Consumers for Smart Solar

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swconsumers for Smart Solar is a utility front group designed to confuse voters, advance pro fossil fuel policies, and protect monopolistic utilities. Consumers for Smart Solar is also backed by out-of-state groups funded by the Koch brothers like 60 Plus Association.<div id="toc" class="toc" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); padding: 7px; display: table; zoom: 1;"><ul style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none;"><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#Leaked_Audio_Shows_How_Consumers_for_Smart_Solar_Deceived_Public_Over_2016_Florida.27s_Amendment_1" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Leaked Audio Shows How Consumers for Smart Solar Deceived Public Over 2016 Florida's Amendment 1</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-2" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#Funding_and_Ties_to_the_Koch_Brothers" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">2Funding and Ties to the Koch Brothers</a><ul style="margin: 0px 0px 0.5em 2em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none;"><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-3" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#Electric_Utility_Companies_Funding_to_Consumers_for_Smart_Solar:.5B3.5D" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">2.1Electric Utility Companies Funding to Consumers for Smart Solar:[3]</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-4" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#Outside_Group_Funding_to_Consumers_for_Smart_Solar:" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">2.2Outside Group Funding to Consumers for Smart Solar:</a></li></ul></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-5" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#Political_Contributions" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">3Political Contributions</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-6" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#Petition_Controversies" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">4Petition Controversies</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-7" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#Organizational_Leadership" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">5Organizational Leadership</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-8" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#Related_Articles" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">6Related Articles</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-9" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#Resources" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">7Resources</a></li></ul></div><h2 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); line-height: 1.3;">Leaked Audio Shows How Consumers for Smart Solar Deceived Public Over 2016 Florida's Amendment 1</h2>Leaked audio offers new evidence that Florida utilities and their allies have sought to deceive the public into believing that the utility-funded Amendment 1 ballot initiative is pro-solar.Two energy industry watchdog organizations, the Center for Media and Democracy (publisher of Sourcewatch) and the Energy and Policy Institute, obtained the audio recording, which captures a James Madison Institute (JMI), a Florida-based think tank and member of the national State Policy Network (SPN), staff person boasting that it and other Amendment 1 backers successfully misled the public into believing Amendment 1 is pro-solar. You can access the article and audio tapes on the Sourcewatch sister site: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.exposedbycmd.org/Florida-Solar-Amendment1-Audio" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22 width=%2212%22 height=%2212%22%3E %3Cpath fill=%22%23fff%22 stroke=%22%2336c%22 d=%22M1.5 4.518h5.982V10.5H1.5z%22/%3E %3Cpath fill=%22%2336c%22 d=%22M5.765 1H11v5.39L9.427 7.937l-1.31-1.31L5.393 9.35l-2.69-2.688 2.81-2.808L4.2 2.544z%22/%3E %3Cpath fill=%22%23fff%22 d=%22M9.995 2.004l.022 4.885L8.2 5.07 5.32 7.95 4.09 6.723l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z%22/%3E %3C/svg%3E"); padding-right: 13px;">ExposedbyCMD.org</a>.The controversy was covered in a series of articles in the Miami Herald <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/election/article109017387.html" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22 width=%2212%22 height=%2212%22%3E %3Cpath fill=%22%23fff%22 stroke=%22%2336c%22 d=%22M1.5 4.518h5.982V10.5H1.5z%22/%3E %3Cpath fill=%22%2336c%22 d=%22M5.765 1H11v5.39L9.427 7.937l-1.31-1.31L5.393 9.35l-2.69-2.688 2.81-2.808L4.2 2.544z%22/%3E %3Cpath fill=%22%23fff%22 d=%22M9.995 2.004l.022 4.885L8.2 5.07 5.32 7.95 4.09 6.723l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z%22/%3E %3C/svg%3E"); padding-right: 13px;">here</a> and <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/election/article109198712.html" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22 width=%2212%22 height=%2212%22%3E %3Cpath fill=%22%23fff%22 stroke=%22%2336c%22 d=%22M1.5 4.518h5.982V10.5H1.5z%22/%3E %3Cpath fill=%22%2336c%22 d=%22M5.765 1H11v5.39L9.427 7.937l-1.31-1.31L5.393 9.35l-2.69-2.688 2.81-2.808L4.2 2.544z%22/%3E %3Cpath fill=%22%23fff%22 d=%22M9.995 2.004l.022 4.885L8.2 5.07 5.32 7.95 4.09 6.723l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z%22/%3E %3C/svg%3E"); padding-right: 13px;">here</a>.<h2 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); line-height: 1.3;">Funding and Ties to the Koch Brothers</h2>Funding information for Consumers for Smart Solar is taken from monthly disclosure filings with the Florida Department of State Division of Elections. These numbers are taken from the monthly disclosure statements from July 2015 to October 2015.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-1" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[1]</a>
An analysis of campaign finance data reviewed by the Center for Media and Democracy and the Energy and Policy Institute revealed Consumers for Smart Solar received more than $1,916,000 from outside groups, including some that have ties to the Koch brothers, and $1,863,715 from Florida utilities.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-2" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[2]</a><h3 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; line-height: 1.6;">Electric Utility Companies Funding to Consumers for Smart Solar:<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-3" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[3]</a></h3><ul style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22 width=%225%22 height=%2213%22%3E %3Ccircle cx=%222.5%22 cy=%229%22 r=%222.5%22 fill=%22%23222%22/%3E %3C/svg%3E"); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Duke Energy – $355,000</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Florida Power and Light Company – $595,000</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Gulf Power Company – $380,000</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Tampa Electric Company – $556,000</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Powersouth Energy Cooperative – $30,000</li></ul><h3 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; line-height: 1.6;">Outside Group Funding to Consumers for Smart Solar:</h3><ul style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22 width=%225%22 height=%2213%22%3E %3Ccircle cx=%222.5%22 cy=%229%22 r=%222.5%22 fill=%22%23222%22/%3E %3C/svg%3E"); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">National Black Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) – $100,000<ul style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22 width=%225%22 height=%2213%22%3E %3Ccircle cx=%222.5%22 cy=%229%22 r=%222.5%22 fill=%22%23222%22/%3E %3C/svg%3E");"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">NBCC President and CEO Harry Alford wrote in an op-ed in the New Pittsburgh Courier that he was recently asked if the NBCC receives money from fossil fuel companies, he wrote, "That is a 'no brainer.' Of course we do – it is only natural."<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-4" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[4]</a> Alford has testified before the U.S. Congress at least 16 times, claiming that solar power and alternative energy initiatives have a disproportionately negative economic impact on minority business owners.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-5" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[5]</a> The U.S. Black Chambers describes this claim as misleading.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-6" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[6]</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Since 1998, <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=ExxonMobil" class="mw-redirect" title="ExxonMobil" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">ExxonMobil</a> has given $800,000 to NBCC.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-7" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[7]</a> Since 2011, <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Edison_Electric_Institute" title="Edison Electric Institute" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Edison Electric Institute</a>, the utility industry trade association, has given $25,000 to NBCC.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-8" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[8]</a> Sponsors from NBCC's 2015 Annual Meeting included Southern Company's Gulf Power, Koch Industries, Koch Industries subsidiary Georgia-Pacific, Chevron, and the American Chemistry Council.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-9" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[9]</a> According to tax filings, President Harry C. Alford and his wife are the only key employees in the organization.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-10" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[10]</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">NBCC's funding is not transparent.</li></ul></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">60 Plus Association – $500,000<ul style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22 width=%225%22 height=%2213%22%3E %3Ccircle cx=%222.5%22 cy=%229%22 r=%222.5%22 fill=%22%23222%22/%3E %3C/svg%3E");"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Since 2010, the <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association" title="60 Plus Association" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">60 Plus Association</a> has received at least $34 million from organizations financially backed by the Koch brothers, including at least $15.7 million from <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Freedom_Partners" class="mw-redirect" title="Freedom Partners" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Freedom Partners</a>.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-11" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[11]</a> The <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association" title="60 Plus Association" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">60 Plus Association</a> has also received at least $258,000 from the <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=American_Petroleum_Institute" title="American Petroleum Institute" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">American Petroleum Institute</a> since 2008.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-12" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[12]</a> In 2013, Arizona's largest utility, APS, secretly funded the <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association" title="60 Plus Association" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">60 Plus Association</a>, who then ran ads opposing home solar. This funding was exposed by the Arizona Republic.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-13" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[13]</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">The <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=60_Plus_Association" title="60 Plus Association" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">60 Plus Association</a>'s funding is not transparent.</li></ul></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Energy and Social Justice Project – $15,000</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Energy Equity Alliance – $1,000<ul style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22 width=%225%22 height=%2213%22%3E %3Ccircle cx=%222.5%22 cy=%229%22 r=%222.5%22 fill=%22%23222%22/%3E %3C/svg%3E");"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Both <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_and_Social_Justice_Project&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Energy and Social Justice Project (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Energy and Social Justice Project</a> and <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_Equity_Alliance&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Energy Equity Alliance (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Energy Equity Alliance</a> are connected to <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Net_Communications&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Net Communications (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Net Communications</a>, a public relations firm run by Julia Johnson, a former Public Service Commissioner who was paid nearly $400,000 in 2014 to serve on the boards of two major utility companies. <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Net_Communications&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Net Communications (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Net Communications</a> has been retained for public relations campaigns by the utility industry and worked for <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=ExxonMobil" class="mw-redirect" title="ExxonMobil" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">ExxonMobil</a>.