[ColdNoMore]

Sometimes I just have to shake my head...at the flaming hypocrisy I see.

Those who are opposed to a tax break for people who install solar (which is actually something very positive for the environment)...do so because they say they are against subsidies by taxpayers.

So how many of them DON'T currently use one of the biggest taxpayer funded subsidies around...the the 'Property Tax Exemption for Homestead Property?'

Heck, you don't even have to have a real homestead...or even to have been living here for a long amount of years to get it.

http://dor.myflorida.com/dor/propert...ures/pt113.pdf


The dirty little secret is that the big, for-profit power companies don't want solar to compete with them and they sure as heck don't want to pay the going rate to buy back excess solar power from consumers...so they are spending millions trying to obfuscate what is basically a subsidy to them.

Vote NO on Amendment 1.

[ColdNoMore]

Originally Posted by GOJODO

This was an excellent summary of this fraudulently misleading amendment language:
FLORIDIANS: VOTE NO ON AMENDMENT 1!

This is not cut-and-paste. I spent nearly two hours researching this amendment myself. This is an important issue you should pay attention to.

This year, the incumbent power companies are trying to pass a misleading amendment (Amendment 1) called the "Florida Solar Energy Subsidies and Personal Solar Use Initiative". This amendment is being promoted as "Promoting solar in the Sunshine State". It does the opposite. It give the big power companies the ability to increase the cost - and even make it impossible - for you to install solar power on your homes.

If you have any doubt, just look at the three largest donors to the Political Action Committee supporting Amendment 1:

$5,737,000 Duke Energy
$5,495,000 Florida Power and Light Company
$3,037,347 Tampa Electric Company

Why would the power companies spend nearly $15m (of money from your power bills) to defend your rights? They're not. The fact is that the cost of solar power is rapidly falling below the cost of traditional utility power. The big utility companies are simply using Amendment 1 to defend their legacy business - instead of embracing change that has the potential to help all of us.

I highly recommend you vote no on Amendment 1, and you can learn more at http://about.floridiansolar.org

-Jonathan Taylor, Entrenext

Note: I do not work at or with Solar Power companies. I also have nothing against power companies. I just don't like it when companies try to fool me with misleading causes; and I support solar power because I feel it is required for our country to have a competitive, long term global advantage in power costs. For example, China spent over $90 billion on renewable energy (including Solar Power) in 2014 alone

......

[rubicon]

Originally Posted by ColdNoMore

Sometimes I just have to shake my head...at the flaming hypocrisy I see.

Those who are opposed to a tax break for people who install solar (which is actually something very positive for the environment)...do so because they say they are against subsidies by taxpayers.

So how many of them DON'T currently use one of the biggest taxpayer funded subsidies around...the the 'Property Tax Exemption for Homestead Property?'

Heck, you don't even have to have a real homestead...or even to have been living here for a long amount of years to get it.

http://dor.myflorida.com/dor/propert...ures/pt113.pdf


The dirty little secret is that the big, for-profit power companies don't want solar to compete with them and they sure as heck don't want to pay the going rate to buy back excess solar power from consumers...so they are spending millions trying to obfuscate what is basically a subsidy to them.

Vote NO on Amendment 1.

In the event that your comments were a result of my early post, don't make any assumptions about me. I am against all forms of tax credits , subsidies, etc. I believe we should all pay our own way. WHY? Because such tax loopholes end up being abused and fund people the loopholes never meant to fund. And because it often compromises true innovation. Telsa has never made a profit but government continues to fork over big tax dollars to both the Telsa which has never made a profit and consumers who are very capable of paying $70,000 to$100,000 + for a Telsa vehicle The EBIT Credit by IRS's own accounting is misapplied better than 24% of the time and they don't care.

However, as long as such tax loopholes are available you can't blame people for taking advantage, even Donald Trump.

Lux et Veritas

[buckscounty]

Originally Posted by NYGUY

Amendment #1 should have been called the "Big Energy Income Security Act". I have already voted and voted NO!!

Good I am voting no.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Johnd

I’m voting yes on Amendment #1 because it adds protections for people like me who will not install solar appliances and do not want to monetarily support people who do. There is no way for solar to compete without the “state” coercing citizens to subsidize solar. The solar industry would probably be better off without subsidies as they would then marshal the resources necessary for technological breakthroughs that may make them competitive.

