Solar Energy, part two
Politics - Darkening solar energy ambitions
Although approved by the senate, a Florida bill giving
tax breaks to businesses who install solar panels is not likely to come before
voters. Roof top solar is viewed as a threat to the electrical utilities. If
the vote came to the average Floridian, the vote would be 90 per cent for solar
initiatives. Rallies are planned to protest. Business men have already voted
with their feet and taken solar technology to warmer receptions and out of the
sunshine state.
Over three million dollars has already been spent on
campaign contributions in this election cycle so far by the utilities. What
does this mean to the environmentally conscious home owner? Well, ask Robin
Speronis. She has been charged with living off the grid, illegal under the
International Property and Maintenance Code. After a year and a half keeping
house with a camp stove, rain water and solar energy, she has to hook back up
to the big utilities grid.
In contrast, two young students living in London, Ontario
became somewhat of a "cause célèbre" when they spent the summer under
similar conditions. I am sure they did not make it over the interminable
Ontario winter, but they got local TV and newspaper coverage for their
experiment.
Let us hope that Florida politicians don't take this
issue as seriously as in close by Texas. Swat teams were sent in to intimidate
the Garden of Eden Community, holding members at gunpoint and putting them in
handcuffs. Apparently there were no laws against off grid life, and no drugs or
guns were found. At the end of the day, they enforced a few city code
violations and assorted traffic violations. Not exactly good use of manpower or
tax payer funds!
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