Amdt 1 Critics: It's "Deceptive & Misleading"
Posted Sept. 8, 2016 07:30 am | Public News Service
Tallahassee,
FL – Florida Republicans, Democrats, Green Party
supporters and many others have found something on which
they all agree - their opposition to
Amendment 1.
The controversial November ballot measure is billed as a way to strengthen the legal rights of homeowners with rooftop solar panels.
But critics argue it is deceptive and would allow utilities to penalize solar customers by doing away with net metering.
Pamela Goodman, president of the League of Women Voters
of Florida, says both the wording and timing are
confusing, as voters just last month overwhelmingly
approved Amendment 4, providing tax breaks to people who
install solar panels on their homes.
"We urge voters to get the facts and not be fooled by
this attempt to reverse - reverse - the will of their
vote for solar expansion," she states.
The pro-Amendment 1 campaign has raised close to $20
million, much of it from the state's utilities,
including Duke Energy, Florida Power and Light, Gulf
Power and Tampa Electric Company.
While experts say the Sunshine State has the third
highest solar power potential in the nation, it lags far
behind in actual solar generation.
Candace Munz, communications director of Capital Young
Republicans, fears Amendment 1 would only make things
worse.
"I just find it extremely disappointing that Florida is
ranked 17th currently in solar power generated," she
states. "We all benefit from the use of clean, safe and
inexpensive energy. Amendment 1 will be making Florida
less competitive."
In her dissenting opinion in the court case to place the
issue on the ballot, Florida Supreme Court Justice
Barbara Pariente referred to Amendment 1 as
"masquerading as pro-solar energy" and "affirmatively
misleading."
Image added by the Observer
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