PRESS!RELEASE! For!Immediate!Release! February!17,!2015!!

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1 PRESSRELEASE ForImmediateRelease February17,2015 SolarBallotInitiativeSecures100,000PetitionSignaturesinFirstMonth Strong*Support*from*Residents*Across*the*State*Confirms** Floridians*Are*Eager*to*Have*a*Voice*and*a*Choice*on*Energy* * Tallahassee,Fla.(February17,2015) Justonemonthafterabroadcoalitionannouncedthelaunchof Floridians*for*Solar*Choice apetitioncampaigntogainaplaceonthe2016ballottogivevotersthechance toexpandsolarchoiceinfloridaecampaignrepresentativesannouncedtodaythat100,000signatureshave alreadybeengatheredandnearly1,000supportersandvolunteershavejoinedthecampaign. Campaignrepresentativesalsoannouncedthatthediversecoalitionofbusinesses,conservativegroupsand environmentalorganizationshasgrownevenbroaderwiththeadditionofcleanwateraction,environment Florida,EvangelicalEnvironmentalNetwork,GreenpeaceUSA,IDEASforUs,PhysiciansforSocial ResponsibilityFlorida,ReThinkEnergyFlorida,SierraClubFloridaandTheTeaPartyNetworkwhojointhe foundingorganizations:christiancoalitionofamerica,conservativesforenergyfreedom,floridaalliancefor RenewableEnergy,FloridaRetailFederation,FloridaSolarEnergyIndustriesAssociation,LibertarianPartyof Florida,RepublicanLibertyCaucusofFlorida,RepublicanLibertyCaucusofTampaBay,SouthernAlliancefor CleanEnergyandWTEC. Thesediversegroupshavecometogetherinanunprecedentedefforttobringawarenesstothebenefitsof solarpowerandtheimportanceoffreemarketenergypoliciesforfloridiansacrossthestate. Wearepleasedbythestrongsupportwe vereceivedfromaroundthestate, saidtoryperfetti,chairman ofthefloridians*for*solar*choicepoliticalactioncommitteeandfloridadirectorofconservativesforenergy Freedom. Inroughlyonemonth,wehavereceivedthousandsofpetitionsfrommorethan170Floridacities fromaltoonatozephyrhillswithmorecomingineveryday. TheTeaPartyNetworkandconservativeshavealwayschampionedprivatepropertyrightsandfreemarket competition.thefloridians*for*solar*choiceballotinitiativewilladvancetherightsofpropertyownerstosell solarenergyproducedontheirprivatepropertytotheirneighborsortenants,"saidcatherinebaer,chairof TheTeaPartyNetwork. FloridaistheSunshineStateanditscitizensdeservethefreedomtochoosecleanelectricityfromGod s greatestenergysource:thesun, saidrev.mitchellc.hescox,presidentandc.e.o.oftheevangelical EnvironmentalNetwork. WesupportFloridiansForSolarChoiceandtheireffortstomakecleanaffordable