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-14" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[14]</a> The <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_and_Social_Justice_Project&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Energy and Social Justice Project (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Energy and Social Justice Project</a>'s website was registered by David Honig, who was the Executive Director of the <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Minority_Media_and_Telecommunications_Council&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Minority Media and Telecommunications Council (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Minority Media and Telecommunications Council</a>, and is also a founder of <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_Equity_Alliance&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Energy Equity Alliance (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Energy Equity Alliance</a>.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-15" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[15]</a> Joe Gibbons, the Chairman of <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_Equity_Alliance&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Energy Equity Alliance (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Energy Equity Alliance</a>, makes around $60,000 a year as a "public policy advisor" for Akerman LLP, a Miami-based power-broker law firm. Previous Akerman clients include Florida utilities, including the local powerhouse Florida Power & Light.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-16" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[16]</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Funding for these organizations is not transparent.</li></ul></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Partnership for Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) – $126,000<ul style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22 width=%225%22 height=%2213%22%3E %3Ccircle cx=%222.5%22 cy=%229%22 r=%222.5%22 fill=%22%23222%22/%3E %3C/svg%3E");"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">PACE is directly linked to <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Matrix,LLC&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Matrix, LLC (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Matrix, LLC</a>, an opposition and lobbying firm that provides political consulting. Matrix paid PACE Director Lance Brown's salary in 2009 and 2010, while he was also employed by PACE.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-17" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[17]</a> PACE is further funded by dark money groups such as <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Partnership_for_Alabama_Leadership&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Partnership for Alabama Leadership (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Partnership for Alabama Leadership</a> (PAL) and <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Vote_Alabama&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Vote Alabama (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Vote Alabama</a>. These two groups are connected to Southern Company's Alabama Power through Matrix, LLC. Mike Fields, the head of PAL, is on retainer has a consultant to Alabama Power.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-18" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[18]</a><a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-19" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[19]</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">PACE's funding is not transparent.</li></ul></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce – $50,000<ul style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22 width=%225%22 height=%2213%22%3E %3Ccircle cx=%222.5%22 cy=%229%22 r=%222.5%22 fill=%22%23222%22/%3E %3C/svg%3E");"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Trustees of the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce include <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Sabal_Trail_Transmission,LLC&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC</a>, a joint-venture of <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Spectra_Energy_Partners&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Spectra Energy Partners (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Spectra Energy Partners</a>, <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=NextEra_Energy,Inc.&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="NextEra Energy, Inc. (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">NextEra Energy, Inc.</a>, and <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Duke_Energy" title="Duke Energy" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Duke Energy</a>.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-20" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[20]</a> The Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is also a member of DC-based, ]]National Association of Manufacturers]]-based Partnership for a Better Energy Future. Southern Company, the Georgia-based parent company of Gulf Power, is represented on their board of directors.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-21" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[21]</a><a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-22" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[22]</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's funding is not transparent.</li></ul></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Florida Faith and Freedom Coalition Inc – $150,000<ul style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22 width=%225%22 height=%2213%22%3E %3Ccircle cx=%222.5%22 cy=%229%22 r=%222.5%22 fill=%22%23222%22/%3E %3C/svg%3E");"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">This organization is the Florida affiliate of the national <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Faith_and_Freedom_Coalition" title="Faith and Freedom Coalition" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Faith and Freedom Coalition</a>.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-23" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[23]</a> <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Faith_and_Freedom_Coalition" title="Faith and Freedom Coalition" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Faith and Freedom Coalition</a> President Ralph Reed runs <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Century_Strategies" title="Century Strategies" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Century Strategies</a>, which has worked for multiple, large energy concerns.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-24" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[24]</a> Reed announced the formation of the Faith and Freedom Coalition at a rally sponsored by the Koch-funded <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Americans_for_Prosperity" title="Americans for Prosperity" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Americans for Prosperity</a>.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-25" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[25]</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Florida Faith and Freedom Coalition's funding is not transparent.</li></ul></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Florida Council for Safe Communities – $20,000<ul style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22 width=%225%22 height=%2213%22%3E %3Ccircle cx=%222.5%22 cy=%229%22 r=%222.5%22 fill=%22%23222%22/%3E %3C/svg%3E");"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Florida Council for Safe Communities recently hired <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=McGuireWoods_LLP&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="McGuireWoods LLP (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">McGuireWoods LLP</a> to represent their petition ot the Florida Supreme Court against the original pro-solar ballot initiative.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-26" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[26]</a> <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=McGuireWoods_LLP&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="McGuireWoods LLP (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">McGuireWoods LLP</a>'s clients in the past two years have included <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=America%27s_Natural_Gas_Alliance&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="America's Natural Gas Alliance (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">America's Natural Gas Alliance</a>, <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Dominion_Resources" class="mw-redirect" title="Dominion Resources" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Dominion Resources</a>, <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Duke_Energy" title="Duke Energy" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Duke Energy</a>, <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Energy_Future_Holdings" title="Energy Future Holdings" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Energy Future Holdings</a>, <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=ExxonMobil" class="mw-redirect" title="ExxonMobil" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">ExxonMobil</a>, <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Southern_Company" title="Southern Company" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Southern Company</a>, <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=American_Petroleum_Institute" title="American Petroleum Institute" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">American Petroleum Institute</a>, and <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Xcel_Energy" title="Xcel Energy" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Xcel Energy</a>.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-27" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[27]</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">The Florida Council for Safe Communities' funding is not transparent.</li></ul></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Floridians for Government Accountability – $61,750<ul style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22 width=%225%22 height=%2213%22%3E %3Ccircle cx=%222.5%22 cy=%229%22 r=%222.5%22 fill=%22%23222%22/%3E %3C/svg%3E");"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Floridians for Government Accountability is a non-profit run by Florida public relations firm <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Front_Line_Strategies,LLC&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Front Line Strategies, LLC (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Front Line Strategies, LLC</a>.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-28" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[28]</a> Front Line Strategies' recent clients includes Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, a major opponent of the pro-solar ballot initiative.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-29" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[29]</a> Jim Hart, the President of Floridians for Government Accountability, is a former <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Duke_Energy" title="Duke Energy" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Duke Energy</a> executive.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-30" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[30]</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Floridians for Government Accountability's funding is not transparent.</li></ul></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Let's Preserve the American Dream – $500,000<ul style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22 width=%225%22 height=%2213%22%3E %3Ccircle cx=%222.5%22 cy=%229%22 r=%222.5%22 fill=%22%23222%22/%3E %3C/svg%3E");"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">In its September 2015 filing, Consumers for Smart Solar reported a $200,000 contribution from Let's Preserve the American Dream PAC, but Ryan Tyson, Executive Director of the PAC, said this was a mistake and that the contribution was actually from the 501(c)(4) group with the same name, formally named Associated Industries for America's Future. The filing has been updated and the amount was changed to a total of $500,000.