Justices Give Geen Light To Solar Initiative
October 23, 2015
The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday approved a proposed ballot initiative that seeks to expand the use of solar energy, moving the state one step closer to a fierce political battle next year.
Making clear they were not offering an opinion on the merits of the proposal, justices ruled 6-1 that the initiative, backed by a group called Floridians for Solar Choice, met legal standards to go before voters. The group now will have to submit 683,149 valid petition signatures by Feb. 1 to qualify for the November 2016 ballot — about 500,000 more than it had submitted as of Thursday morning.
“We are thrilled with the high court’s ruling so that voters may have the opportunity to vote on removing a barrier that currently blocks Florida’s families and businesses from greater energy choices through the power of the free market,” Tory Perfetti, chairman of Floridians for Solar Choice, said in a prepared statement immediately after the Supreme Court decision. “People power is what will get us on the ballot, and we continue to gather thousands of signatures each week from Floridians eager for solar choice.”
The proposed constitutional amendment, in part, would allow businesses to generate and sell up to two megawatts of solar power to customers on the same or neighboring properties. In doing so, it would largely shield the solar producers from state and local regulations.
The initiative has drawn opposition from a coalition including major electric utilities and has spawned a competing solar ballot proposal. That proposal, spearheaded by the group Consumers for Smart Solar, is awaiting a review by the Supreme Court.
Dick Batchelor, co-chairman of Consumers for Smart Solar, said it was “unfortunate” that justices approved the Floridians for Solar Choice proposal.
“We caution Florida voters about this disingenuous solar ballot measure that favors big out-of-state solar companies instead of Florida consumers,” Batchelor said in a prepared statement. “We simply cannot allow this seriously flawed amendment to pass. This special interest amendment puts Florida consumers, and especially our seniors, at great risk of fraud and abuse.”
The Supreme Court reviews proposed constitutional amendments to make sure they will not be confusing or deceptive to voters. That involves making sure proposed amendments deal with single subjects and that the ballot titles and summaries — the parts seen by most voters — are clearly worded.
The majority opinion, supported by Chief Justice Jorge Labarga and justices Barbara Pariente, R. Fred Lewis, Peggy Quince, Charles Canady and James E.C. Perry, said the Floridians for Solar Choice proposal met the requirements.
“Without considering the merits of the measure, we find that the title and summary clearly and unambiguously inform the voter that the amendment will prevent government and electric utilities from imposing regulatory barriers to supplying local solar electricity up to two megawatts to customers at the same or contiguous property,” the opinion said.
But Justice Ricky Polston dissented, arguing that the ballot summary is “confusing” and doesn’t accurately describe the scope of the proposal.
In part, Polston wrote that the ballot summary “leads the voter to believe that this initiative is about someone who owns a small house or small business with a solar panel on the roof and wants to sell electricity on a small-scale. However, according to the Florida Electric Cooperatives Association, a single local solar generating facility capable of generating two megawatts of electricity would span over 12 acres and could serve approximately 714 customers. The ballot summary does not provide notice to the voter that this proposed amendment provides for this scale of completely unregulated electricity generation.”
With the court’s majority approving the ballot proposal, however, the groups on both sides were clearly readying Thursday for a political fight.
Stephen Smith, executive director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, a key supporter of Floridians for Solar Choice, quickly took aim at “big monopoly utilities” that oppose the initiative.
“We fully expect more misleading attacks from the big electric utilities and their proxy front groups in their desperate attempt to limit customer choice,” Smith said in a prepared statement.
by Jim Saunder, The News Service of Florida
Scott Wants $250 Million To Lure Businesses To Florida
October 23, 2015
Gov. Rick Scott, pressing reluctant lawmakers to fund a “nearly bankrupt” effort to recruit businesses to Florida, said Thursday he will ask for $250 million in 2016 for corporate incentives, with new rules on how the money would be approved and banked.
Scott, addressing the Enterprise Florida Board of Directors in Orlando, also ratcheted up his call for business leaders to lobby lawmakers for the money, advising them not to give in until each legislator publicly announces support for the funding plan.
“If they (lawmakers) don’t put out a press release and say, ‘I absolutely will support these reforms,’ then that’s a no,” Scott said.
Scott spoke with Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, before the Enterprise Florida meeting. But Gardiner, whose members have been skeptical of the public-private business recruitment agency’s claims about a lack of available incentive money, isn’t ready to make a decision on Scott’s request.
“The president told the governor that he was looking forward to reviewing the governor’s proposal in more detail in the coming weeks,” Gardiner spokeswoman Katie Betta said in an email.
House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, said he was looking forward to seeing the details of Scott’s proposal.
“I know we all share the goal of keeping Florida a national leader in job creation,” Crisafulli said in a prepared statement.
The $250 million is part of Scott’s proposal to change the incentives-funding process under Enterprise Florida.
