[HimandMe]

Originally Posted by dotti105

I guess I might be considered a tree hugger. We recycle everything we can. I try to always use re-usable shopping bags, I am switching out our bulbs for LEDs, we drive a Pruis and have 2 electric golf carts.

I am not here to lecture or anything like that. Just to inform, if you are interested in solar energy at all, there is a grassroots group collecting signatures for get an initiative on the 2016 ballot.

Currently Florida, The Sunshine State, is one of only 4 states that does not have such an initiative or protocol which allows roof mounted Solar panels to be marketed in the state by anyone other than the big power companies.

The other 46 states allow 3rd party sellers of roof mounted solar systems which gives the buyer several financing options. Most of those other states also offer tax incentives for the purchase of solar panels. Some even go as far as having the power companies credit the customer for any unused power which is produced and goes back into the grid.

"Floridians for Solar Choice" is the grass roots group attempting to get the petition on the ballot.

Here is the kicker..... "Citizens for Responsibile Solar" or "Citizens for Smart Solar" is another group trying to get on the ballot as well. This second group is funded by Duke Energy, Florida Power and Light and several other big Power companies. Their version will not create any change. It is simply a measure to confuse the citizens and protect the monolopy that the power companies have. It pretty much guarantees that converting homes to clean Solar energy will be a very long way off.

If you are interested, you can google this online and add your signature to the legitimate bill. Just do your homework and don't be fooled by the "responsible" or "smart" solar petition. It is big money trying to protect the monopolies in place.

Ok, I will get off my soap box. Just remember "Floridians for Solar Choice" is the real deal.

thanks for reading!

I applaud you for your efforts to reuse and recycle and too wondered why Florida of all States didn't make use of all this wonderful sunshine. (Yes, I do know some so-called environmentally helpful things actually make things worse and we need to be diligent). When in Ontario, Canada I notice people with extra space putting up panels and selling the extra energy back to the electric companies and they have so little year round sunlight. Also, I wondered if recycling was expensive here and therefore just an option. At a seminar in Toronto, I noticed the hostess had a small covered plastic recycling box at one end of the counter. It was filled will potato peelings and other food scraps that the city picked up along with separated plastic, glass, papers, cans. She said her other garbage was down to one little half bag or less a week that went to land fill (or incinerators). People think nothing of always taking their own grocery bags and she said she loves it as she has special insulated bags that insure quality and safety until home. I mentioned how far ahead environmentally she seemed but she said no that in parts of Europe, this has been in effect decades before us and they've cleaned up their water. If this is true...wow...nice to hear.