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-31" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[31]</a><a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-32" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[32]</a><a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-33" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[33]</a> The 501(c)(4) organization does not need to disclose its funding, but the PAC does and has received $10,000 from Florida Power and Light in June 2015, $5,000 from Floridians United for our Children in February 2015, and $6,000 from Floridians for a Stronger Democracy.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-34" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[34]</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">The leadership of Let's Preserve the American Dream, Tom Feeney, President, and Ryan Tyson, Executive Director, are also President and Vice President of Associated Industries of Florida.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-35" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[35]</a> The Associated Industries of Florida Political Action Committee has received a total of $156,500 from Florida Power and Light in 2015, a group which has itself received $50,000 from [Duke Energy] in February 2015 and $100,000 from Florida Power and Light.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-36" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[36]</a></li></ul></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options – $50,000<ul style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22 width=%225%22 height=%2213%22%3E %3Ccircle cx=%222.5%22 cy=%229%22 r=%222.5%22 fill=%22%23222%22/%3E %3C/svg%3E");"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">The Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options is a non-profit that received $50,000 in funding from the <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Jaquelin_Hume_Foundation" title="Jaquelin Hume Foundation" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Jaquelin Hume Foundation</a>, which also supports numerous right-wing organizations, including the <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=State_Policy_Network" title="State Policy Network" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">State Policy Network</a> and several of its think tanks, the <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=American_Legislative_Exchange_Council" title="American Legislative Exchange Council" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">American Legislative Exchange Council</a> and the <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Heartland_Institute" title="Heartland Institute" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Heartland Institute</a>.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-37" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[37]</a> They are also listed under the <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=State_Policy_Network" title="State Policy Network" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">State Policy Network</a>'s "education reform resources."<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-38" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[38]</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">The Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options' funding is not transparent.</li></ul></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Checks and Balances for Economic Growth – $289,965<ul style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22 width=%225%22 height=%2213%22%3E %3Ccircle cx=%222.5%22 cy=%229%22 r=%222.5%22 fill=%22%23222%22/%3E %3C/svg%3E");"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Checks and Balances for Economic Growth is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Washington DC, and was previously named the Institute for Science and Politics, Inc from 2004 to 2007.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-39" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[39]</a><a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-40" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[40]</a><a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-41" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[41]</a> They ran television ads in Ohio in 2012 attacking Senator Sherrod Brown and President Barack Obama, claiming they were harming coal mining jobs through regulation.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-42" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[42]</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">The original incorporators of the Institute for Science and Politics Inc were Alan Dye, Douglas MacDonald, and Heidi Abegg from law firm Webster, Chamberlain, and Bean, a firm specialising in non-profit law that has advised fossil-fuel funded clients such as the <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Heritage_Foundation" title="Heritage Foundation" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Heritage Foundation</a> and the <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=American_Legislative_Exchange_Council" title="American Legislative Exchange Council" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">American Legislative Exchange Council</a>.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-43" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[43]</a><a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-44" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[44]</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Checks and Balances for Economic Growth's funding is not transparent.</li></ul></li></ul><h2 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); line-height: 1.3;">Political Contributions</h2>Florida utility companies have traditionally fought pro-solar energy legislation by giving nearly $12 million in campaign contributions to Florida elected officials, included a reported $1.1 million to Governor Rick Scott's 2014 re-election campaign.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-45" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[45]</a><h2 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); line-height: 1.3;">Petition Controversies</h2>Petition gatherers for both proposed solar-energy constitutional amendments in Florida are hired, mostly through third-party contractors.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-46" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[46]</a> Consumers for Smart Solar offers petition gatherers more money per signature, using their huge financial backing from Florida utility companies and organizations with ties to energy giants like <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Koch_Industries" title="Koch Industries" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Koch Industries</a>.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-47" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[47]</a> While the Floridians for Solar Choice amendment currently has more signatures, Consumers for Smart Solar is trying to catch up by paying petition gatherers to prioritize their petition over the Floridians for Solar Choice petition.<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-48" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[48]</a><h2 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); line-height: 1.3;">Organizational Leadership</h2>Co-Chairman Dick Batchelor: "Dick Batchelor is a former Democratic member of the Florida House of Representatives with more than 35 years of business and public affairs experience in Central Florida. He is one of the youngest individuals ever to serve in the Florida House of Representatives (1974-1982), where he served as chairman of the Auditing Committee, the Health and Rehabilitative Services Committee and the House Energy Committee. Additionally, Dick served on the Southeast Regional Low-Level Radioactive Waste Compact Commission, which was created by Congress in 1980 to allow states to responsibly dispose of their low-level radioactive waste." <a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-org_website-49" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[49]</a>Co-Chairman Jim Kallinger: "Jim Kallinger is an inventor, small business owner, and former Republican member of the Florida House of Representatives from Central Florida. In the Legislature, he served as Chairman of the Business Regulation Committee and as Vice Chair of the Select Committee on Constitutional Amendments."<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-org_website-49" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[49]</a>Coalition Member Screven Watson: "Screven Watson is a former Executive Director of the Florida Democratic Party with an extensive background in public policy at the state and local levels for over two decades."<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-org_website-49" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[49]</a>Coalition Member Billie Tucker: "Billie Tucker is a Florida Tea Party leader and Chairman and CEO of the Grassroots Victory Tour, a non-profit dedicated to the preservation and promotion of America’s founding principles."<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-org_website-49" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[49]</a>Coalition Member Julio A. Fuentes: "Julio A. Fuentes is President & CEO of the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (FSHCC). He founded the chamber in 2000 in response to the tremendous growth of Florida’s Hispanic population. Today, the chamber has grown to 38 chapters and supports a network of over 80,000 minority-owned businesses."<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-org_website-49" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[49]</a>Coalition Member Matt Carter: "Matt Carter is a former Public Service Commission Chairman and current member of the governing board of the state university system."<a href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Consumers_for_Smart_Solar#cite_note-org_website-49" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[49]</a><h2 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); line-height: 1.3;">Related Articles</h2><ul style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22 width=%225%22 height=%2213%22%3E %3Ccircle cx=%222.5%22 cy=%229%22 r=%222.5%22 fill=%22%23222%22/%3E %3C/svg%3E"); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Nick Surgey, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.prwatch.org/news/2015/11/12975/Koch-Group-Dumps-Half-Million-Dollars-in-Florida-Anti-Solar-Campaign" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22 width=%2212%22 height=%2212%22%3E %3Cpath fill=%22%23fff%22 stroke=%22%2336c%22 d=%22M1.5 4.518h5.982V10.5H1.5z%22/%3E %3Cpath fill=%22%2336c%22 d=%22M5.765 1H11v5.39L9.427 7.937l-1.31-1.31L5.393 9.35l-2.69-2.688 2.81-2.808L4.2 2.544z%22/%3E %3Cpath fill=%22%23fff%22 d=%22M9.995 2.004l.022 4.885L8.2 5.07 5.32 7.95 4.09 6.723l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z%22/%3E %3C/svg%3E"); padding-right: 13px;">Koch Group Dumps Half Million Dollars in Florida Anti-Solar Campaign</a>, PRWatch.org, November 13, 2015.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Nick Surgey, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.prwatch.org/news/2015/11/12971/solar-fight-florida-heats-mysterious-donor" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22 width=%2212%22 height=%2212%22%3E %3Cpath fill=%22%23fff%22 stroke=%22%2336c%22 d=%22M1.5 4.518h5.982V10.5H1.5z%22/%3E %3Cpath fill=%22%2336c%22 d=%22M5.765 1H11v5.39L9.427 7.937l-1.31-1.31L5.393 9.35l-2.69-2.688 2.81-2.808L4.2 2.544z%22/%3E %3Cpath fill=%22%23fff%22 d=%22M9.995 2.004l.022 4.885L8.2 5.07 5.32 7.95 4.09 6.723l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z%22/%3E %3C/svg%3E"); padding-right: 13px;">Solar Fight in Florida Heats Up with Mysterious Donor</a>, PRWatch.org, November 9, 2015.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Jamie Corey, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.prwatch.org/news/2015/09/12940/koch-brothers-backing-misleading-anti-solar-campaign-florida" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent) right center no-repeat, url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22 width=%2212%22 height=%2212%22%3E %3Cpath fill=%22%23fff%22 stroke=%22%2336c%22 d=%22M1.5 4.518h5.982V10.5H1.5z%22/%3E %3Cpath fill=%22%2336c%22 d=%22M5.765 1H11v5.39L9.427 7.937l-1.31-1.31L5.393 9.35l-2.69-2.688 2.81-2.808L4.2 2.544z%22/%3E %3Cpath fill=%22%23fff%22 d=%22M9.995 2.004l.022 4.885L8.2 5.07 5.32 7.95 4.09 6.723l2.882-2.88-1.85-1.852z%22/%3E %3C/svg%3E"); padding-right: 13px;">Koch Brothers Backing Misleading Anti-Solar Campaign in Florida</a>, PRWatch.org, September 29, 2015.</li></ul><h2 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); line-height: 1.3;">Resources</h2><div>...</div></div><div>=</div>=http://desmogblog.com/2016/03/07/florida-rooftop-solar-advocates-challenge-deceptive-anti-solar-campaign-courtThe Sunshine State didn’t get its name for nothing: Florida ranks <a href="http://www.seia.org/state-solar-policy/florida" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">third</a> nationally in rooftop solar energy potential. But thanks to restrictive laws supported by the state’s powerful utility monopolies, the country’s third most populous state is only fourteenth in installed solar capacity.
 
