McCline for Congress Announces Sunshine State Solar Energy Action Plan

DELRAY BEACH, FL--(Marketwired - Jun 5, 2014) -  Jameel McCline, U.S. House candidate in Florida CD 20's August 26 Democratic primary, is calling for congressional action to stop individual states from preventing the expansion of solar-electric power. McCline explains:

"Here in the Sunshine State of all places, we've fallen far behind the curve in developing solar power as a cost-effective source of clean, renewable energy. That's not due to lack of capacity, technology, or affordability. It's due to partisan politics and special interest influence, combining to block common-sense progress. When that happens at the state level, Congress needs to step in. We can, must and will do better."

The McCline Solar Energy Action Plan goes a step further than the newly announced EPA carbon-emissions standards for power plants. McCline is calling for new national standards and oversight for states like Florida, where corporate special interests and their political allies are preventing open market competition and clean energy progress.

In announcing development of a new federal role for breaking the solar energy gridlock at the state level, McCline for Congress points to facts such as:

• Solar/renewable sources account for only 2.2 percent of Florida's electricity.
• With two of every three days sunny, Florida ranks third nationwide in solar-electric energy potential, but fell down to 18^th place last year in solar installations -- even though costs have dropped more than 50 percent.
• Florida is 1 of only 13 states with no "renewable portfolio standards" or goals -- no plan for developing solar and other renewable energy resources.
• The state's homeowner solar rebate incentive program for solar ran out in 2010 and hasn't been renewed, while a bill promoting tax breaks for businesses switching to solar power died in the 2014 state legislature.
• The state's biggest investor-owned energy utilities -- Florida Power & Light, TECO Energy and Duke Energy -- have worked with certain state legislators and the Florida Public Service Commission in ways that monopolize, control and stifle free-market solar energy expansion, rather than promoting it.

Read more about McCline for Congress on Energy at mclineforcongress.com.