2 energyavailabletoallwithoutthebarriersimposedbycurrentlaw.havingtherighttochoosesolarwill lowerelectriccostsanddefendourchildren shealthbyreducingpollution.it stimetomovetowardanew cleanenergyfuture,andfloridians*for*solar*choiceisabigstepintherightdirection. Thesolarindustryisasmotivatedandenergizedastheyhaveeverbeenaroundasolarpolicyinitiative. Withinthepastmonthwehaveengagedover75businesseswhoaremobilizingtheirstaff,volunteers,and customerstospreadoutacrossfloridaandgathersignaturesandbuildsupportforthiscriticalinitiative, said MikeAntheil,ExecutiveDirectoroftheFloridaSolarEnergyIndustriesAssociation(FlaSEIA). Wehavealso confirmedbusinessesineverymajormetroareainfloridatoactasvolunteerdistributioncenters.withthe participationofthesebusinesses,wehaveestablishedanunprecedentedinfrastructurethatisreadytobring thisamendmenttotheballotin2016. Gaining100,000signaturesisanimportantmilestonefortheFloridians*for*Solar*Choicecampaign:itshows anextremelyfavorableearlyresponsebyfloridacitizensand,oncethesignaturesareprocessedthroughthe SupervisorsofElections,itwilltriggerthecriticalphaseoftheFloridaSupremeCourt sreviewoftheballot language, saiddr.stephena.smith,executivedirectorofthesouthernallianceforcleanenergy. Inthis eraofsomuchpartisangridlock,weareheartenedtoseegroupsfromtherightandtheleftcomingtogether togivefloridiansavoiceandachoiceonsolarpower. Floridaisoneofonlyfivestateswherecurrentlawexpresslydeniescitizensandbusinessesthefreedomto buysolarpowerelectricitydirectlyfromsomeoneotherthanamonopolyelectricutility,orgovernmente ownedelectricutility. Floridians*for*Solar*Choiceisa501(c)(4)organizationworkingacrossthestateofFloridatoelevateawareness ofthe2016ballotinitiative.thepublicisencouragedtovisitthecampaign swebsitewww.flsolarchoice.org andsocialmediaoutlets,includingtwitter,facebook,andyoutubeformoreinformation.registeredvoters infloridaareurgedtosignthepetitionhere. #"#"#" FloridiansforSolarChoicesupportsthefreedomtodevelopsolarpowerintheSunshineStateandisbringing peopletogethertotakesolarpowerchoicetotheballot.learnmoreatwww.flsolarchoice.org

3 SolarBallotInitiativeNewCoalitionMembers FloridaPressCenter*February17,2015 CleanWaterAction(CWA) CleanWaterActionisaonemillion0memberorganizationofdiversepeopleandgroupsjoinedtogether toprotectourenvironment,health,economicwell0beingandcommunityqualityoflife.ourgoals includeclean,safeandaffordablewater;preventionofhealththreateningpollution;creationof environmentallysafejobsandbusinesses;andempowermentofpeopletomakedemocracywork. CleanWaterActionorganizesstronggrassrootsgroupsandcoalitionsandcampaignstoelect environmentalcandidatesandsolveenvironmentalandcommunityproblems. EnvironmentFlorida EnvironmentFloridaisastatewide,citizen0basedenvironmentaladvocacyorganization.Webelieve thatflorida senvironmentisuniqueandworthprotectingforfuturegenerations.whetherit'sour world0famousbeachesandestuaries,orourstoried"riverofgrass,"florida'snaturalwondersenrich ourlivesincountlessways.yettheplacesweloveandtheenvironmentalvaluessomanyofusshare aretoooftenthreatenedbypowerfulindustries,shortsightedpoliticiansandmore.defendingour environmentrequiresindependentresearch,tough0mindedadvocacyandspiritedgrassrootsaction. EvangelicalEnvironmentalNetwork TheEvangelicalEnvironmentalNetwork(EEN)isaministrydedicatedtothecareofGod'screation.EEN seekstoequip,inspire,disciple,andmobilizegod'speopleintheirefforttocareforgod'screation.we believethatcreationcareistrulyamatteroflifeandthatpollutionharmsthevulnerable,especially childrenandtheunborn.webelievethebodyofchristshouldbeanexamplebytheirworkand integrityofwhatgod'speoplecandointheworldtosolvesomeofthegreatchallengesofourtime. GreenpeaceUSA GreenpeaceUSAistheleadingindependentcampaigningorganizationthatusespeacefulprotestand creativecommunicationtoexposeglobalenvironmentalproblemsandtopromotesolutionsthatare essentialtoagreenandpeacefulfuture.

