• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
MENUMENU
MENUMENU
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • FlaglerLive Board of Directors
    • Comment Policy
    • Mission Statement
    • Our Values
    • Privacy Policy
  • Live Calendar
  • Submit Obituary
  • Submit an Event
  • Support FlaglerLive
  • Advertise on FlaglerLive (386) 503-3808
  • Search Results

FlaglerLive

No Bull, no Fluff, No Smudges

MENUMENU
  • Flagler
    • Flagler County Commission
    • Beverly Beach
    • Economic Development Council
    • Flagler History
    • Mondex/Daytona North
    • The Hammock
    • Tourist Development Council
  • Palm Coast
    • Palm Coast City Council
    • Palm Coast Crime
  • Bunnell
    • Bunnell City Commission
    • Bunnell Crime
  • Flagler Beach
    • Flagler Beach City Commission
    • Flagler Beach Crime
  • Cops/Courts
    • Circuit & County Court
    • Florida Supreme Court
    • Federal Courts
    • Flagler 911
    • Fire House
    • Flagler County Sheriff
    • Flagler Jail Bookings
    • Traffic Accidents
  • Rights & Liberties
    • Fourth Amendment
    • First Amendment
    • Privacy
    • Second Amendment
    • Seventh Amendment
    • Sixth Amendment
    • Sunshine Law
    • Third Amendment
    • Religion & Beliefs
    • Human Rights
    • Immigration
    • Labor Rights
    • 14th Amendment
    • Civil Rights
  • Schools
    • Adult Education
    • Belle Terre Elementary
    • Buddy Taylor Middle
    • Bunnell Elementary
    • Charter Schools
    • Daytona State College
    • Flagler County School Board
    • Flagler Palm Coast High School
    • Higher Education
    • Imagine School
    • Indian Trails Middle
    • Matanzas High School
    • Old Kings Elementary
    • Rymfire Elementary
    • Stetson University
    • Wadsworth Elementary
    • University of Florida/Florida State
  • Economy
    • Jobs & Unemployment
    • Business & Economy
    • Development & Sprawl
    • Leisure & Tourism
    • Local Business
    • Local Media
    • Real Estate & Development
    • Taxes
  • Commentary
    • The Conversation
    • Pierre Tristam
    • Diane Roberts
    • Guest Columns
    • Byblos
    • Editor's Blog
  • Culture
    • African American Cultural Society
    • Arts in Palm Coast & Flagler
    • Books
    • City Repertory Theatre
    • Flagler Auditorium
    • Flagler Playhouse
    • Flagler Youth Orchestra
    • Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra
    • Palm Coast Arts Foundation
    • Special Events
  • Elections 2024
    • Amendments and Referendums
    • Presidential Election
    • Campaign Finance
    • City Elections
    • Congressional
    • Constitutionals
    • Courts
    • Governor
    • Polls
    • Voting Rights
  • Florida
    • Federal Politics
    • Florida History
    • Florida Legislature
    • Florida Legislature
    • Ron DeSantis
  • Health & Society
    • Flagler County Health Department
    • Ask the Doctor Column
    • Health Care
    • Health Care Business
    • Covid-19
    • Children and Families
    • Medicaid and Medicare
    • Mental Health
    • Poverty
    • Violence
  • All Else
    • Daily Briefing
    • Americana
    • Obituaries
    • News Briefs
    • Weather and Climate
    • Wildlife

Solar Amendment 1 Called a “Con Job” By Utilities as Tape Exposes Political “Jiu-Jitsu”

October 19, 2016 | FlaglerLive | 7 Comments

florida amendment 1
Beware that smile. (ODT)

Solar-energy supporters fighting a proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot expressed outrage Wednesday after a policy director for a Tallahassee-based think tank was caught on tape discussing utility-industry efforts to deceive voters.


Pro-solar groups, in a mid-day conference call with reporters, said the leaked audio tape confirms their suspicion that the ballot proposal — known as Amendment 1 — is a multimillion-dollar deception that will hinder the future of alternative energy in Florida.

