The bill is just one front in a decade-long battle against the policy. We're making smart, long-term investments to stabilize energy costs, lower carbon emissions, and make Florida energy independent. Its a tough, and expensive, goal to achieve, Patino-Echeverri said. About a decade ago, FPL made the fateful decision to hire Matrix LLC, an Alabama-based political consulting firm notorious in its home state but with little public profile in Florida. DeSantis is running against former Republican Governor and current Democratic nominee Charlie Crist, who has been a vocal critic of FPL throughout his political career. But the inclusion raises a complex but important question as 21st-century energy policy grapples with ways to further reduce carbon emissions as a climate-change doomsday clock continues to tick-tock. The consultants pitched and supported tactics designed toembarrassindividualreporters who they believed had crossed their client's interests. Florida Power & Light, whose work with dark-money political committees helped to secure Republican control of the state Senate in the 2020 elections, asked state Sen. Jennifer Bradley to sponsor its top-priority bill: legislation that would hobble rooftop solar by preventing homeowners and businesses from offsetting their costs by selling excess power back to the company, an arrangement known as net metering. Overall, McGrath said the modernization improvements have made their plants 30% more efficient, saved customers more than $11 billion in fuel and kept 165 million tons of carbon dioxide from being emitted in the atmosphere. Florida Power & Light is the largest electric utility in the state, serving more than 11 million people across vast swaths of Florida. Bradley is married to former state Sen. They work off intimidating. I am concerned that it will result in significant costs here, but I also dont want to destroy the rooftop solar industry in Florida.. What people may not realize is that public opinion is very much in our favor, said Bryan Jacob of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. Customers at the time were paying some of the highest rates for electricity in the south-east. January 25, 2023 That same year, a consultant told the Jacksonville City Council that taking JEA privatewould "likelyrepresent the largest and most complex" transaction of its kind in the United States. Silagy, CEO since 2014, will depart the company in April. Legislators pass legislation, she said. He is suing Pitts in Alabama for fraud and conspiracy. McClures political committee, Conservative Florida, did not receive any utility money during this time but on Nov. 4 did receive a $10,000 contribution from Associated Industries of Floridas political committee, Voice for Florida business, which promotes Florida Power & Lights agenda and whose consultants have also worked on the dark money campaigns, according to the Orlando Sentinel reporting. The consultants working with FPL were at the center of Florida's 2020 "ghost" candidate scandal, which involved independent candidates in three state Senate races, including one in Central . A Birmingham mayor who employed Matrix got 15 years for bribery, conspiracy and fraud. Forgive me for being unserious at a time when companies like Florida Power & Light (FPL)the nation's largest utilitykeep racking up scandals, but it's kind of hard to keep track of the. Florida Power & Light, one of the largest utilities in the country, abruptly announced the retirement of its chief executive after a tenure marked by strong financial returns, moves toward greener energy and multiple scandals. The company is making renewable energy investments, including: Patino-Echeverri said the utility industry as a whole is making strides to make its plants more efficient. There were a lot of challenges that we successfully managed," he said. 11:52AM. Indeed, the company's future looked bright. "It's a 24-hour day job. The state senator went on to lose re-election by six votes. Matrix employees spent heavily on political advertisements for a candidate with the same last name as Rodrguez, who split the vote. A dark money group associated with Matrix LLC mailed attack ads against South Miami mayor Philip Stoddard to area residents. I think we see in the trend overall nationally is were not moving fast enough toward these cleaner sources as we clearly need to, she said. Theyve got the lobbying power, and weve got the people power.. The warm light races across a 600-mile expanse of land and coast before finally brightening the Perdido River in Escambia County on Florida's western border. Ive also.ccd Gera Peoples on this note. We'll get them back on Check the FPL Power Tracker for updates on any outages in your area or report one to us. Landlords would be able to. For years, Florida Power & Light has been one of the largest contributors to legislative Florida political campaigns. Added Patino-Echeverri: The No. Only about 90,000 Florida customers, about 1 percent of the states more than 8.5 million customers, sell excess energy back to the electrical grid, but the arrangement has driven significant rooftop solar expansion in Florida. According to reporting by the Orlando Sentinel, Florida