Florida Supreme Court to Hear Arguments on Solar Energy Amendment Today

TALLAHASSEE – Arguments for and against placing a solar power amendment on voters' 2016 ballots will be heard by the Florida Supreme Court today.

If the court decides that the amendment's language is allowable for such a ballot, Floridians would then vote on giving themselves the option to go outside of utilities for purchasing electricity. Energy currently must be bought through a utility in Florida.

The group pushing for the amendment, Floridians for Solar Choice, argues that breaking utilities' monopoly on energy would bring down prices for consumers. If passed by voters, the amendment would allow businesses and individuals to produce up to two megawatts of solar power, and allow that solar power to be sold to others at that same property or at a nearby property.

The proposed ballot, titled Limits or Prevents Barriers to Local Solar Electricity Supply, states:

"Limits or prevents government and electric utility imposed barriers to supplying local solar electricity. Local solar electricity supply is the non-utility supply of solar generated electricity from a facility rated up to 2 megawatts to customers at the same or contiguous property as the facility. Barriers include government regulation of local solar electricity suppliers’ rates, service and territory, and unfavorable electric utility rates, charges, or terms of service imposed on local solar electricity customers."

The measure proposes to add a section to Article X of the Florida Constitution to make it the policy of the state to "encourage and promote local small-scale solar-generated electricity production and to enhance the availability of solar power to customers."

The full text of the amendment can be read here.