ORLANDO, OCTOBER 4, 2016 - The Central Florida Urban League, the Jacksonville Urban League, and the Pinellas County Urban League issued the following joint statement:

Breaking down the barriers that keep communities of color from participating in the emerging renewable energy markets as consumers and producers will result in access to affordable energy and an increase in entrepreneurial and career opportunities. The Central Florida Urban League, the Jacksonville Urban League, and the Pinellas County Urban League believe that Florida Amendment 1 provides an effective hammer for breaking down these barriers while providing regulators with the tools to protect low income consumers who still rely entirely on the electric grid from carrying a disproportionate share of the grid’s fixed costs.

Florida Amendment 1 provides consumers with the constitutional right to install rooftop solar to provide for their energy needs.  Owing largely to its cost, low-income consumers and communities of color are seldom able to use rooftop solar and must rely on the grid for their energy needs. As more affluent consumers deploy rooftop solar, fewer non-solar consumers are left to carry the costs of maintaining the grid. This creates a scenario where the costs for maintain the grid shift to low income consumers and communities of color, leaving disadvantaged ratepayers subsidizing affluent solar panel owners. Amendment 1 provides a guarantee that regulators and elected officials can mitigate the effects of regressive cost shifting.

The Central Florida Urban League, the Jacksonville Urban League, and the Pinellas County Urban League urge our members to vote YES on Florida Amendment 1 on November 8, 2016.

About the Central Florida Urban League:

The mission of the Central Florida Urban League is to assist Central Floridians in achieving social and economic equality. The Central Florida Urban League is a leading social service provider that helps empower Central Floridians to achieve social and economic success for the betterment of the entire Central Florida region.

 

About the Jacksonville Urban League:

The mission of the Jacksonville Urban League is to assist African Americans as well as other underserved communities to secure economic self-reliance, parity, power and civil rights. The Urban League is a leading advocate for promoting access to quality education, economic opportunity, civic engagement, health and wellness.

About the Pinellas County Urban League:

Since its inception in 1978, the Pinellas County Urban League has been providing empowerment opportunities and tirelessly engaged and unswerving in their efforts to serve the disadvantaged in their communities.