“Amendment 1 is a con job and scam perpetuated on Florida voters,” said Stephen Smith, executive director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. “And we just have to get that word out.”

The Miami Herald first reported on the audio tape, in which James Madison Institute Vice President of Policy Sal Nuzzo described how to use a “little bit of political jiu-jitsu” by promoting solar to win support for desired changes in policy. His comments came while speaking Oct. 2 at the “Energy/Environment Leadership Summit” in Nashville, Tenn.

“The point I would make, maybe the takeaway, is as you guys look at policy in your state or constitutional ballot initiatives in your state, remember this: Solar polls very well,” Nuzzo said on the tape, which has been posted online.

But the group Consumers for Smart Solar, which has led efforts to pass the proposed constitutional amendment on the Nov. 8 ballot, said the James Madison Institute wasn’t involved in planning or drafting the proposal.

Meanwhile, the James Madison Institute said Nuzzo misspoke about the conservative think tank having any role with Consumers for Smart Solar. The institute supports the initiative, which it says would provide consumer protection.

Sarah Bascom, representing Consumers for Smart Solar, said in a statement that the institute doesn’t speak for Consumers for Smart Solar and that Nuzzo’s comments about Amendment 1 are “simply not true.”

“Consumers for Smart Solar has no knowledge of what JMI is claiming,” Bascom said in the statement. “Nobody from JMI either participated in or was asked to participate in the planning or drafting of our amendment or campaign efforts, nor do we know the person who made these comments.”

James Madison Institute President and CEO Bob McClure sent out a separate statement that Nuzzo “generalized his commentary and misspoke” before an unfamiliar national audience.

During the address, Nuzzo also discussed another proposed constitutional amendment, which was backed by the pro-solar groups that are fighting Amendment 1. That proposed amendment did not reach the November ballot.

“The Institute does have strong opinions about both amendments, which were expressed in this recording — ones that we would repeat all over again if given the opportunity,” McClure said in his statement. “We are supported by thousands of individuals and foundations across the state and nation who believe in our mission, but no one guides our policy positions except our sanctioned policy experts and the facts at hand. Our 30 years of independent research bears this out.”

McClure also said “JMI has played no role in their (Consumers for Smart Solar’s) efforts.”

The free-market think tank has ties with Gulf Power, one of four major utilities helping financially back the ballot initiative. Stan Connally, CEO of the Pensacola-based company, is a member of the James Madison Institute Board of Directors. Also, Allan Bense, the institute’s board chairman, is a member of Gulf Power’s Board of Directors.

More than three-quarters of the $21 million raised by Consumers for Smart Solar has come from the four utilities. Florida Power & Light has directed $5.5 million to the amendment. Duke Energy has contributed $5.7 million, Tampa Electric Co. has provided $3 million, and Gulf Power has given $2.1 million.

The Consumers for Smart Solar amendment would enshrine in the Florida Constitution existing rules regarding the use of solar energy by private property owners.

The proposal also includes a more contentious provision, which states that those who haven’t installed solar on their property “are not required to subsidize the costs of backup power and electric grid access to those who do.”

Proponents say the second provision provides consumer protections for people who don’t install solar panels. Opponent say it could result in “discriminatory charges” against rooftop solar users and limit the desire of people to go solar.

Opponents of Amendment 1 said Nuzzo’s comments are proof the Consumers for Smart Solar proposal wasn’t as forthright as the initiative’s proponents insist.

“The guy that was on the tape clearly identifies, he is bragging, as if they have already won this amendment, and they want this spread to other states,” Smith said.

The Consumers for Smart Solar amendment was introduced last year after the group Floridians for Solar Choice, backed by the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, launched a petition drive for a ballot initiative that sought to increase the use of solar power. The Floridians for Solar Choice initiative, which failed to get on the ballot, sought to ease regulations and allow businesses to generate and sell up to two megawatts of solar power to customers on the same or neighboring properties.