Florida is one of only four states that bar third-party solar financing, when non-utility companies install solar panels on the roofs of homes and businesses at little or no upfront cost, sometimes selling the energy generated back to the customer.
 
A battle in Florida is well underway between Big Energy and clean-energy advocates. The current conflict began when a coalition called <a href="http://www.flsolarchoice.org/" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">Floridians for Solar Choice</a> (FSC) proposed <a href="http://www.flsolarchoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/64491-1.pdf" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">a ballot measure</a> to legalize third-party solar agreements. FSC is an unlikely alliance of Tea Party activists and environmentalists, Libertarians, Republicans, a Christian coalition, and business groups.Utilities are threatened by third-party solar, which could affect their bottom line because of net metering—when utilities pay solar users for excess energy generated by their solar panels—and less demand for grid-based energy and new power plants. 
So utility giants teamed up with chambers of commerce and political and “social welfare” nonprofits to form <a href="https://smartsolarfl.org/" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">Consumers for Smart Solar</a> (CSS), which produced <a href="http://miamiherald.typepad.com/files/smart-solar-petition.pdf" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">a competing ballot initiative</a> that allegedly protects consumers and encourages the use of rooftop solar.
 
Critics of CSS say the group, seeing the positive polling that FSC’s amendment had received, created its measure to confuse voters, mimicking language used in the first measure but with a very different meaning. The ballot title is “Rights of Electricity Consumers Regarding Solar Energy Choice,” echoing CSS’s competitor’s name, Floridians for Solar Choice.
 
Today the state Supreme Court will hear arguments from David Guest, managing attorney for Earthjustice’s Florida office. The environmental law firm is representing three conservation groups that are <a href="http://earthjustice.org/cases/2016/challenging-a-misleading-solar-ballot-initiative-in-florida" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">challenging</a> the CSS ballot measure that purports to give consumers the right to install solar panels on their homes.
 
But here’s the catch: Floridians already have the right to do this.
 
Guest says that under the Florida constitution, residents have the right to own and use property as long as that property has no adverse effects on others. The measure, which would amend the state constitution, attempts to trick voters by pretending to afford them a constitutional right they already have, he says, which is impermissible under Florida law.
 
The amendment’s language is misleading in more ways than one, says Guest. The amendment summary says that state and local governments will “ensure that consumers who do not choose to install solar are not required to subsidize the costs of backup power and electric grid access to those who do.” But the true meanings of some of these terms, including “subsidize” and “backup power,” Guest says, are not what they might seem to the lay reader.
 
While many might think “backup power” refers to gas generators, for example, the amendment goes on to define the term as electricity that the utility provides solar users at times when solar energy is unavailable, like nighttime.
 
Earthjustice’s <a href="http://earthjustice.org/sites/default/files/files/Florida%20Faux-solar%20Amendment%20Filing_1.13.16.pdf" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">legal brief</a> also contends that the practice of net metering, when utilities pay solar users for excess energy generated by their solar panels at the same rate that the utility charges for its electricity, does not constitute a subsidy, as the amendment suggests.
 
“This is a fake amendment that was designed for the purpose of defeating the real one,” says Guest. “It’s simply a device to trick voters into putting the brakes on solar while believing they’re promoting it.”
 
The CSS amendment “is an outright lie under the guise of solar freedom,” says Debbie Dooley, head of Conservatives for Energy Freedom, a founding organization with FSC, and a Tea Party co-founder who has led successful organizing efforts in Georgia and South Carolina to expand third-party solar agreements.
 
The CSS petitioners have engaged in dishonest signature gathering, members of the conservation groups have found. FSCmembers encountered voters who had already signed CSS’s petition, thinking it was FSC’s.
 
Guest says he was approached by CSS petitioners in November who presented him with both measures, falsely claiming that one covered local jurisdictions and the other covered the state. He signed only the FSC petition, and just recently he called his election supervisor, who had no record of his signed petition.
 
Big Corporations Back “Consumer” Group
 
Consumers for Smart Solar is hardly a consumer advocacy organization. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. As of March 4, data from the Florida Division of Elections reveals that major utilities, trade organizations, and a Koch-funded nonprofit provided the vast majority of the more than $7.3 million raised by the group from 2015 through January of this year.
 
Florida Power & Light, the state’s largest utility, has contributed the most to CSS ($1.3 million), with Duke Energy close behind ($1.2 million).
 
