Could Florida turn off the sun? Advocates say a utility-backed bill imperils rooftop solar in the
Could Florida turn off the sun? Advocates say a utility-backed bill imperils rooftop solar in the Sunshine State
By Steve Contorno, CNN
Updated 5:02 AM ET, Sun January 23, 2022
https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/23/politics/florida-solar-industry/index.html
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(CNN)Steve Rutherford had a unique mission as a Navy SEAL: Help the military harness the power of the sun.
Traces of his work could be seen around Afghanistan starting in 2010. The solar panels he installed turned the desert's relentless rays into energy that kept bases operating even when cut off from diesel lines.
When he retired from the military in 2011, Rutherford expected Florida would be a more inviting climate to install solar panels than war-torn Afghanistan. He started Tampa Bay Solar and within a decade, grew it into a 30-person operation with plans to expand. But now, the retired commander told CNN he is fighting for his livelihood.
A bill moving through the state legislature, backed by a powerful utility company, would slash the financial benefits of rooftop solar panels. Opponents of the legislation -- including environmental groups, solar builders and the state NAACP -- say if it passes, a fast-growing green power industry would be turned off overnight, casting a dark cloud over solar's prospects in the Sunshine State.
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