Florida Polling Shows Anti-Solar Amendment Behind

In a poll commissioned by SolarCity, released today by SEIA, Amendment 1 is showing a change in sentiment from the voters. In the most recent poll, 51% of respondents said that will definitely or probably vote yes on the amendment. That is a steep decrease from a month ago when 71% said that yes would likely be their vote.
The poll was conducted over two periods. From 9/29 – 10/09 and from 10/20 – 10/25 which showed the change in sentiment by the likely voters. 528 respondents were polled and a strong level of support for definitely voting yes was found at 30% meaning that the amendment needs another 30% to reach the 60% required to pass. 22%, down from 40%, still find themselves leaning towards yes while 11% are undecided, down from 15%.

Utilities and other interests have pumped over $26 million into the effort to persuade Floridians to vote yes, which is a vote against solar. The effort is a one-sided advertising blitz for voters in Florida with ads shown on web pages and TV channels in full force. Advocates against the amendment have been active on social media and received every major newspaper endorsement. To add some advocacy heft, SEIA President Tom Kimbis is headed to Florida this week to help local efforts. Kimbis said today, “Floridians are waking up to the fact they are being deceived and it is absolutely critical – no matter what the poll numbers – that they go to the polls or mail in ballots to say NO to Amendment 1.”
On Wednesday, FlaSEIA and Floridians for Solar Choice filed a lawsuit asking the Florida Supreme Court to reconsider the ballot amendment. The groups also asked the Secretary of State to embargo the results until the court has ruled. At hand, according to the groups, is the new information from the leaked audio referencing the misleading political jiu-jitsu. The groups argue that there is now “proof of the deception and potential misconduct” by the backers of the amendment.

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The Missing Item In The Fight To Kill Solar In Florida

 

 With all of the headlines surrounding Amendment 1 in Florida, there is a crucial item missing for the supporters of the constitutional change. Having spent $26 million to persuade the voters that the question is pro-solar (it is not), the money was not able to get a single major newspaper in Florida to endorse a yes vote. Including the papers from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Sarasota, Tampa, Orlando and more, editorial boards made the informed decision that #NoOn1 is the endorsement to make.

From our friends at Vote Solar, you have the highlights from the endorsements

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The Effort To Kill Solar In Florida Just Got $4.5million Richer

In October, Florida Utilities operating under a monopoly have added $3.5 million to the effort to kill solar net metering in Florida. Another $1 million came from other corporate interests. That brings the overall total to over $26 million.

If you have family or friends in Florida, they are already voting. It is important to tell them to vote #NoOn1

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The Sierra Club Thinks Amendment 1 Is The Worst (Podcast)

As the Nov. 8 election draws ever nearer (are we there yet?), Florida’s Amendment 1 comes ever closer to either success or failure — and Florida residents just can’t let the utilities win.
More corruption was exposed this week by The Miami Herald — and we asked Mary Anne Hitt, director of the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal program, to talk about it.