The opponents 3 talking points are vague. Point 1 states in part the amendment will “limit customer-owned solar”. Please explain how. Point 2 mentions “barriers that would penalize solar customers”. What barriers? Point 3 is partially correct. The right of solar activists to own or lease solar energy equipment for personal use is already existing law. But the right of ensuring that residents who do not produce solar energy can abstain from subsidizing its production is not presently protected.

I agree.

[Yung Dum]

Those who vote yes must think oil and coal are the future. Think again. Why should the U.S.A. fall behind the rest of the world in future technology? Is this the American way? Progress is the American way. We have always led the world, why stop now? Vote yes if you must. But think about your grandchildren. Is this what they deserve? Think!

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Yung Dum

Those who vote yes must think oil and coal are the future. Think again. Why should the U.S.A. fall behind the rest of the world in future technology? Is this the American way? Progress is the American way. We have always led the world, why stop now? Vote yes if you must. But think about your grandchildren. Is this what they deserve? Think!

I saw that ad that was up for a short while that showed one of the candidates suggesting that the government get into the solar power business and manufacture solar panels. It would add jobs this candidate said, and we could beat Germany. That ad didn't last long. The ad showed thousands of solar panels being manufactured. I think it is a good idea but should be done by private enterprise, and purchased by people without government subsidies that come out of my pocket...I am a capitalist. I am a fiscal conservative. I have solar panels on my roof.

[ColdNoMore]

Originally Posted by Yung Dum

Those who vote yes must think oil and coal are the future. Think again. Why should the U.S.A. fall behind the rest of the world in future technology? Is this the American way? Progress is the American way. We have always led the world, why stop now? Vote yes if you must. But think about your grandchildren. Is this what they deserve? Think!

Excellent post and very astute.

[Xavier]

Forbes has an opinion as well. They call the amendment as "A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing". CLICK HERE All of you potential YES VOTERS should at least take the time to read this. Have you seen all of the expensive TV ads that the energy companies have produced and paid for? YIKES!! They aren't doing it out of the goodness of their hearts!

Xavier

[Madelaine Amee]

Originally Posted by Xavier

Forbes has an opinion as well. They call the amendment as "A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing". CLICK HERE All of you potential YES VOTERS should at least take the time to read this. Have you seen all of the expensive TV ads that the energy companies have produced and paid for? YIKES!! They aren't doing it out of the goodness of their hearts!

Xavier

Thank you for taking the time to link to this excellent and easy to understand article on solar in Florida.

[JourneyOfLife]

Have any of you read Amendment #1.

Is this it... the correct gov website?

Initiative Information

[Mikeod]

It really is a win-win for the power companies. If it passes, they have it in as an amendment and they get the protection they desire. If it loses, they can say Floridians aren't that interested in solar.

[LitespeedRider]

I wonder at what point these people who are constantly professing the wonders of solar will take notice as to the pollution that is created in the manufacture and shipping of the panels. The eventual pollution when a panel is broken / taken out of service. The very serious limitations on the power generated (and stored in VERY toxic batteries for night time power) and so many other draw backs.

Solar is only part of a solution on our national power grid, a very small part at that. Coal and Oil also are not a solution - but, more nuke plants are spot on the money.

[Don Baldwin]

Originally Posted by LitespeedRider

I wonder at what point these people who are constantly professing the wonders of solar will take notice as to the pollution that is created in the manufacture and shipping of the panels. The eventual pollution when a panel is broken / taken out of service. The very serious limitations on the power generated (and stored in VERY toxic batteries for night time power) and so many other draw backs.

Solar is only part of a solution on our national power grid, a very small part at that. Coal and Oil also are not a solution - but, more nuke plants are spot on the money.

Natural gas is the answer...it's clean and we have a LOT of it. You can scrub out the carbon.

[outlaw]

Originally Posted by Don Baldwin

Natural gas is the answer...it's clean and we have a LOT of it. You can scrub out the carbon.

Do you mean carbon dioxide? If so, we can use much more CO2 in our atmosphere.