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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Florida Solar Initiative Moving Forward

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Tuesday, July 7, 2015   

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Floridians for Solar Choice constitutional amendment effort is moving quickly to get on the 2016 ballot. Backers say they've gathered more than 100,000 signatures, exceeding the 10 percent necessary to submit the language to the state Supreme Court.

Stephen Smith, board member with Floridians for Solar Choice and executive director of the nonprofit Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, says the amendment would invalidate a law that gives utility companies a monopoly on the sale of solar electricity.

"Florida is one of only four states that explicitly prohibits what are called third-party sales, or allows somebody besides the monopoly utility to sell you electricity generated from solar power," he says. "This would correct that barrier by removing it."

Florida Power and Light and several other utilities have come out against the amendment. Last week, state Attorney General Pam Bondi filed a brief with the court in opposition, saying the proposal lacks consumer protections and contains unclear language.

Smith says the amendment would make it possible for small solar companies to offer homeowners financing packages, so consumers could get rooftop solar with little to no upfront costs.

"The monopoly utilities in the state really don't want to see that much rooftop solar, because that means people aren't buying more power from them," she says. "They have done nothing to really encourage and stimulate that segment of the market."

The Florida Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on the initiative September 1.


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