With the holidays right around the corner, things aren’t looking quite that sunny in the Sunshine State of Florida. As we all know, the growth of the solar industry in Florida is largely dependent on the sort of policies that the state government chooses to put into place and support. In addition to elected officials, the Public Service Commission (PSC), an appointed rather than elected group, has the authority to place regulations that directly affect utility companies (Duke Energy & Florida Power and Light) and the solar industry as a whole. A recent decision made by the PSC was the move to end an existing solar rebate program at the close of 2015. The current worry is that net-metering policies may be next on the chopping block. Solar myths and overall negative attitudes towards solar have been a consistent talking point in PSC hearings and media pieces.
It is fairly clear that the PSC is not solar’s biggest fan. This understanding was made even clearer Thursday, December 18, when the PSC gave its approval for FPL to invest in natural gas fracking, IN OKLAHOMA, using, get this, Florida taxpayers’ dollars. The decision represents a green light for a total investment of $191 million dollars into further exploration of natural gas fracking in Oklahoma. It is argued that this investment will help stabilize the energy costs and could save Florida customers a whopping TWO CENTS a month off their energy bill, a promise that cannot even be truly guaranteed.
The fun doesn’t stop there. FPL has a similar propos al that would allow them to make such investments, using Florida taxpayer money, without even needing the approval of the PSC. Sounds crazy, right? A near monopoly, heavily funded, politician favorite, utility company getting even more leeway? This seems like an easy “no way,” but the PSC simply decided to postpone making a decision on this proposal until March.
What does this mean for solar? Above all, it reveals, yet again, that the Sunshine State is not making solar a priority. Unless something changes, we, as a state and as an industry, will continue to see dollars diverted into environmentally destructive forms of energy with a payout for a select few. This trend must not continue. Now is the time, more than ever, to stand for solar in Florida, and across the States!
Originally posted on www.ussolarinstitute.com