The <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/60-plus-association" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">60 Plus Association</a>, a “social welfare” nonprofit funded by many groups backed by the billionaire Koch brothers, put in $1.1 million.
 
Other energy companies donating large sums were Tampa Electric Company ($1 million) and Gulf Power Company ($715,000), while the Partnership for Affordable Clean Energy ($126,000) and Powersouth Energy Cooperative ($60,000) contributed lesser sums. Mysterious “social welfare” nonprofit <a href="http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/mystery-surrounds-largest-donor-to-rival-solar-power-ballot-initiative/2251418" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">Let’s Preserve the American Dream</a> gave $840,000, and other “social welfare” groups <a href="http://www.citizensforethics.org/legal-filings/entry/crew-calls-on-fec-to-investigate-checks-and-balances-for-economic-growth" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">Checks and Balances for Economic Growth</a> ($421,000), Florida Faith and Freedom Coalition ($175,000), and Floridians for Government Accountability ($62,000) also pitched in.The <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/national-black-chamber-commerce" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">National Black Chamber of Commerce</a> gave $100,000, and the Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, $50,000.
 
The CSS <a href="https://smartsolarfl.org/about-us/" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">website</a> lists its leaders, a group of political insiders from the Democratic and Republican parties, including a Tea Party head, the president and CEO of the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Board of Governors of the state’s university system.
 
As it turns out, two of CSS’s leaders are profiting from the campaign.
 
CSS paid $50,000 last year to the consulting firm of co-chairman Dick Batchelor, a former Democratic member of the Florida House, for management and communications consulting, while Batchelor gave only $100 to the CSS, according to campaign finance records.
 
The government relations firm of “coalition member” and former executive director of the Florida Democratic Party, Screven Watson, received over $25,000 from CSS last year for management and communications consulting and travel. Watson donated $25 to CSS.
 
Endorsements from black and Hispanic organizations may be the result of a lengthy campaign by Big Energy to “<a href="http://grist.org/climate-energy/big-energy-has-tried-to-turn-people-of-color-against-solar-power-since-forever/" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">turn people of color against solar power</a>,” documented by Brentin Mock. Corporations like Exxon have funded groups such as the National Black Chamber of Commerce and lobbied members of Congress.
 
The Edison Electric Institute, a trade association for electricity companies, has successfully converted some lawmakers of color <a href="http://grist.org/climate-energy/heres-how-dirty-energy-is-co-opting-black-lawmakers/" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">against net metering</a>. In addition to the chambers of commerce, the Florida state NAACP and the National Congress of Black Women are listed as endorsing organizations.
 
Fundraising by FSC couldn’t compete with the big money that major corporations and deep-pocked political groups poured into CSS, and this funding imbalance was one reason FSC didn’t get the required number of signatures to put its amendment on the 2016 ballot. The group plans to push for its amendment again <a href="http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/consumer/fl-nsf-solar-choice-2018-ballot-20160111-story.html" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">in 2018</a>.
 
FSC’s donor list is much longer than its competitor’s, with many small individual donations, but most of the $2.1 million it raised came from the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy Action Fund, the Alliance’s “social welfare” nonprofit arm.
 
Members of the solar industry have contributed, including Infinite Energy ($25,000), founding organization the Florida Solar Energy Industry Association ($2,900), and Brilliant Harvest ($2,500), but the corporate backing of FSC is nowhere near that ofCSS. Conservatives for Energy Freedom pitched in $25,000, and wealthy Democratic donor Barbara Stiefel contributed $100,000.
 
While the utilities have ponied up large sums to fund the misleading ballot measure, they’ve spent far more over the years to sway the Florida legislature and governor, making it a tough climate for clean-energy advocates.
 
“The legislature is owned by the utilities,” former GOP state legislator Nancy Argenziano <a href="file://localhost/The%2520legislature%2520is%2520owned%2520by%2520the%2520utilities.%2520To%2520me,%2520it's%2520extremely%2520corrupt.%2520The%2520legislature%2520takes%2520millions%2520from%2520utilities,%2520who%2520make%2520billions%2520from%2520%255bthe%2520decisions%2520of%255d%2520the%2520PSC.%2520They%2520get%2520what%2520they%2520pay%2520for.%2522%2520%2520Read%2520more/%2520http/::www.rollingstone.com:politics:news:the-koch-brothers-dirty-war-on-solar-power-20160211#ixzz41yi6sBU0 Follow us: @rollingstone on Twitter | RollingStone on Facebook" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">told</a> Rolling Stone. “To me, it's extremely corrupt. The legislature takes millions from utilities, who make billions” because of decisions made by the Public Service Commission, a five-member board that regulates the utilities and is appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate. “They get what they pay for.”
 