He also wants lawmakers to: create the Florida Enterprise Fund, a trust fund that would keep designated incentive money in the state treasury until companies reach job-creation goals; and to let the House speaker and Senate president sign off on deals that top $1 million instead of waiting for the Joint Legislative Budget Commission to give approval.
Currently, money the state promises a business for relocating to Florida or expanding in the state is placed into a low-yield commercial escrow account, with payouts made when promised new jobs and economic-development performance measures are met.
Lawmakers have been questioning the use of escrow accounts.
Gardiner has proposed the state set an annual statutory cap of $50 million to cover future economic incentive payments, which he noted have never topped $20 million in a single year.
Scott, calling his proposed trust fund the “Let’s beat Texas’ butt enterprise fund,” said the use of the treasury will give the state a better interest rate than the escrow accounts.
Florida Chamber of Commerce President Mark Wilson, an Enterprise Florida board member, called the $250 million request, with the quicker approval process, “a good start.”
“This is about diversifying the economy, which is why this organization was created,” Wilson said of Enterprise Florida.
Earlier this year, Scott asked lawmakers to set aside $85 million for business incentives. The final budget for the fiscal year that started July 1 included $53 million for Enterprise Florida, of which $43 million was for incentives and $10 million was for marketing.
Scott said his latest request is needed to compete with other states, such as New York, which has $150 million for incentives; Texas, which has $90 million; South Carolina, which has $58 million; and Georgia, which has $46 million.
“We’re not going to beat these states if we don’t reform the Quick Action Closing Fund,” said Scott, who repeated a claim he’s made since August that the fund used to complete incentive deals is “nearly bankrupt” for the rest of the fiscal year, which ends June 30.
“I don’t care what anybody says, it will in fact, run out of money,” Scott said.
Members of the Senate Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee questioned such claims Tuesday. They noted that about $141 million is currently held in escrow and that over the prior four years, $112 million that had been available for the agency’s recruitment “toolkit” went unspent.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
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Fall Carnival Today At Molino Park Elementary School (With Auction Item List)
October 23, 2015
The annual Fall Carnival will be held today at Molino Park Elementary School.
The carnival will take place on the school campus from 4:30 until 7:30 p.m. The event will featuring games, food, entertainment and much more. Everyone is welcome to attend for great family fun.
The carnival’s popular auctions will also take place, with dozens of packages available for bid. Packages include a Yeti cooler, signed items from Caleb Gindl, a North Caroline vacation, numerous restaurant certificates, sports theme items, a Tennessee vacation, a NorthEscambia.com advertising package worth $450, and much more.
For a complete listing of all auction items, click here.
Molino Park Elementary School is located at 899 Highway 97.
Pictured: Scenes from the 2014 Fall Carnival at Molino Park Elementary School. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Friday Night Football Schedule
October 23, 2015
Here is a look at tonight’s high school football games across the North Escambia area.
For live scoring from select games beginning at 7 p.m., click here to like our Facebook page, or click here to follow @northescambia on Twitter.
- Northview at Walton, 7 p.m.
- Tate at Choctaw, 7 p.m.
- Jay at Rocky Bayou Christian, 7 p.m.
- West Florida at Arnold, 7 p.m.
- Mosley at PHS, 7:30 p.m.
- Washington at Catholic, 7:30 p.m.
- Niceville at Pine Forest, 7:30 p.m.
- OPEN: Escambia, Gulf Breeze, Milton, Navarre, Pace
- Sweet Water at Flomaton, 7 p.m.
- Monroe County at Escambia County (Atmore), 7 p.m.
- Escambia Academy at Glenwood (Phenix City), 7 p.m.
- T.R. Miller at Excel, 7 p.m.
- W.S. Neal at Southside, 7 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Martha Smith Welch
October 23, 2015
Martha Smith Welch, 71, of Cantonment, was called Home on Tuesday, October 20, 2015.
She was a proud retiree of the Escambia County School District with over 32 years of service and a faithful member of Hillcrest Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Eugene and Ruth Smith; and her grandson, Riley Daniels.
Martha is survived by her husband, Ronald Welch; son, Jeffrey (the late Kim) Welch; daughter, Gena Welch (Mike) Daniels; son, Jason (Stacy) Welch; four granddaughters, Rachel (Clint) Parker, Katie Welch, Sarah Welch, and Reagan Daniels; great-grandson, Carson Parker; and brother, James (Dana) Smith.
Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, October 26, 2015, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home with Dr. Brian Barlow officiating. The family will receive friends at 10:30 a.m. prior to services.
Interment will follow in Barrancas National Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Doug Webb, Leon Colbert, Maurice Whitson, Johnny Lovelace, Dennis Weinman, Mike Daniels, John Adams, and Johnny Adams.
