RED BARN KICKS OFF ITS LANDMARK 45TH SEASON WITH THE HILARIOUS “THE FOREIGNER”
Letter to the Editor
Letter to the Editor
Perhaps you’ve noticed that Florida Power & Light (FPL) took many years �
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Thank You Michael Welber for educating the voters on the deceiving language in Amendment No.1 on the General Election Ballot for Nov.8th.
Utilities use devious tactics to prevent solar choice initiative:
“Rather than openly opposing the solar effort, opponents created a rival group, Consumers for Smart Solar, that has confused and obfuscated the legitimate solar effort.”
The ballot summary is brilliant in its deception.
It starts with: “This amendment establishes a right under Florida’s constitution for consumers to own or lease solar equipment installed on their property to generate electricity for their own use.”
This grants no new right — it is already afforded through state law. The purpose of leading with this language was to fool voters into thinking this was pro-solar.
It goes on to say: “State and local governments shall retain their abilities to protect consumer rights and public health, safety and welfare, and to ensure that consumers who do not choose to install solar are not required to subsidize the costs of backup power and electric grid access to those who do.”
This is the crux of the amendment that would require more regulation of small businesses that dare to compete with the monopolistic utility companies. Under the guise of consumer protection, it would actually protect their profits and limit competition.
And it proposes doing this in the Florida Constitution — not through general law, thus making it much more difficult to change.
The four major utilities — Duke Energy, Gulf Power, Tampa Electric and Florida Power & Light — have given the lion’s share of the $21 million reported for the initiative. That’s a lot of our electric bill payments going to deny us choice and competition.
It takes 60 percent of the vote to pass. Don’t be fooled by their clever ploy. Vote NO on Amendment 1 in NOvember and let them know you’re smarter than they think.
* quoted Paula Dockery a Republican from Lakeland/FL