The effort to derail solar in Florida is one of many from big utilities around the country. <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/2016/03/06/battle-over-solar-energy-s-future-north-carolina-heats-bipartisan-bills-and-civil-protests-mount-against-duke-energy" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">Duke Energy has fought third-party sales in North Carolina</a>, and utilities have gone after net metering in Arizona and Nevada. DeSmog will continue to monitor these developments in this series on <a href="http://www.desmogblog.com/war-solar-and-renewable-energy" target="blank" style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">The War On Solar and Renewable Energy</a>.<a href="http://desmogblog.com/2016/03/07/florida-rooftop-solar-advocates-challenge-deceptive-anti-solar-campaign-court" style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; outline: none;">http://desmogblog.com/2016/03/07/florida-rooftop-solar-advocates-challenge-deceptive-anti-solar-campaign-court</a><div id="entry-date" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">February 26, 2016</div><h1 class="f-replace-bold" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><cufon class="cufon cufon-canvas" alt="Dark " style="width: 69px; height: 25px; display: inline-block !important; position: relative !important; vertical-align: middle !important; line-height: 1px !important;"><canvas width="89" height="24" style="position: relative !important; width: 89px; height: 24px; top: -1px; left: 0px;"><cufontext style="display: inline-block !important; width: 0px !important; height: 0px !important; overflow: hidden !important; text-indent: -10000in !important;" /></canvas></cufon><cufon class="cufon cufon-canvas" alt="Money " style="width: 93px; height: 25px; display: inline-block !important; position: relative !important; vertical-align: middle !important; line-height: 1px !important;"><canvas width="112" height="24" style="position: relative !important; width: 112px; height: 24px; top: -1px; left: 0px;"><cufontext style="display: inline-block !important; width: 0px !important; height: 0px !important; overflow: hidden !important; text-indent: -10000in !important;" /></canvas></cufon><cufon class="cufon cufon-canvas" alt="Fuels " style="width: 75px; height: 25px; display: inline-block !important; position: relative !important; vertical-align: middle !important; line-height: 1px !important;"><canvas width="95" height="24" style="position: relative !important; width: 95px; height: 24px; top: -1px; left: 0px;"><cufontext style="display: inline-block !important; width: 0px !important; height: 0px !important; overflow: hidden !important; text-indent: -10000in !important;" /></canvas></cufon><cufon class="cufon cufon-canvas" alt="Florida " style="width: 98px; height: 25px; display: inline-block !important; position: relative !important; vertical-align: middle !important; line-height: 1px !important;"><canvas width="118" height="24" style="position: relative !important; width: 118px; height: 24px; top: -1px; left: 0px;"><cufontext style="display: inline-block !important; width: 0px !important; height: 0px !important; overflow: hidden !important; text-indent: -10000in !important;" /></canvas></cufon><cufon class="cufon cufon-canvas" alt="Solar " style="width: 70px; height: 25px; display: inline-block !important; position: relative !important; vertical-align: middle !important; line-height: 1px !important;"><canvas width="89" height="24" style="position: relative !important; width: 89px; height: 24px; top: -1px; left: 0px;"><cufontext style="display: inline-block !important; width: 0px !important; height: 0px !important; overflow: hidden !important; text-indent: -10000in !important;" /></canvas></cufon><cufon class="cufon cufon-canvas" alt="Energy " style="width: 96px; height: 25px; display: inline-block !important; position: relative !important; vertical-align: middle !important; line-height: 1px !important;"><canvas width="116" height="24" style="position: relative !important; width: 116px; height: 24px; top: -1px; left: 0px;"><cufontext style="display: inline-block !important; width: 0px !important; height: 0px !important; overflow: hidden !important; text-indent: -10000in !important;" /></canvas></cufon><cufon class="cufon cufon-canvas" alt="Ballot " style="width: 80px; height: 25px; display: inline-block !important; position: relative !important; vertical-align: middle !important; line-height: 1px !important;"><canvas width="100" height="24" style="position: relative !important; width: 100px; height: 24px; top: -1px; left: 0px;"><cufontext style="display: inline-block !important; width: 0px !important; height: 0px !important; overflow: hidden !important; text-indent: -10000in !important;" /></canvas></cufon><cufon class="cufon cufon-canvas" alt="Initiative " style="width: 121px; height: 25px; display: inline-block !important; position: relative !important; vertical-align: middle !important; line-height: 1px !important;"><canvas width="140" height="24" style="position: relative !important; width: 140px; height: 24px; top: -1px; left: 0px;"><cufontext style="display: inline-block !important; width: 0px !important; height: 0px !important; overflow: hidden !important; text-indent: -10000in !important;" /></canvas></cufon><cufon class="cufon cufon-canvas" alt="Fight" style="width: 66px; height: 25px; display: inline-block !important; position: relative !important; vertical-align: middle !important; line-height: 1px !important;"><canvas width="83" height="24" style="position: relative !important; width: 83px; height: 24px; top: -1px; left: 0px;"><cufontext style="display: inline-block !important; width: 0px !important; height: 0px !important; overflow: hidden !important; text-indent: -10000in !important;" /></canvas></cufon></h1>By Alison Grass<div id="category-placer" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a href="http://www.citizensforethics.org/pages/category-results/c/501c-groups" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">501c Groups</a>, <a href="http://www.citizensforethics.org/pages/category-results/c/state-ethics" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">State Ethics</a>, <a href="http://www.citizensforethics.org/pages/category-results/c/states" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">States</a>, <a href="http://www.citizensforethics.org/pages/category-results/c/florida" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">Florida</a>, <a href="http://www.citizensforethics.org/pages/category-results/c/koch-brothers" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">Koch Brothers</a></div>On July 15, 2015, a group called <a href="http://search.sunbiz.org/Inquiry/CorporationSearch/ConvertTiffToPDF?storagePath=COR\2015\0713\74420325.Tif&documentNumber=N15000006559" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">Consumers for Smart Solar</a> (CSS) announced a <a href="https://smartsolarfl.org/consumers-for-smart-solar-launches-consumer-friendly-ballot-initiative-for-2016-general-election/" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">ballot initiative</a> in Florida aimed at keeping electric utilities in charge of energy distribution, including solar-generated energy. Late last month, the <a href="http://www.utilitydive.com/news/utility-backed-florida-solar-amendment-nabs-qualifying-signatures-for-2016/412697/" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">group claimed</a> enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot in 2016.CSS’s effort was launched in <a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/news/state/florida/article27352444.html" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">response</a> to a proposal by another group, <a href="http://www.flsolarchoice.org/about/" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">Floridians for Solar Choice</a>(FSC), seeking to legalize third-party-owned solar leasing to help accelerate distributed solar growth in Florida, which is viewed as <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-koch-brothers-dirty-war-on-solar-power-20160211?page=2" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">a threat to the traditional business model</a> of electric utilities. The <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-koch-brothers-dirty-war-on-solar-power-20160211?page=5" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">fight,</a>which pits electric utilities against a <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/The_Tuesday_Count:Diverse_coalition_backs%E2%80%9Csolar_choice%E2%80%9D_initiative_in_Florida" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">bipartisan</a> <a href="http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/energy/coalition-of-conservatives-and-liberals-to-fight-for-more-florida-solar/2213527" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">coalition</a> of tea partiers and environmentalists, has been fueled by significant sums from groups that are not required to disclose their donors.FSC, which <a href="http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/consumer/fl-nsf-solar-choice-2018-ballot-20160111-story.html" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">ran into challenges</a> gathering enough signatures to make the November 2016 ballot, raised 86 percent of its $2 million in campaign donations from the <a href="http://www.cleanenergyactionfund.org/about-sace-action-fund/" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">Southern Alliance for Clean Energy Action Fund</a>, a nonprofit organization that is not required to disclose its donors. The rest came primarily from individuals, and a handful of solar and environmental groups. CSS’s campaign, which spent more than four times as much as FSC, has been <a href="http://therealdeal.com/miami/2015/12/27/opposing-solar-initiatives-far-from-2016-ballot/" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">scrutinized</a> for being <a href="http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/technology/os-nsf-consumers-smart-solar-florida-funds-20150811-story.html" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">heavily fueled</a> by big<a href="http://www.prwatch.org/news/2015/09/12940/koch-brothers-backing-misleading-anti-solar-campaign-florida" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">electric utilities</a>, but less attention has been paid to the fact that more than <a href="http://dos.elections.myflorida.com/committees/ComDetail.asp?account=64817" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">a third of the group’s funding</a> has come from nonprofits that don’t have to reveal their donors.Though utilities contributed $4.3 million to CSS, the $2.8 million from nonprofits means that utilities and other energy companies might be responsible