit of political jiu-jitsu and take what they<u+2019>re kind of pinning us on and use it to our benefit either in policy, in legislation or in constitutional referendums<u+2014>if that<u+2019>s the direction you want to take<u+2014>use the language of promoting solar, and kind of, kind of put in these protections for consumers that choose not to install rooftop. 




<u+201c>i<u+2019>m discouraged as a citizen how far we have slipped and see amendment 1 as a means of accelerating that decline in solar in florida,<u+201d> graham said, according to the miami herald 




and graham<u+2019>s far from the only prominent voice to condemn the measure: <u+201c>former vice president al gore, speaking at a rally for hillary clinton, described the amendment as <u+2018> phony baloney. <u+2018> carl hiassen, florida<u+2019>s best-known opinion journalist, has called the proposal a <u+2018> slick, oily fraud, <u+2018> and even the usually apolitical jimmy buffett has urged a no vote, noted 




such statements from opponents of the initiative have gone far to quell support, according to a new poll 




one of those voters was <u+201c>barbara waks, a retiree who had already mailed in her early-voting ballot when the herald story appeared. she said that she thought she was supporting renewable energy,<u+201d> the new york times reported 




<u+201c>i felt so stupid,<u+201d> she told the times. <u+201c>i<u+2019>m familiar with the political arena and the garbage that exists, but this is beyond the pale. 




nika knight is a common dreams
florida<u+2019>s <u+201c>deceptive<u+201d> solar initiative, backed by utilities companies, loses support
nika knight