Hillcrest Baptist Church deacons will serve as honorary pallbearers.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Edward “Eddie” Ray Savant
October 23, 2015
Mr. Edward “Eddie” Ray Savant, 70, passed away on Wednesday, October 21, 2015, in Pensacola.
Mr. Savant was a native of Chumuckla and a resident of Santa Rosa County most of his life. Mr. Savant was a member of the Brownsdale Baptist Church. Mr. Savant is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Dianna Savant and two brothers, Robert Jr. and Jimmy Savant.
Mr. Savant is survived by his church family.
Funeral services were held Friday, October 23, 2015, at the Brownsdale Baptist Church with Bro. Jeff Leake officiating.
Burial was at the Traveler’s Rest Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be the men of the church.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Olene Carraway
October 23, 2015
Olene Carraway was born on April 2, 1926, and was welcomed into the arms of God on October 21, 2015. She graduated from Ensley High School in Birmingham.
She was living in Birmingham when she met Norman “Duke” Carraway. They married and moved to Pensacola in 1965, then moved to Molino in 1971.
Olene was a faithful member of Highland Baptist Church and a long-time member of the church choir. She was also a member of the Molino Homemakers Club and enjoyed the fellowship with all the ladies. She loved her Lord, her family and her church. Olene and Duke enjoyed traveling in their RV with friends and were long-time members of the Gulf Coast Gofers RV Club.
She is preceded in death by her sisters, Louise (Eugene) McKinney and Dorothy (Joe) Parker.
Olene is survived by her husband, Norman “Duke” Carraway; five children, Michael (Barbara) Beason, Steve (Vanessa) Carraway, Peggy (Steve) Overman, Pamela Myrick and Sharon (Stan) Powell; nine grandchildren, Roy (Emily), Tyler, Leslie, Gary, Rebecca, Valerie, Loren, Kristen, and Alex; and six great -randchildren, Levi, Bayleigh, Peyton, Presley, Kobe and Ashton.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, October 28, 2015, at Highland Baptist Church with Pastor Brian Calhoun officiating.
Burial will follow in Highland Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at 10 a.m. prior to services.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.
Donald Dewayne “Ducky” Richardson
October 23, 2015
Donald Dewayne “Ducky” Richardson, 65 of Atmore, passed away Thursday, October 22, 2015, in Atmore. He was a production supervisor with Atmore Industries. He was born in Atmore, on July 31, 1965, to the late Steven T. and Margie Eddins Richardson. He lived in the Atmore area most of his life and was a graduate of Escambia County High School, Class of 69.
Survivors include his wife, Pamela Bartley Richardson of Atmore; one son, Jason (Sherry) Richardson of GA; two brothers, Ronald Wayne (Cheryl) Richardson of Atmore and step-brother, Paul (Amanda) Hinton of Silas, AL; two grandchildren, Brooklyn and Lauren; one great-grandchild “Bear”; sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.
Services will be Saturday, October 24, 2015, at 2 p.m. from the JohnsonQuimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro Kenny Bartley and Bro Thurl Pearson officiating.
Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Family will receive friends Saturday, October 24, 2015, at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel from 1 p.m. until service time.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Lynda L. Lewis Amerson
October 23, 2015
Lynda L. Lewis Amerson, 79 of Pensacola and formerly of Atmore, passed away Wednesday, October 21, 2015, in Pensacola. She was a homemaker. She was born in Atmore to the late Clarence and Addie Muriel Owens Lewis.She was a member of Bethel Methodist Church.
She is preceded in death by her husband, William Earl Amerson; and son, Truman Earl Gavin.
Survivors include her daughter, Jean Cort of Strawberry Plains, TN; son, James Amerson of Pensacola; grandchildren, Franchesca Berry, Lance Berry, Shanks Gavin and Eric Gavin; and great-grandchildren, Megan, Dimitri, William and Eric Truman.
Services will be Saturday, October 24, 2015, at 10 a.m. from Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bethel Methodist Church.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Clara Marie Butler Gary
October 23, 2015
Clara Marie Butler Gary, 78 of Atmore, passed away Thursday, October 22, 2015, in Mobile. She was retired from a cookie factory in Broadview, IL. She was born in Florence, AL on June 7, 1937, to the late James and Louise Hinton Butler. She was of the Baptist faith.
She is preceded in death by a sister, Idia Butler and a granddaughter, Teresa Jay.
Survivors include one daughter, Rosa McGhee of Poarch; two brothers, Ray Wilkerson and Eldred Wilkerson, both of Florence; two sisters, Faye Wiley and Evelyn Smith both of Florence; two grandchildren, James Ivey and Jessica Ivey; seven great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Services will be Monday, October 26, 2015, at 2:30 p.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Bubba Rolin officiating.
Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Dominique Bryant, James Ivey, Ethan Hall, Lavon McGhee and Gary Gibson.
Family will receive friends on Sunday, October 25, 2015, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.