The Florida Solar Energy Industry Association (FLSEIA) went rogue last week and decided to join the supporters of Off-shore drilling(OSD). What appeared to be another blow to the environmentalists movement to promote renewable energy and fight off-shore drilling in this state, now seems more the setting of an old spaghetti western. What strange bedfellows…Big oil and the Solar industry. And while at first glance, you notice it as an odd pairing, you realize that if you look a little closer…something is rotten in the old state of Florida.
From that moment that FLSEIA announced it’s relationship with Big Oil, the solar industry in Florida has been up in arms. A house divided, confused, and blind-sided by this decision to get into bed with their major competitor, solar reps found themselves fending off everyone from business owners to little old ladies who felt betrayed by this decision.
With the promise of future subsidies from our state and the oil industry, FLSEIA felt it was a win-win situation. Even though the subsidies are only a promise of future capitol, the road along that way was paved with continued help by the environmentalists who promote renewable energy for our state. Citing the “no confidence” argument when it comes to legislative support, what FLSEIA did appeared on the outside to be a shrewd business maneuver to remain prosperous during tough times ahead. To a pure capitalist, it was a brilliant move (no pun intended). “Keep you friends close and your enemy’s closer” is the saying that comes to mind.
Last week, when FLSEIA held a board meeting to go over this issue, members came in from all over the state to attend. But instead of it being a strategy session for the money that was due to come in, it turned out to be a showdown of great proportions. One gentleman drove 3 hours to walk across the room, hand in his resignation to the board, and then turn around and drive home. It seems that it wasn’t the FLSEIA who went rogue on the solar industry, but one chairman who went rogue on FLSEIA.
Like any good spaghetti western, you have the protagonist and the antagonist. And while the protagonist hasn’t surfaced, the antagonist is standing under the light right now. It appears that the Executive Director of FLSEIA, R. Bruce Kershner, was speaking out of turn when he launched his support on behalf of the members of FLSEIA to Rep. Dean Cannon. In a letter to Rep. Cannon, Kershner wrote,
“FLASEIA believes that you proposal has the potential to provide and create a cleaner and wealthier future for Florida.”
But the truth is, not all members fo FLSEIA believe that.
What is futther comming into question is the real motive behind this move. The murmer in the crowd indicates that the lobbyists for the oil company and the lobbyists for FLSEIA might be one in the same. It’s also in question what the board members of FLSEIA will do with this new divide.
Just yesterday I recieved a press release from Florida Alliance for Renewable Energy (FARE) where it stated the following:
FARE does not support the coupling of future revenues from coastal oil exploration as a viable long term funding source for the creation of renewable energy incentives. Further, FARE believes that any funding which will encourage greater customer usage of renewable energy should be a production-based incentive.
Therefore, FARE does not support the recent decision made by the Florida Solar Energy Industry Association (FlaSeia), to utilize revenues from the exploration for oil along Florida’s coastline as a means to fund renewable energy expansion. FARE also does not support FlaSeia’s decision to seek only a continuation of Florida’s Solar Installation Rebate Program during the upcoming 2010 Legislative Session, rather than a broader agenda which incorporates a long term dedicated funding source, specifically, a production-based incentive policy. FARE calls into question the lack of foresight on the part of FlaSeia to endorse oil exploration legislation sight unseen and strongly urges FlaSeia to reverse their endorsement of any proposed legislation until such time that an actual Bill is introduced and the entire renewable energy industry has the proper opportunity to act as one unified voice.
I can only imagine that we will be seeing a lot more of these in the days to come. So I suggest you belly up to the bar, it’s going to be quite a show.