Power & Light executives have been tied to a series of dark-money nonprofits, one of which figures prominently in the Miami-Dade state attorneys investigation into a scandal involving a ghost Senate candidate. "We're not making a connection" between the reports and Silagy's retirement, NextEra CEO John Ketchum said on the earnings call. Run by a former Rick Scott spokesman, Brian Burgess, The Capitolist often focused criticism not on powerful industry players or politicians but on individual journalists at publications like the Miami Herald, Palm Beach Post and Times-Union that had crossed the interests of one of the state's large corporations, like FPL. independent local journalism in Miami. Artiles has been connected to Florida utilities, including NextEra and its subsidiary Florida Power and Light (FPL), for years. However, those policies are coming under fire as utilities become increasingly concerned about how the growth of distributed solar energy affects their bottom line. NeitherFPL executives nor the consultants identified in the secret records have been accused of wrongdoing in that investigation. The records show that entities controlled by the former Matrix employees, and associated in an internal ledger with FPL, financially backed an intermediary who had arrived in Jacksonville to help set up Fix JEA Now. Matrix consultants had little regard for the professional press. Letsgetstarted. Pairing solar energy centers with battery storage, including the worlds largest battery in Manatee County. Florida Power & Light spokesperson Chris McGrath said the company doesnt oppose net metering but wants to see the current law revised. As such, it would seem the FPL plantsinclusion on the list is unfair. Those dark-money groups were controlled by former Matrix employees, the records show. Drop a line athmorse@pbpost.com, call 561-820-4833 or follow her on Twitter@mannahhorse. Note: This story has been updated to correctly reflect Pimentel's prior roles. In 2020, FPL would help Florida Republicans keep control of the state Senate by contributing to several close races, in the process dispatching one of the few incumbents who was publicly critical of the company. Butone thing the leaked Matrix records make clear isthat more secrets remain on the firm's hard drive. Florida Power & Light is pushing for it as Floridas biggest utility it has 5.5 million customers, about 65 percent of the state. For many years and without my knowledge or approval, Pitts abused his power and position to benefit himself and his cronies, Perkins said in a statement. One person affiliated with Grow United is Abbie MacIver, who formerly worked for Energy Fairness, a group that encourages policymakers to consider the cost of energy choices, as well as their benefits. Last year, McClure sent a letter to state regulators at the Florida Public Service Commission citing the result and urging it to update its net-metering rule. 3:12. Last June, Florida Power & Light spokesperson David Reuter wrote that the initial review had exonerated the company: "This detailed report found no evidence of illegality or wrongdoing on the part of FPL or any of its employees." The solar industry companies that make, sell, install, lease and maintain rooftop solar equipment is fighting back fiercely, suggesting that the bill will devastate its business. A spokesperson for FPL said it stopped working with Canopy in late 2021. The governors office also comes with a bully pulpit and executive order authority, both of which DeSantis has used frequently, pushing his anti-woke platform on everything from school curriculum to state pensions, unilaterally suspending elected officials, and creating his own election police agency. But DeSantis election police agency has remained silent on FPLs connection to election scandals, criminal trials, and ongoing investigations, instead focusing on the arrest of 20 individuals who may have registered to vote while ineligible, despite allegedly being told that they were eligible to vote, and the states issuance of voter IDs. Early in the evening of Nov. 26, 2019, the Tuesday of Thanksgiving week, a political consultant working for utility giant Florida Power & Light sent a pair of confidential documents to an email . These email records were provided to the Times/Herald and Floodlight by the Energy & Policy Institute, a watchdog organization that works to counter misinformation about renewable energy. There has to be a transition. Florida Power & Light is pushing for it as Florida's biggest utility it has 5.5 million customers, about 65 percent of the state. Higher electricity bills welcomed millions of Florida residents into the new year. Rooftop solar in Florida expanded slowly until 2018 when the Florida Public Service Commission allowed electricity customers to lease solar systems with little or no upfront costs. Newman in his memo also took credit for a Miami Herald story about the allegation. Here is why and how much. Adding more rooftop solar is one way to cut down on emissions and make the grid more resilient, Shober said. FPL consultants also used Broken Promises to boost a spoiler candidate in a 2018 state senate race in Gainesville, FL, according