4 IDEASforUs IDEASForUs,Inc.isa501(c)(3)non0profitorganization,accreditedbytheUnitedNations,advancing sustainabilityandenvironmentalawarenessthroughcampusandcommunityaction.themissionof IDEASistoeducate,engageandempowerpeopleofallageswithsustainablesolutionsthrough research,actionandawareness. PhysiciansforSocialResponsibility,Florida PhysiciansforSocialResponsibility(PSR)hasbeenworkingformorethan50yearstocreateahealthy, justandpeacefulworldforboththepresentandfuturegenerations.psradvocatesontheissuesyou careaboutbyaddressingthedangersthatthreatencommunities,usingourmedicalandpublichealth expertisetopreventnuclearwarandproliferation;reverseourtrajectorytowardsclimatechange; protectthepublicandourenvironmentfromtoxicchemicals;andeliminatetheuseofnuclearpower. ReThinkEnergyFlorida RethinkEnergyFloridaisa501c3dedicatedtoengagingandeducatingthepubliconenergyissues.This includestheuseoffossilfuelsandtheneedforrenewableenergyanddiminishedenergyconsumption. SierraClubFlorida SierraClubFloridaisachapteroftheSierraClubmadeupofvolunteerleadersandactivistsfromall overthestate.itsmissionistoenjoyandprotectthenaturalplacesinflorida,toteachothersto understandandrespectthefragileenvironmentinwhichwelive,andtopracticeandpromotethe responsibleuseofflorida secosystemsandresources.thestrengthofthechaptercomesfromthe effortsoflocal,grass0rootsvolunteersinthe16sierraclubgroupsfromtallahasseetomiamiand fromtampatoorlandoandwestpalmbeach. TheTeaPartyNetwork ThemissionofTheTeaPartyNetworkinFlorida,astatewideorganization,istofacilitate communication,educationandtolobbytoenactchangebeneficialtoconservativeidealsandbeliefs. These new supporting organization join Floridians* for* Solar* Choice s founding organizations: Christian Coalition of America, Conservatives for Energy Freedom, Florida Alliance for Renewable Energy, Florida Retail Federation, Florida Solar Energy Industries Association,LibertarianPartyofFlorida,RepublicanLibertyCaucusofFlorida,Republican LibertyCaucusofTampaBay,SouthernAllianceforCleanEnergyandWTEC.

5 SIGNED'PETITIONS'SENT'TO'DATE ALACHUA 4,608 LEE 625 ST. JOHNS 329 BREVARD 2,211 LEON 3,760 ST. LUCIE 385 BROWARD 15,146 MANATEE 550 SARASOTA 975 CHARLOTTE 1,773 MARION 280 SEMINOLE 3,719 CLAY 251 MARTIN 627 VOLUSIA 1,578 COLLIER 146 MIAMI-DADE 16,009 COLUMBIA 176 ORANGE 16,177 REQUIRED NUMBER OF SIGNATURES: 68,315 DUVAL 1,905 OSCEOLA 958 GADSDEN 149 PALM BEACH 5,721 STATEWIDE TOTAL SENT TO DATE: 92,621 HERNANDO 541 PASCO 1,730 IN PROGRESS: 10,000 HILLSBOROUGH 5,846 PINELLAS 3,626 LAKE 1,022 POLK 1,798 TOTAL COLLECTED TO DATE: 102,621

