SOLAR CHOICE AMENDMENT

BALLOT TITLE: Limits or Prevents Barriers to Local Solar Energy Supply

WHY IS THE SOLAR AMENDMENT NEEDED?

Presently, Florida is one of four states that prohibits anyone but a utility from selling electricity.

SOLAR

What does the Amendment say?Allows individuals or investors to install solar panels and sell the electricity to the nearby consumers.

What are the benefits of the Solar Amendment?

1. Attract investment to Florida2. Create jobs3. Reduce costs through

competition4. Reduce carbon usage and

reduce global warming

MANY FLORIDA NEWSPAPERS OFFICIALLY SUPPORT SOLAR

CHOICE

Tampa Bay TimesPANAMA CITY NEWS HERALD

Sun Sentinel

Palm Beach Post

Who is for the Solar Amendment?

Groups that favor property rights:• Southern Alliance for Clean Energy• Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida• Libertarian Party of Florida• The Tea Party Network• Conservatives for Energy Freedom• Christian Coalition of America

Who is for the Solar amendment?

Business groups in favor for economic development:

Florida Retail Federation Florida Solar Energy Industries Association

(FlaSEIA) Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association The Florida Renewable Energy Association

(FREA)

WHO IS FOR THE SOLAR AMENDMENT?

Groups that favor environmental protection:Environmental Coalition of Miami & the BeachesEnvironmental Defense FundEvangelical Environmental NetworkSierra ClubGreenpeace USAPhysicians for Social Responsibility, FLFlorida League of Women Voters

WHO IS AGAINST THE SOLAR AMENDMENT?

Florida Chamber of CommerceFlorida League of Cities

Florida Power & LightDuke EnergyGulf Power

AGAINST

UTILITY COMPANY TACTICS AGAINST SOLAR CHOICEUTILITIES HAVE FUNDED A SOLAR

AMENDMENT OF THEIR OWN TO DISTRACT AND CONFUSE THE ISSUES

IT IS CALLED THE “RIGHTS OF ELECTRICITY CONSUMERS REGARDING SOLAR ENERGY CHOICE”

Solar Initiative Process:Phase I Polling research and early development (Done)

Phase II Legal: Ballot language and legal review (Done)

Phase II Announcement of Amendment  (Done)

Phase IV Meeting Supreme Court threshold (Done)

Phase V Supreme Court Review (September 1, 2015) 

Phase V Ballot Threshold Certification Deadline (February, 1 2016)

Phase VII Pre-election campaign development (February – July 2016)

Phase VIII Campaign to Vote (August – November 2016) 

STATUS OF PETITIONS GATHERED

Over 100,000 petitions have been gathered.

A total of 683,149 petitions are needed to get the Solar Amendment on the ballot

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

1. Sign the petition.2. Take five or more petitions, get them signed

and return them to your distribution point or mail them to the address on the petition.

3. Like https://www.facebook.com/flsolarchoice

4. Spread the Word- Email, tweet 5. Volunteer.

For More Information

Solar Choice: www.FLsolarchoice.orgDivision of Elections: www.dos.elections.myflorida.com (type in “amendments” in the search bar)

Florida Supreme Court: jweb.flcourts.org (click on cases then case number SC-15-780)

Contact Alvin Peters,

Florida LWV Solar Initiative Director: alvinpeters.pc@gmail.com