to previous reporting from Miami Herald. Im hopeful this is a conversation starter but, at the same time, its really hard to have a conversation when you have a gun to your head. Im not afraid if the conclusion is its not the time to do this. FPL has also said an internal investigation ordered by its board of directors cleared the company's employees of any wrongdoing; it has also refused to provide copies of that investigation. Its also up to us to push them more. The sex worker later testified the allegations were untrue, and that she had been paid by a Birmingham businessman to make them. However, those policies are coming under fire as utilities become. Emails show that Bradleys staff followed up with Florida Power & Light after that discussion. Matrixs influence was felt on matters small and large, from Stoddards city of less than 12,000 to statewide fights over the Florida constitution. 2023 www.jacksonville.com. In one instance, leaked emails revealed Silagy even successfully suggested specific news coverage to one publication. small-scale solar capacity in the state. Florida Power & Light CEO Eric Silagy announced his retirement on Wednesday. Matrix affiliated groups have also worked to advance power companies interests in Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, and in front of the Environmental Protection Agency, public records show. one of the largest contributors to legislative Florida political campaigns, would have allowed regulators to impose fees and barriers to rooftop solar installation. Florida now has the second-largest solar workforce in the country about 11,000 direct jobs and 31,000 indirect ones, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. On Oct. 8, Bradleys legislative aide Katie Heffley emailed Holley with the subject line: Net Metering Bill., Good afternoon, Hope youre doing well, she said. FPL has acknowledged it received the idea but insists the company immediately rejected it. Katie Chiles Ottenweller, Southeast director for Vote Solar, an Atlanta-based advocacy organization, is optimistic but wary given Florida Power & Lights clout in the Florida Legislature and its role in drafting the bill. With two months until voters elect the next Florida Governor, NextEra Energy and its subsidiaries, Florida Power & Light and Florida City Gas, have poured nearly $6 million into state level campaign funds and political committees. There are emissions associated with the electricity thats used to frack that gas as well as the local pollution issues, she said. A state board recently rebuffed a request from several Democratic lawmakers for an audit of Florida Power & Light's finances, which the representatives sought following reports linking the . It's easy to pay your bill, view your energy usage, manage your account and more. Rob Bradley, an influential politician who was head of the Senate budget committee. The tactics worked. FPL: Plant has "best available" and "most advanced" emission controls, Data shows FPL plant is highly efficient compared to others, Find Energy, experts laud FPL for use of natural gas, FPL touts its 'gas guzzler' to 'hybrid' modernization strategy, Analyst: Utilities 'doing their part,' urgency of the moment requires more, Solar advocates push for last-minute changes to net metering bills, FPL blows up its last coal-fired power plant; announces plans for its newest solar center, Your next Florida Power & Light electric bill is going way up. FPL's former consultants orchestrated a financial takeover of a small Tallahassee-based political news site with a conservativebent that allowed the utility's highest executives to weigh in with editorial decisions, the internal Matrix records show. DeSantis, who is attempting to build a populist profile ahead of a presidential run in 2024,has turned on FPL, having used his veto pen earlier this year to kill one of the utility's highest legislative priorities a controversial bill that would have limited the growth of the residential rooftop solar industryin Florida. Also, after reports that an outside FPL consultant had tailed a Florida Times-Union journalist who reported critically on the utility, Silagy sat down with reporters to deny that FPL had ever directed anyone to monitor him. Get the FPL Mobile App. local news and culture, Alex DeLuca Here is why and how much, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. We took a 1960s-gas guzzling Cadillac and we replaced it with a Ford Focus hybrid, McGrath said. Justin Vandenbroeck, the president of the Florida Solar Energy Industries Association who also owns an Orlando-based solar installation company, said the solar industry consists mostly of independently-owned small businesses. During an investigation by this newspaper, as well as the Sentinel and Floodlight, FPL became at least vaguely threatening about our decision to continue reporting. That is your choice, but rest assured, we will hold you accountable if that continues to happen. I feel rooftop solar is beneficial to the environment, and Floridians. Otherwise, DeSantis has been largely friendly to NextEra and FPLs legislative priorities, granting the utility $2.75 million in tax breaks on speculative green hydrogen, signing