for an even larger proportion of the group’s budget. Some of the so-called dark money groups that have contributed to CSS have known ties to the utility industry.For instance, one of the directors of <a href="http://search.sunbiz.org/Inquiry/CorporationSearch/SearchResultDetail?inquirytype=FeiNumber&directionType=Initial&searchNameOrder=463098708N130000065061&aggregateId=domnp-n13000006506-d7b7f63c-680f-4a3a-93a5-417e13f06d08&searchTerm=463098708&listNameOrder=463098708N130000065060" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">Let’s Preserve the American Dream</a> (LPAD), which contributed $840,000, is also the <a href="http://www.flchamber.com/contact/mike-bjorklund-jr/" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">director of legislative affairs</a> for the Florida Electric Cooperatives Association (FECA), a trade association that <a href="http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/os-solar-amendment-supreme-court-20150901-story.html" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">publically</a> <a href="http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/business/solar-ballot-initiative-briefs-filed-with-florida-/nmZxg/" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">opposed</a> FSC’s proposed measure. LPAD’s executive director, Ryan D. Tyson, is vice president of political operations for the <a href="http://www.aif.com/menu_staff_officers.html" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">Associated Industries of Florida</a>, a <a href="http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-solar-amendment-proposals-florida-20151015-story.html" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">pro-business lobbying</a> organization whose PAC receives <a href="http://dos.elections.myflorida.com/committees/ComDetail.asp?account=60768" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">support</a> from Florida Power & Light Company, the <a href="http://www.nexteraenergy.com/company/factsheet.shtml" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">biggest</a> electric utility in the state, and the <a href="https://www.fpl.com/about/company-profile.html" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">third largest</a> in the country.The Virginia-based <a href="http://60plus.org/" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">60 Plus Association</a>, a group that has worked with the <a href="http://www.publicintegrity.org/2014/07/31/15194/watchdog-files-irs-complaint-against-koch-connected-60-plus-association" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">Koch brothers’ political network</a>, was CSS’s top dark money donor and the third largest donor overall, giving $1.1 million. In the past, 60 Plus has supported electric utilities in <a href="http://mrdunngoestomontgomery.com/did-alabama-power-pay-d-c-based-60-plus-to-bash-dunn-carry-its-water-at-psc/" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">numerous</a> <a href="http://www.energyandpolicy.org/60-plus-association" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">state-level energy fights</a>, and the group<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/31/arizona-solar-net-metering_n_4181871.html" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">received funding</a> in 2013 from the <a href="https://www.aps.com/en/ourcompany/aboutus/companyprofile/Pages/home.aspx" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">largest electric utility</a> in Arizona, Arizona Public Service, to run ads<a href="http://www.kcet.org/news/redefine/rewire/commentary/arizona-utility-admits-it-funded-anti-net-metering-groups.html" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">attacking net-metering</a>, a practice that makes home <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/utilities-sensing-threat-put-squeeze-on-booming-solar-roof-industry/2015/03/07/2d916f88-c1c9-11e4-ad5c-3b8ce89f1b89_story.html" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">solar more affordable</a>. The organization, which<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2009/08/astroturf-20?page=3" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">presents itself</a> as a senior citizens advocacy group, <a href="http://60plus.org/60-plus-enters-the-arizona-solar-debate/" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">argued</a> that using a <a href="http://solarsimplified.org/connecting-to-the-grid/interconnecting-solar-with-my-utility" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">net-metering billing</a> plan for solar would drive up rates for the elderly. The group made a similar argument in a <a href="http://60plus.org/seniors-group-supports-consumers-for-smart-solar/" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">press release</a>praising CSS’ ballot initiative in Florida. In 2014, CREW <a href="http://www.citizensforethics.org/legal-filings/entry/irs-investigation-60-plus-association-misleading-irs-re-political-spending" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">filed an IRS complaint against</a> 60 Plus for intentionally failing to disclose over $11 million in political activity from 2010 and 2012.Checks and Balances for Economic Growth (CBEG), a nonprofit group with practically no public profile, gave CSS $420,965. During 2012 it ran <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr8VvfmlAleontsSJte72-w" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">online</a> <a href="http://www.citizensforethics.org/legal-filings/entry/crew-calls-on-fec-to-investigate-checks-and-balances-for-economic-growth" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">advertisements</a> attacking President Obama and Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) featuring <a href="http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/morning-energy/2012/10/debate-night-waxman-challenger-bankrolls-millions-to-his-own-campaign-wind-pac-aims-money-at-pro-ptc-lawmakers-ad-on-coal-ad-spawns-third-ad-lcv-goes-after-lawmakers-with-billboards-007732" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">miners</a> from Murray Energy Corporation, a coal company, at a <a href="http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2012/08/coal_miners_lost_pay_when_mitt.html" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">Mitt Romney rally</a>. That same year it also spent <a href="http://www.citizensforethics.org/legal-filings/entry/crew-calls-on-fec-to-investigate-checks-and-balances-for-economic-growth" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">hundreds of thousands</a> of dollars on television ads in Ohio decrying “<a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2012/10/its-miner-versus-miner-in-ohio-coal-war-ads-082542" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">the war on coal</a>.” Since the group doesn’t disclose its donors, it is unknown whether Murray Energy, or other coal companies, funded them.Another nonprofit donor, giving $175,000 to CSS, was the <a href="http://www.ffcoalition.com/leadership/florida" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Florida Faith and Freedom Coalition</a>, a state chapter of the conservative, Georgia-based nonprofit, <a href="http://www.ffcoalition.com/" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">Faith and Freedom Coalition</a> (FFC). The<a href="http://search.sunbiz.org/Inquiry/CorporationSearch/SearchResultDetail?inquirytype=EntityName&directionType=Initial&searchNameOrder=FLORIDAFAITHFREEDOMCOALITION%20N100000006280&aggregateId=domnp-n10000000628-92053057-e3ff-478d-9be0-d9ed92463974&searchTerm=Florida%20Faith%20and%20Freedom%20Coalition&listNameOrder=FLORIDAFAITHFREEDOMCOALITION%20N100000006280" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">chairman</a> of the <a href="http://www.ffcoalition.com/leadership/florida" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Florida FFC</a>, former Florida State Assembly member James “Jim” Kallinger, is also a<a href="http://dos.elections.myflorida.com/initiatives/initdetail.asp?account=64817&seqnum=1" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">chairman</a> of <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-kallinger-76755b46" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">CSS</a>. The <a href="http://www.ffcoalition.com/staff" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">founder</a> and chairman of the national FFC, infamous <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/25/business/enron-s-collapse-strategist-associates-bush-aide-say-he-helped-strategist-win.html" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Republican strategist</a>Ralph Reed, also has past energy industry ties. One of his prior gigs included running his Atlanta-based consulting group, Century Strategies, where he represented various <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2004/11/ralph-reeds-other-cheek" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">multinational corporations</a>, including <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/25/business/enron-s-collapse-strategist-associates-bush-aide-say-he-helped-strategist-win.html" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Enron</a>, who played a key role in the <a href="https://www.citizen.org/documents/Blind_Faith.PDF" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">federal deregulation</a> of electricity markets.Other nonprofit donations to CSS’s campaign include $126,000 from Alabama-based <a href="http://energyfairness.org/" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">Partnership for Affordable and Clean Energy</a> (PACE) and $61,750 came from <a href="http://www.accountablefl.com/" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">Floridians for Government Accountability</a> (FGA). PACE was incorporated on February 27, 2009 by <a href="http://arc-sos.state.al.us/cgi/corpdetail.mbr/detail?corp=569344&page=agent" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">William D. Lineberry</a>, an<a href="http://www.balch.com/wlineberry/" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">attorney</a> who works at the law firm, Balch & Bingham, which lobbies on behalf of <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/firmsum.php?id=D000021862&year=2015" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">Southern Company</a>and its subsidiary, Alabama Power. FGA is <a href="http://floridapolitics.com/archives/188252-floridians-for-government-accountability-latest-group-to-endorse-smart-solar-amendment" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">chaired</a> by a former Duke Energy <a href="https://chipola.edu/public_relations/Releases/Archive/February%202007.htm#Hart%202-1-07" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">executive</a> with ties to various fossil fuel organizations named <a href="http://www.zoominfo.com/CachedPage/?archive_id=0&page_id=-1484966717&page_url=//www.accountabilityflorida.com/board.asp&page_last_updated=2011-06-29T13:42:16&firstName=Jim&lastName=Hart" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">Jim Hart</a>. The group, which claims it exists to “educate the public and provide information on issues related to economic freedom, fiscal responsibility, and accountability in all levels and branches of government,” doesn’t list energy policy as one of its <a href="http://www.accountablefl.com/key-issues/" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">key issues</a> on its website.  <a href="http://www.energyandpolicy.org/special-interests-behind-anti-solar-ballot-initiative-consumers-for-smart-solar" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">Energy and Social Justice Project</a>, a <a href="https://www.citizenaudit.org/organization/465501227/" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">nonprofit</a> based out of Washington, D.C., also gave $15,000.Though it didn’t donate to CSS’s campaign, another political nonprofit, Americans for Prosperity (AFP), which has close ties to energy conglomerate <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2014/05/koch-brothers-americans-for-prosperity-2014-elections-106520" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">Koch Industries</a>, is supporting the group’s pro-utility push. AFP sent <a href="http://www.indianadg.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/AFP-Solar-Handout.pdf" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none; padding-left: 15px; background: url("");" page="page" images="images" small_pdf_icon.gif="small_pdf_icon.gif" no-repeat="no-repeat">an e-mail</a> to Floridians <a href="http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/energy/conservative-solar-proponents-decry-attack-on-ballot-initiative-as/2220465" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">attacking</a> the FSC’s ballot initiative, saying the measure was about “money, and using government and taxpayers to prop up the solar industry.”FSC’s proposed measure would have <a href="http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/energy/americans-for-prosperity-criticizes-solar-but-avoids-ballot-position/2220790" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">enabled</a> property owners to produce and sell up to 2 megawatts of solar power to others on the <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Florida_Right_to_Produce_and_Sell_Solar_Energy_Initiative%282016%29" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">same or adjacent property</a>. CSS’s <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Florida_Right_to_Solar_Energy_Choice_Amendment%282016%29" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">measure</a>, on the other hand, would<a href="http://dos.elections.myflorida.com/initiatives/fulltext/pdf/64817-1.pdf" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none; padding-left: 15px; background: url("");" page="page" images="images" small_pdf_icon.gif="small_pdf_icon.gif" no-repeat="no-repeat">continue</a> allowing property owners to generate solar power for personal use, but the utilities would be left in charge of distributing all energy, including solar. Currently, Florida is <a href="http://ncsolarcen-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/3rd-Party-PPA_0302015.pdf" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none; padding-left: 15px; background: url("");" page="page" images="images" small_pdf_icon.gif="small_pdf_icon.gif" no-repeat="no-repeat">one of 5 states</a> to ban third-party-distributed solar practices.FSC <a href="http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/consumer/fl-nsf-solar-choice-2018-ballot-20160111-story.html" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">all but admitted defeat</a> in January when it announced it would try again to place the proposal on the ballot in 2018. After spending <a href="http://dos.elections.myflorida.com/committees/ComDetail.asp?account=64817" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">$5.7 million</a> – nearly triple FSC’s <a href="http://dos.elections.myflorida.com/committees/ComDetail.asp?account=64491" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">entire budget</a> -- on signature gathering and verifying, CSS met its goal, and the <a href="http://www.naplesnews.com/columnists/news/brent-batten/brent-batten-surprise-surprise-big-electric-wins-power-struggle-289ea723-3c8b-781d-e053-0100007fc19c-367577451.html" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">measure</a> will be on the November ballot. The fight has <a href="http://www.utilitydive.com/news/florida-critics-say-utility-backed-amendment-curbs-solar-choice/413768/" class="external" style="text-decoration: none; outline: none;">now moved into the courts</a>, where the ballot measure’s language must be approved, and then to the voting public. There is no doubt that there will be plenty more money spent, from both disclosed and undisclosed sources, before voters have their say in November. group calling itself “Let’s Preserve the American Dream” gave $200,000 to the utility-backed Consumers for Smart Solar, which was created seven months after a group supported by solar power companies and environmental organizations created Floridians for Solar Choice.<o:p style="box-sizing: border-box;" xmlns:o="o" />It’s the latest turn of events in the duel between the solar power ballot initiatives that have very different goals. Floridians for Solar Choice (backed by solar power companies and the League of Women Voters) want out of state solar power companies to be able to sell solar power to homeowners and businesses in Florida because the state’s existing utilities are not doing enough to promote that form of energy.<o:p style="box-sizing: border-box;" xmlns:o="o" />On the flip side, Consumers for Smart Solar are pushing an amendment that would in effect continue to allow only utilities regulated in Florida to provide solar power, and without competition from outside companies.<o:p style="box-sizing: border-box;" xmlns:o="o" />Consumers for Smart Solar have relied almost entirely on existing public utilities in Florida for financial support. FPL, Duke, Gulf Power and Tampa Electric have all given at least $160,000 each to the campaign.<o:p style="box-sizing: border-box;" xmlns:o="o" />The $200,000 from Let’s Preserve the American Dream is the largest donation yet. But who that group is shrouded in mystery. Consumers for Smart Solar, initially in campaign finance documents, identified that the group is a political action committee based at a mail box at a UPS Store two miles from the Florida State Capitol Building. The PAC’s chairman is Ryan D. Tyson, a Tallahassee lobbyist who also works as the vice president of Associated Industries of Florida – which is partly supported by state utility companies. But according to campaign finance reports, Tyson’s PAC did not report giving any money to Consumers for Smart Solar, despite their assertion it did. According to the Florida Division of Elections, Let’s Preserve the American Dream gave no campaign donations in September. But Consumers For Smart Solar reported getting the check for $200,000 on Sept. 30.<o:p style="box-sizing: border-box;" xmlns:o="o" />But after the discrepancy was pointed out by the Times/Herald, Tyson called Consumers for Smart Solar and instructed them to change their report to reflect the money came from a different group with a similar name: Let’s Preserve the American Dream Inc., which has no record of donating money in Florida before.<o:p style="box-sizing: border-box;" xmlns:o="o" />Tyson said Consumers for Smart Solar made a mistake in the way the reported the donation.<o:p style="box-sizing: border-box;" xmlns:o="o" />“Consumers for Smart Solar unfortunately reported the contribution from Let's Preserve the American Dream as coming from a PAC,” Tyson said. “That is incorrect.”<o:p style="box-sizing: border-box;" xmlns:o="o" />He said the donation came from a tax-exempt company he created with a similar name: Let’s Preserve the American Dream Inc. While the names are nearly identical, he said insisted the new company, which was officially named in February, is a “social welfare” organization that has a 501(c)4 designation, which allows it to not disclose who any of its donors are. If it were a political action committee, it would have to disclose the names.<o:p style="box-sizing: border-box;" xmlns:o="o" />The tactic partly mirrors what the other solar amendment supporters have done. Floridians for Solar Choice has received almost 90 percent of its nearly $1.3 million from one group: the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, which promotes solar power initiatives throughout the southeastern United States.<o:p style="box-sizing: border-box;" xmlns:o="o" />But Stephen Smith, executive director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, said while the vehicles are similar the goals are very different. He said Let’s Preserve the American Dream is simply a front group hiding more donations from utilities companies. He said he group uses the 501(c)4 designation as a way to protect their donors from potential conflict with power companies in Florida.<o:p style="box-sizing: border-box;" xmlns:o="o" />Which, if either, of the amendments will even be on the ballot is still in question. <a href="http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/florida-supreme-court-rules-in-favor-of-solar-power-ballot-language/2250824" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none; outline: none;">The Floridians for Solar Choice have received initial Florida Supreme Court approval for their ballot language</a>, but still have more than 480,000 signatures to gather to get on the ballot. Consumers for Smart Solar have yet to get their amendment approved by the Supreme Court and still needs nearly 570,000 signatures to make the ballot.Top 5 donors to Floridians for Solar Choice1. $1.1 million from Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Knoxville, Tenn.2. $50,000 from Barbara Stiefel, Coral Gables environmentalist3. $25,000 from Infinite Energy, Gainesville.4. $25,000 from Conservatives for Energy Freedom, Buford, Georgia consultants5. $10,000 each from Williamson Automotive, a Miami car dealership and Leverette F. Lynn, a retired doctor from Miami. Top 5 donors to Consumers for Smart Solar1. $200,000 from Let's Preserve the American Dream Inc, a Tallahassee based company2. $180,000 from Gulf Power, a northwest Florida utility company3. $175,000 from Florida Power & Light, the state's largest utility company4. $175,000 Tampa Electric Company5. $160,000 Duke Energy==