Poll: Floridians Support Solar But Don’t Support Proposed Amendment That Could Increase Energy Cost

45% of Floridians Think Florida is Heading in the Right Direction

TALLAHASSEE, FL. (August 31 , 2015) – The latest Florida Chamber Political Institute (FCPI) poll released today shows that Floridians support solar energy, but they do not support a proposed solar amendment that could drive up energy costs. Only 41 percent of likely Florida voters support Limits or Prevents Barriers to Local Solar Electricity Supply.

“Florida voters clearly support solar, but with 30 proposed constitutional amendments attempting to make their way onto the ballot and into Florida’s Constitution, voters will be looking closely at those that might increase their utility costs,” said Marian Johnson, Senior Vice President of Political Strategy for the Florida Chamber.

The Florida Chamber filed an Amicus Brief with the Florida Supreme Court opposing this amendment. As noted in the brief prepared by former Florida Supreme Court Justice Raoul Cantero, the Florida Chamber believes:

• The solar initiative violates the single-subject requirement, and
• The title and summary of the amendment are deceptive and misleading to Florida voters.

The group behind Limits or Prevents Barriers to Local Solar Electricity Supply must defend their proposed amendment before the Florida Supreme court on Tuesday.

Additional Florida Chamber survey results show that more Floridians believe Florida is heading in the right direction and almost half approve of the job Rick Scott is doing as Governor.

• 45 percent (nearly one out of two) of Floridians believe Florida is heading in the right direction, and
• 48 percent (nearly half) of Floridians approve of the job Rick Scott is doing as Governor.

Also, likely Florida voters believe the economy is the most important issue facing Florida. Specifically:

• 22 percent of registered Florida voters say job creation and improving the economy is the most important issue facing our state,
• 13 percent of registered Florida voters believe education should be the top issue in the state,
• 11 percent of Florida voters are concerned about health care and the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (known as ObamaCare), and
• Immigration is gaining traction and seen as the most important issue by 8 percent of voters.

The survey, conducted on August 8-14, 2015 during live landline (62 percent) and cellular (38 percent) telephone calls, included a cross section of 611 registered voters and has a margin of error of +/- 4 percent.

Please note:  The samples for the polls conducted by the Florida Chamber Political Institute are consistently drawn from likely voters, meaning those voters who have the propensity and past performance of voting in elections, rather than simply including registered voters.  Voters are again screened for likelihood of voting this November.

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The Florida Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business and the state’s largest federation of employers, chambers of commerce and associations, aggressively representing small and large businesses from every industry and every region. The Florida Chamber works within all branches of government to affect those changes set forth in the annual Florida Business Agenda, and which are seen as critical to secure Florida’s future. The Florida Chamber works closely with its Political Operations and the Florida Chamber Foundation. Visit www.FloridaChamber.com for more information.