6 FrequentlyAsked Questions JoinusSignthepetitionTODAYVisitwww.FLsolarchoice.orgtolearnmoreaboutthebenefitsof customersolarenergyoptions.signupforfreeupdatesandhelpspreadtheword.togetherwecan remove unfair state policies that block competition and encourage monopoly control of our energy choices. We can join other states andopenthedoortoatrulyfreemarketthatallowscompetition, choiceandenergyfreedom. WHATISFLORIDIANSFORSOLARCHOICE?FloridiansforSolarChoice,Inc.isaregisteredFlorida political committee that is sponsoring the ballot initiative. It s a grassroots effort whose supporters includefloridiansfromacrossthepoliticalspectrumandthebusinesscommunity. WHAT IS THE SOLAR BALLOT INITIATIVE? A broad coalition of businesses, conservatives and environmentalorganizationsisworkingtoplaceaquestiononthe2016generalelectionballotasking voterstodecideonexpandingsolarchoicetoflorida sfamiliesandbusinesses.theballotinitiative wouldremoveabarrierthatcurrentlyblocksclean,renewablesolarpower. HOW DOES IT REMOVE A BARRIER TO SOLAR POWER? Florida is one of only five states in the United States that by law expressly denies citizens and businesses the freedom to buy solar power electricitydirectlyfromsomeoneotherthanamonopolyelectricutility.thepetition,ifpassed,will expandsolarchoicebyallowingallcustomerstheoptiontopowertheirhomesorbusinesseswith solarpowerandwhoprovidesittothem. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME? It can remove the upfront cost for solar power systems and expandsolarpoweroptionstoresidentialandcommercialtenants therebyexpandingthechoicefor solarpowertoallfloridians.forinstance,itwillleadtomorechoicesforhomeownerstocontract withcompaniesthatcanprovidesolarpowersystemsatnoupfrontcostandsellpowerdirectlytothe customeratalong8termfixedrate;landlordswilllikewisebeabletoprovidetheeconomicbenefitsof solarpowertotenants. WHY THE SIZE LIMIT? The size of the system that can sell solar power is capped at 2 megawatts (MW) to coincide with the state s net metering rule size limitation. Net metering is a policy that allowscustomer8ownedsolarpowersystemstointerconnectwiththeutilitydistributionsystem(the grid).thelargestrooftopsysteminfloridaisontheorangecountyconventioncenterandis1mwin size. Therefore, customer8sited solar systems will fall well within this cap and it will allow for technologicalinnovationthatmayonedayallowcustomerstogenerate2mwworthofsolarpoweron theirproperty. DOESTHISESTABLISHAREQUIREMENTFORSOLAR?No,thisisnotamandate.Thiswillalsonot raiseanytaxes.thepetitionsimplyremovesbarriersthatwillexpandthechoicesoffloridianswho wanttopowertheirhomesandbusinesswithclean,renewablesolarpower. WHYACONSTITUTIONALAMENDMENT?BillstoallowsolarchoicehavebeenfiledwiththeFlorida Legislature the last 3 years but due to the undue influence of monopoly power companies they didn tmakeitoutofthelegislativecommittees.thebillswereneverevengrantedahearing.that s whywemusttaketheissuedirectlytothepeople. FloridiansforSolarChoice 120E.OaklandParkBlvd.Suite105,FortLauderdale,FL33334

7 WHATARETHEECONOMICSOFSOLARFORME?Asolarsystemwilldisplacesomeoftheelectricity customerscurrentlyreceivefromtheirpowercompany.thefuelforsolarpowerisfree.thatmeans thatonceyouhaveasolarsysteminplace,yourpriceforpowerwillneverincrease.asyourutility8 providedpowerrateincreases,yoursolarratewillremainstable providingmorefinancialcertainty foryouinmeetingyourenergyneeds. WHAT ARE THE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF SOLAR TO ME? Unlike conventional power generation, solar power generates electricity with zero air emissions and no water use, thereby movingustoacleanerenergyfutureforourkidsandgrandkids. CAN TIDOTHISALREADY?Whilethecostofsolarpowerisdroppingdramatically,itstillrequiresa significantupfrontcosttoinstallasolarsystem currentlyonlythosethathavetheupfrontcapitalfor solarpowercanenjoythebenefits.thepetition,ifpassed,willopenupthesolarpoweroptiontoall Floridians,byallowingyoutocontractwithsolarprovidersthatcaninstallthepanelsatnoupfront costtoyou.ifyou rearenter,andhavenoroofspace,yourlandlordcaninvestinsolarandprovidethe powerdirectlytoyou. WILLTHISIMPACTREGULATIONINTENDEDTOPROTECTTHEPUBLIC SHEALTH,SAFETYAND WELFARE?No.Thepetitionexplicitlypreservestherightforstateandlocalregulationintheinterest ofpublichealth,safetyandwelfareinelectricityproduction. WILLTHISIMPACTRELIABILITYOFTHEGRIDINFL?No.Infact,customer8sitedsolarpowercan promotereliabilitybyhavingthesourceofthepowerclosertotheuser,therebyrelievingpressure fromthetransmissionanddistributionsystem. HOW CAN I HELP PROMOTE SOLAR CHOICE? Sign the petition and encourage your friends and familytodothesame.unleashsolarinthesunshinestate Visitourwebsite: LikeusonFacebook: FollowusonTwitter: Makeadonationtoourcrowdfundingpage: Ifyouhaveanyotherquestionsorifyou dliketovolunteer, usat: volunteers@flsolarchoice.org FloridiansforSolarChoice 120E.OaklandParkBlvd.Suite105,FortLauderdale,FL33334