Utilities, state seek to keep solar amendment off ballot

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Lawyers representing power companies and the attorney general want the Florida Supreme Court to keep a proposed constitutional amendment on solar energy off next year’s ballot.

They argued Tuesday that the ballot summary is misleading and editorializes. A lawyer representing Floridians for Solar Choice said the 75-word summary clearly informs voters about the initiative.

The proposed amendment would keep government from regulating small solar power suppliers that generate up to two megawatts of power and sell it to customers on the same or neighboring properties. It would prevent power companies from creating hardships for customers who buy solar energy from another supplier.

Opposing lawyers said the ballot language doesn’t make it clear that government would be stripped of regulatory power and editorializes by saying barriers to solar include “unfavorable rates.”