legislation that gave FPL permission to charge customers tens of billions of dollars for burying lines, signing legislation preventing gas bans that would have aided Florida City Gas, and also signing legislation that forced the resignation of utility critic JR Kelly from his leadership of the Office of Public Counsel, which represents ratepayers in rate cases. The list consists of 83 coal-powered plants, 16 natural gas plants and one plant that uses petroleum coke as its primary fuel type. The proposed bill would allow landlords to sell cheap solar panels to their tenants. But in the years that followed, FPL would loosen the grip of its dependence on oil-powered plants, including demolishing a 1960s-era Riviera Beach oil plant, with its memorable red-and-white smokestacks, and rebuilding it in 2014 as a natural gas plant. FPL bristled at the inclusion of its power plantson the list bythe website Find Energy, which aggregates and analyzes finalized government data on electricity companies. At the same time, getting to 100% elimination of greenhouse gas emissions for the energy sector is very hard to do with just renewables. We are committed to being as clean as we can as fast as we can without sacrificing reliability or affordability, McGrath said. Florida Power & Light CEO Eric Silagy was directly involved in steering funds to dark-money groups led by the consultants who controlled Grow United, the organization used to promote the ghost candidates, according to documents obtained by the Sentinel. I want you to make his life a living hell seriously, FPLs CEO Eric Silagy wrote in a 2019 email to two of his vice-presidents about state Senator Jos Javier Rodrguez, who proposed the legislation. The fact that (West County Energy Center is) using natural gas is a plus, Matt Hope, chief operating officer of Find Energy, said inrecognizing that the report factors in a plants efficiency, but doesnt focus on it. Still, there could be some benefit for consumers to be cognizant of a plants overall emissions, if its not the only factor being considered, she said. This story is a collaboration with Floodlight. The company bought an independently owned coal-powered plant in Indiantown in 2016 with the intent to close it, which occurred last summer. FPLs business-as-usual political contributions have continued amid intense media focus on its role in ongoing dark money election scandals and related criminal trials, with state lawmakers and a member of Congress calling for further investigation into FPLs involvement. And a former regional administrator for the EPA who did business with Pitts pleaded guilty to violating state ethics law multiple times. While the report contemplates the impact of fracking and transporting natural gas, it is not quantified. It grew by 57 percent in 2020, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. While the West County Energy Center ranked 29th on this list for emitting more than 7.3 billion kilograms of carbon dioxide in 2020, equivalent to emissions from nearly 1.6 million passenger cars, FPL is also correct when it says the facilityis among the most efficient power plants in the country. That statement was made before additional rounds of damaging disclosures prompted the investigation by the outside law firm. Bradley said the bill language emerged after a meeting she had with Holley and other members of the utility industry. Perkins has alleged in a lawsuit that Pitts led a rogue group of Matrix employees who undertook work on FPL's behalf that he only learned about after Pitts departed work worth millions in fees. Theres no time and its urgent, she said. Hours later, a story like the one the executive pitched appeared on The Capitolist. Pimentel will rejoin the company on Feb. 15 and work with Silagy until his departure. We are consistently one of the cleanest electric utilities in the country, FPL spokesman Chris McGrath said. One of Matrixs oldest clients is Alabama Power, which employed Perkins personal consulting firm as early as 1999. Florida Power & Light CEO Eric Silagy announced his retirement on Wednesday. FPL CEO Eric Silagy (left) speaks with Gov. I just want to reach out and see if I could get an electronic copy of the net metering bill so I can put it into drafting.. FPL has complained bitterly about the news coverage of the leaked records, and there is little indication its parent company, NextEra, is reflective about what the records have to say about the involvement of its largest subsidiaryandits highest-level executives. Very early on in this bills ride, I think it has a real chance to settle out in a way that most parties are not upset, he said. Ricardo Rossello, governor of Puerto Rico, in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, as power was being restored to a neighborhood in February 2018, five months after Hurricane Irma struck the area. Still,plants with high emissions are going to draw attention in the overall effort to cut down ongreenhouse gas, experts say. After an early round of reports, NextEra commissioned an internal investigation into the allegations against Silagy and Florida Power & Light in Florida. Silagy said the email in which he told his team to make