Big Power Thwarted on Renewable Energy Vote

House members spent the morning debating whether to allow the state's four largest investor-owned utilities to raise their rates by as much as $376 million over the lives of renewable energy projects, only to have the measure's sponsor postpone a vote at the last minute.

In a fierce debate on the House floor, Democratic and Republican supporters of HB 7229, sponsored by Orlando Republican Stephen Precourt, defended the measure from opponents who questioned the wisdom of permitting rate increases in troubled economic times. The bill also allows utilities to build solar power plants and charge the full cost to customers without going through Florida Public Service Commission.

Representatives submitted a flurry of amendments trying to maximize how much renewable energy the utilities would be required to generate or incentiving renewable energy investment for small businesses and the public. Most of those changes were defeated, but an amendment to cap increases for next year at 2 percent was approved.

Rep. Julio Robaina, R-Miami, said the increase was still too heavy a burden on taxpayers.

"You need to vote this down," he said. "This is a huge tax increase/fee. You know what it is."