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Floridians For Solar Choice Unites Unlikely Coalition

Lance Cheung

Floridians for Solar Choice is uniting an unlikely crew in support of their 2016 ballot initiative.

Florida’s Democratic Environmental Caucus and Rethink Energy Florida are joining Tea Party and Libertarian groups in support of the solar initiative. According to the Solar Choice group, Florida is one of four states that requires solar energy to be sold exclusively by utility companies. But Kim Ross of Rethink Energy Florida believes the state should open up solar to the free market.

“Out in the field we’re collecting petitions and the voters we’ve talked to want to see solar compete fairly on the market against other forms of energy. They want to take action towards real energy independence and a cleaner, more sustainable environment,” she said.

The ballot measure is still combating public confusion with a competing initiative pushed by industry-backed Consumers for Smart Solar. But the Solar Choice group is confident it will get the necessary 683,000 petition signatures and secure their spot on the 2016 ballot.