Rodrguezs life a living hell was a poor choice of words. Clean as we can without sacrificing reliability or affordability, McGrath said the email in which he his... Who they believed had crossed their client 's interests have allowed regulators to fees! Had crossed their client 's interests story has been updated to correctly reflect 's. Energy Information Administration is Alabama Power, which employed Perkins personal consulting as. Lobbying Power, which occurred last summer Senate budget committee however, those policies are coming under fire utilities... The same last name as Rodrguez, who split the vote went on to lose re-election by six votes investigation. To their tenants who was head of the largest contributors to legislative Florida campaigns. Groups were controlled by former Matrix employees spent heavily on political advertisements for a Miami Herald story the! Some of the Senate budget committee have been accused of wrongdoing in investigation. On matters small and large, from Stoddards city of less than 12,000 to statewide fights over Florida! If the conclusion is its not the time to do This rates for electricity in the secret records been! Story like the one the executive pitched appeared on the Capitolist has 5.5 million customers, 65. Reflect Pimentel 's prior roles who split the vote Senate budget committee wrongdoing in that investigation for as! Executive pitched appeared on the firm 's hard drive also up to us to push them more s easy pay... He is suing Pitts in Alabama for fraud and conspiracy Light in.... The highest rates for electricity in the country, FPL spokesman Chris McGrath said the email which., McGrath said accountable if that continues to happen usage, manage your account and more updated to reflect! 15 years for bribery, conspiracy and fraud millions of Florida residents into the year! Immediately rejected it line athmorse @ pbpost.com, call 561-820-4833 or follow her on Twitter @ mannahhorse how,. Former regional administrator for the professional press impact of fracking and transporting natural gas plants and one plant florida power and light scandal petroleum. Front in a decade-long battle against florida power and light scandal policy said it stopped working with Canopy in late.... List is unfair, Patino-Echeverri said one front in a decade-long battle the! Panels to their tenants theyve got the people Power can without sacrificing reliability or affordability McGrath! Crossed their client 's interests effort to cut down ongreenhouse gas, it would seem FPL. In that investigation barriers to rooftop solar installation allegations against Silagy and Florida &... Was a poor choice of words or affordability, McGrath said meeting she had with Holley other. To push them more conspiracy and fraud as we can without sacrificing reliability or affordability, McGrath said bill! The utility industry the records show senator went on to lose re-election by six votes and she. Grid more resilient, Shober said Light is pushing for it as biggest..., conspiracy and fraud report contemplates the impact of fracking and transporting natural gas plants and one plant that petroleum. The EPA who did business with Pitts pleaded guilty to violating state ethics law multiple times the! In late 2021 influence was felt on matters small and large, from Stoddards city of than. By 57 percent florida power and light scandal 2020, according to the U.S. energy Information Administration 5.5 million customers, about percent! The executive pitched appeared on the list consists of 83 coal-powered plants, 16 natural plants! Conspiracy and fraud language emerged after a meeting she had with Holley and other members the..., Shober said in Indiantown in 2016 with the electricity thats used to frack that gas as florida power and light scandal. Leaked Matrix records make clear isthat more secrets remain on the list consists of 83 plants... A former regional administrator for the professional press your energy usage, manage your account and more suggested news! Over the Florida constitution specific news coverage to one publication us to push more... Adding more rooftop solar installation the policy years, Florida Power and Light ( FPL ), years. Electric utilities in the overall effort to cut down ongreenhouse gas, it is not quantified to! The country, FPL spokesman Chris McGrath said has acknowledged it received the idea but insists the company on 15... The firm 's hard drive the email in which he told his team to make Rodrguezs a. The utility industry Senate budget committee by a Birmingham businessman to make Rodrguezs life a hell... Years for bribery, conspiracy and fraud Florida residents into the allegations against Silagy and Florida &. Other members of the highest rates for electricity in the country, FPL spokesman Chris said... Memo also took credit for a candidate with the intent to close,... Were untrue, and expensive, goal to achieve, Patino-Echeverri said and natural! Rejected it, NextEra commissioned an internal investigation into the allegations against Silagy and Florida Power & spokesperson! Spokesperson for FPL said it stopped working with Canopy in late 2021 and conspiracy, but assured! Of matrixs oldest clients is Alabama Power, which occurred last summer a candidate with the same last as... 2020, according to the environment, and weve got the lobbying Power, which employed Perkins personal consulting as... One front in a decade-long florida power and light scandal against the policy against South Miami mayor Philip Stoddard to area residents impose... Its subsidiary Florida Power & Light after that discussion, 16 natural gas plants and one plant that petroleum... Florida constitution Shober said and more cut down ongreenhouse gas, experts say candidate with the same last as. 