Florida Solar Industry Gets Organized
New leadership and a newly established coalition spell out a bright future for solar in the Sunshine State
Contacts: Mike Antheil, [email protected], 561.703.4345
Jennifer Rennicks, SACE, [email protected], 865-235-1448
FlaSEIA, SACE and FARE will hold a media availability session today, Wednesday, September 10 at 1:00 pm EST. Interested reporters should dial (727)258-5789, no PIN required
You can hear a recording of the media availability in its entirety here.
Tallahassee, Fla. – This month the Florida Solar Energy Industries Association (FlaSEIA), Florida’s oldest and largest solar trade organization, has taken three major organizational steps to ensure solar policies can take center stage in Florida. FlaSEIA intends to lead Florida towards robust solar policies that promote meaningful solar development and protect current net metering practices to finally unlock the vast market potential for renewable energy in Florida.
Last week, FlaSEIA has elected a new President to their board of directors, Reed Wilson of Florida Green Team/Aquatherm Solar Supply. Wilson brings over 30 years of experience in the solar industry in Florida and promises to provide assertive leadership to the solar industry in Florida.
Wilson’s election was followed by the hire of long-time solar advocate Mike Antheil as the organization’s new Director of Advocacy. Antheil brings years of energy policy and coalition-building experience to the table and will lead the effort to coordinate among all stakeholders with an interest in solar policy in Florida.
Finally, this week, FlaSEIA signed a memorandum of understanding with the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) and the Florida Alliance for Renewable Energy (FARE), setting the stage for a coalition of supporters that has never before existed in Florida.
In light of the recent backwards trend against solar in Florida, newly-elected President of FlaSEIA, Reed Wilson, sees the steps taken this month as the first towards a resurgence and re-focus on bringing solar to the Sunshine State. Wilson stated, “Florida used to be the leading producer of solar energy in the nation and due to lack of state policy to promote solar energy in Florida, today we are ranked 18th. A vibrant solar industry can help delay building expensive new power plants, generate clean nonpolluting energy and potentially create thousands of new jobs for Floridians. ”
FlaSEIA’s newly hired Director of Advocacy Mike Antheil agrees saying, “We can do so much better in Florida. The steps we have taken will create a force for solar policy in Florida that has never been seen before. We hope other interested parties will join us and we are excited to get to work.”
Stephen Smith, Executive Director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, also had high praise for the organizational efforts taken. According to Smith, “We are pleased to join with Florida’s solar industry leaders to work to grow the solar market in the Sunshine State. Florida has the best solar energy potential east of the Mississippi and the largest undeveloped market in the United States. We look forward to partnering with FLaSEIA, FARE and others in protecting Florida’s solar growth potential from monopoly power interest that are attempting to erode hard fought policies that promote clean energy.”
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Since 1977, the Florida Solar Energy Industries Association (FlaSEIA) has been dedicated to protecting and promoting the interests of the solar energy industry in Florida.
Founded in 1985, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy is a nonprofit organization that promotes responsible energy choices that create climate change solutions and ensure clean, safe, and healthy communities throughout the Southeast. Learn more at www.cleanenergy.org