Manatee County commission wrong to approve $1.3 million incentive for private solar power project
Regarding Manatee County commissioners spending $1.3 million on stealth project EVOLVE:
Citizens are kept in the dark on the solar electric project. At a recent BOCC meeting, the board approved 5 to 1 the expenditures of $1.3 million. No public workshop, no citizen input prior to the approval, and the citizens don't even know whose company this is.
Common knowledge and deductions of who could take on such a project leads a straight line to Florida Power & Light.
FPL is the largest provider of electricity in the state of Florida. Its parent company NextEra has more than $17 billion in sales and employs close to 14,000 workers.
Its CEO makes in excess of $14 million per year. FPL is regulated by the Public Service Commission and is guaranteed, by law, a 10 percent return on all investments.
There was no need for the BOCC to approve any money for this giant utility company. This project would move forward with or without the $1.3 million set aside for this project.
This money would have been better spent on local utility customers by installing local rooftop solar panels for the citizens of Manatee County.
It is unconscionable that our current commissioners would approve such a large amount of taxpayer money without the approval or input of its citizens.
Once again this board does what it wants when it wants with who it wants. The policies and procedures of the BOCC need a complete overhaul.
A citizen task force would be in order in such matters as this.
The only commissioner with the guts to say no and see through this smokescreen was Robin DiSabatino. Truly a commissioner who cares for its constituency and the citizens of Manatee County.
At least I know one commissioner that will win re-election. Thank you, Robin.
Glen Gibellina
Bradenton
This story was originally published June 6, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Manatee County commission wrong to approve $1.3 million incentive for private solar power project ."