Monday, October 24, 2016

Wakulla County Commissioners Opposes the Policy Underlying Amendment 1



Crawfordville, Florida – On Monday, October 17, 2016 the Wakulla County Board of County Commissioners unanimously adopted a Resolution disapproving and opposing the policy underlying Amendment 1 entitled “Rights of Electricity Consumers Regarding Solar Energy Choice”. Amendment 1 is on the November 8, 2016 General Election ballot.  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.  

Additionally, Amendment 1 will insert in the Florida Constitution an unsupported, misleading, and inaccurate presumption that solar rooftop customers are “subsidized” by solar customers which can be used to weaken or eliminate the State’s net metering policy.

Proponents say that this amendment promotes solar energy in Florida while allowing for common sense consumer measures that protect Floridians from scams.  However; opponents say Amendment 1 opens the door for utilities to charge solar users a fee under the guise of ensuring solar users are not subsidized, which is currently allowed in Florida and that this enshrines the status quo in the Constitution.

“This amendment is worded to make voters believe it is good because it uses good words such as solar energy, choice and consumer rights. But the amendment is designed to help electric companies, not consumers,” said Commissioner Kessler, who presented the Resolution.

Consumers for Smart Solar is primarily bankrolled by the State’s big power companies that oppose current net metering policy. “Voters who want to advance the use of solar on homes must vote NO on Amendment 1,” Kessler said. 

For additional information related to this story, please contact Jessica Welch, Communications & Public Services Director at (850) 926-0919 ext. 706 or jwelch@mywakulla.com.


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