Press Mention The New York Times July 7, 2019
SACE Quoted
Why Is Florida Dragging Its Feet On Rooftop Solar?
In this mention
A New York Times article examining Florida's lagging solar adoption despite abundant sunshine, attributing the slowdown to utility opposition and regulatory barriers. The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy is quoted as a vocal advocate for expanding rooftop solar in the state, noting that utilities have been the primary obstacle to growth.
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Full transcript
Why Is Florida Dragging Its Feet On Rooftop Solar?
By IVAN PENN
ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. — Florida
calls itself the Sunshine State. But
when it comes to the use of solar
power, it trails 19 states, including
not-so-sunny
Massachusetts,
New Jersey, New York and Mary-
land.
Solar experts and environmen-
talists blame the state's utilities.
The utilities have hindered po-
tential rivals seeking to offer resi-
dential solar power. They have
spent tens of millions of dollars on
lobbying, ad campaigns and politi-
cal contributions. And when
homeowners purchase solar
equipment, the utilities have de-
layed connecting the systems for
months.
Solar energy is widely consid-
ered an essential part of address-
ing climate change by weaning
the electric grid from fossil fuels.
California, a clean energy trend-
setter, last year became the first
state to require solar power for all
new homes.
But many utilities across the
country have fought homeowners'
efforts to install solar panels.
The industry's trade organization,
the Edison Electric Institute, has
warned that the technology
threatens the foundation of the
power companies' business.
In Florida, utilities make money
on virtually all aspects of the elec-
tricity system — producing the
power, transmitting it, selling it
and delivering it. And critics say
the companies have much at stake
in preserving that control.
"I've had electric utility execu-
tives say with a straight face that
we can't have solar power in Flor-
ida because we have so many
cloudy days," said Representative
Kathy Castor, a Democrat from
the Tampa area. "I have watched
as other states have surpassed us.
I think that is largely because of
the political influence of the in-
vestor-owned utilities."
The state's utilities have been
expanding their own production
of solar power. But Florida is one
of eight states that prohibit the
sale of solar electricity directly to
consumers unless the provider is
a utility. There is also a state rule,
enforced by the utilities, requiring
expensive insurance policies for
big solar arrays on houses.