–Jim Turner, News Service of Florida

Support FlaglerLive's End of Year Fundraiser
Thank you readers for getting us to--and past--our year-end fund-raising goal yet again. It’s a bracing way to mark our 15th year at FlaglerLive. Our donors are just a fraction of the 25,000 readers who seek us out for the best-reported, most timely, trustworthy, and independent local news site anywhere, without paywall. FlaglerLive is free. Fighting misinformation and keeping democracy in the sunshine 365/7/24 isn’t free. Take a brief moment, become a champion of fearless, enlightening journalism. Any amount helps. We’re a 501(c)(3) non-profit news organization. Donations are tax deductible.  
You may donate openly or anonymously.
We like Zeffy (no fees), but if you prefer to use PayPal, click here.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. rst says

    October 19, 2016 at 8:23 pm

    The 98%ers have always been the target of the wealthy. They’ll use any tactic available, inclusive of deception, to exploit and overwhelm them. When will we open our eyes to such behavior and put an end to it?

  2. Pogo says

    October 19, 2016 at 9:17 pm

    The usual suspects: Tricky Ricky Scott, et al, and…

    http://www.prwatch.org/news/2015/09/12940/koch-brothers-backing-misleading-anti-solar-campaign-florida

  3. RP says

    October 20, 2016 at 8:12 am

    As a long time Brazilian Jiu Jitsu fighter I ask that politicians leave us out of their grade school arguments. They are all a bunch of liars and we don’t want to be associated with any of them.

  4. LOL's says

    October 20, 2016 at 10:38 am

    This is why it is becoming more and more fashionable to wholesale break the law. NO ONE tells me what I will do with Solar on my property. No one.

  5. palmcoaster says

    October 20, 2016 at 1:57 pm

    I will vote No as presented on Amendment 1!

  6. CLS says

    October 21, 2016 at 10:15 pm

    Vote NO on Amendment 1 in November!

  7. DaveT says

    October 22, 2016 at 8:42 am

    Vote NO

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • Conner Bosch law attorneys lawyers offices palm coast flagler county
  • grand living realty
  • politis matovina attorneys for justice personal injury law auto truck accidents

Primary Sidebar

  • grand living realty
  • politis matovina attorneys for justice personal injury law auto truck accidents

Recent Comments

  • Pierre Tristam on Pam Richardson and Kim Carney Are Killing Flagler County’s Beaches
  • Skibum on Why Some Towns Lose Their Local News and Others Don’t
  • Sam on Pam Richardson and Kim Carney Are Killing Flagler County’s Beaches
  • Ray W, on The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Saturday, June 7, 2025
  • Joe D on Warrantless Search of Car’s GPS Data Is Constitutional, Florida Appeals Court Rules
  • Martin Cashel Reed on Pam Richardson and Kim Carney Are Killing Flagler County’s Beaches
  • Richard Hamilton on Pam Richardson and Kim Carney Are Killing Flagler County’s Beaches
  • Notthatsherry on Without Prior Discussion, Palm Coast Council Approves $300,000 Plan Integrating City Surveillance with Sheriff’s Crime Center
  • Deborah Coffey on The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Saturday, June 7, 2025
  • Roger C. on Pam Richardson and Kim Carney Are Killing Flagler County’s Beaches
  • Dennis C Rathsam on The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Saturday, June 7, 2025
  • Jim on DCF Threatens Reporter Investigating Hope Florida Scandal with Cease and Desist
  • D W Ferguson on Why Some Towns Lose Their Local News and Others Don’t
  • Pig Farmer on Without Prior Discussion, Palm Coast Council Approves $300,000 Plan Integrating City Surveillance with Sheriff’s Crime Center
  • R.S. on Pam Richardson and Kim Carney Are Killing Flagler County’s Beaches
  • Kellen Burke Richardson on How Single-Stream Recycling Works, and What You Can Do to Make It Better

Log in