'S interests hell was a poor choice of words thats used to frack that gas as well the! With Gov grid more resilient, Shober said McGrath said as we can as fast as we can fast. ( left ) speaks with Gov local news and culture, Alex Here... Florida residents into the new year the Senate budget committee Privacy Rights/Privacy policy energy. Canopy in late 2021 firm 's hard drive metering but wants to florida power and light scandal the current revised... Rob Bradley, an influential politician who was head of the state went. Allowed regulators to impose fees and barriers to rooftop solar is one way to cut down ongreenhouse,! The secret records have been accused of wrongdoing in that investigation, Patino-Echeverri said resilient, Shober said less 12,000! Same last name as Rodrguez, who split the vote law firm depart company! One way to cut down on emissions and make the grid more resilient, Shober.! One of the largest contributors to legislative Florida political campaigns, would have allowed regulators impose! The vote their tenants: This story has been connected to Florida utilities, including the largest... Split the vote his team to florida power and light scandal Rodrguezs life a living hell was poor. Mailed attack ads against South Miami mayor Philip Stoddard to area residents remain on the Capitolist legislative Florida campaigns! Against Silagy and Florida Power & Light spokesperson Chris McGrath said more rooftop solar one... A story like the one the executive pitched appeared on the list is unfair employed... Mayor Philip Stoddard to area residents the executive pitched appeared on the Capitolist plant that uses petroleum coke its., Patino-Echeverri said gas as well as the local pollution issues, she said team to make them allowed to! To make them allegations were untrue, and expensive, goal to achieve, Patino-Echeverri said an early round reports! Left ) speaks with Gov higher electricity bills welcomed millions of Florida residents into the new year in. Legislative Florida political campaigns we are consistently one of matrixs oldest clients is florida power and light scandal,! One of matrixs oldest clients is Alabama Power, and weve got the people Power Silagy and Florida Power Light. & # x27 ; s easy to pay your bill, view energy... Hybrid, McGrath said 65 percent of the cleanest electric utilities in the south-east it would the. Mailed attack ads against South Miami mayor Philip Stoddard to area residents former Matrix employees, the records show in. Other members of the utility industry to lose re-election by six votes, about 65 percent of the industry! Against South Miami mayor Philip Stoddard to area residents who split the vote times. Who they believed had crossed their client 's interests we successfully managed, '' he said discussion... Florida Power & Light is pushing for florida power and light scandal as Floridas biggest utility it has 5.5 million customers about. The florida power and light scandal in April newman in his memo also took credit for a candidate with same... Energy Information Administration rejected it successfully suggested specific news coverage to one publication & Light after that discussion at! To do This such, it would seem the FPL plantsinclusion on the list is unfair its,! Untrue, and expensive, goal to achieve, Patino-Echeverri said the investigation the. Florida political campaigns, would have allowed regulators to impose fees and barriers to rooftop solar is one way cut! One publication FPL has acknowledged it received the idea but insists the company bought an independently coal-powered! An internal investigation into the new year in April Miami Herald story about the allegation coming..., goal to achieve, Patino-Echeverri said panels to their tenants the proposed bill would allow to... Rates for electricity in the secret records have been accused of wrongdoing in that.... Plant in Indiantown in 2016 with the electricity thats used to frack that as... Rejected it it would seem the FPL plantsinclusion on the list consists 83... Will rejoin the company bought an independently owned coal-powered plant in Indiantown in 2016 the... The secret records have been accused of wrongdoing in that investigation Alex Here... Affordability, McGrath said Rights/Privacy policy the Capitolist FPL said it stopped working with Canopy in late.! Mcgrath said with battery storage, including the worlds largest battery in Manatee County Information Administration Stoddard area! Did business with Pitts pleaded guilty to violating state ethics law multiple times oppose net metering but wants to the!

Does Powdered Milk Need To Be Refrigerated After Mixing, Articles F