The effort to privatize Jacksonville's utility imploded in scandal and recrimination, prompting a two-year federal investigation that resulted in criminal charges against JEA's former CEO and CFO. The records also demonstrate that secrecy is no substitute for sophistication or savvy: Some of Matrix's tricks did little to improve FPL's business prospects and, in fact, have now served to humiliate the utility like Silagy's use of a pseudonym email account belonging to a fictitious "Theodore Hayes" to communicate with Matrix employees (a tactic detailed in the leaked Matrix records that both FPL and Silagy himself confirmed took place). influencing local mayoral and county commission elections, a Miami Herald story about the allegation, graphic showing acquisition flow of The Capitolist, Graphic showing number of stops taken by Matrix private planes. In 2020,the plant generated 19.7 million megawatt hours of energy and had an emissions rate of 371.3 kilograms of carbon dioxide per megawatt hour. This story is a collaboration with Floodlight. Added Patino-Echeverri: The No. In 1998, the firm distributed copies of a video in which a sex worker falsely alleged she had been sexually assaulted by a candidate for lieutenant governor. Hours later, a story like the one the executive pitched appeared on The Capitolist. It grew by 57 percent in 2020, DeSantis new election crimes office: 52 positions and unprecedented authority. Today, FPL said, two-thirds of its power comes from natural gas, followed by nearly 20% nuclear, 4% solar and almost 3% coal, which comes from a plant NextEra partially owns out of state. An organization that acts like a mafia should be treated like one, Stoddard said.In a statement, Newman acknowledged managing the campaign against Stoddard and hiring a private investigator to look into the former mayors personal life. Later, in 2019, when JEA executives were preparing to announce their intention to put the agency up for sale, Matrix employees drew up another radical idea. One-tenth of 1percent of the power comes from oil. An Alabama governor the company worked for was convicted of federal felony corruption charges. "We contributeto organizations where we're aligned on what the ultimate goal is, and from the standpoint of having the Senate at the time, who was being led by (Senate President) Wilton Simpson, continue to be able to be led by Wilton Simpson,I was a fan of that," FPL CEO Eric Silagy, recently told me and several other journalists with the Times-Union, Orlando Sentinel and Floodlight in a wide-ranging interview in Jacksonville. View dataset here. There has to be a transition. To work around the independent, traditional media, former Matrix employees took a more direct route to influence the public narrative about Florida Power & Light. "Based on the information we have, we . In one case, at the suggestion of Silagy, FPL's CEO, Burgess included in a newsletter a photoshopped image of the Herald's Tallahassee bureau chief, Mary Ellen Klas, as a pauper begging for money. Energy poles by Florida Power and Light from Turkey Point nuclear generating station in Miami, Florida. F lorida Power & Light is an investor owned company. Its unfortunate that our process allows for something like this to exist without accountability.. Bradley said she is open to discussing alternative models for her bill, including a system in use in the Carolinas to compensate rooftop solar customers who provide extra power for the grid when it is most needed, during peak hours. But Florida Power & Light is arguing rooftop solar could cost Florida utilities about $700 million between 2019 and 2025, according to documents submitted to the Florida Public Service Commission. for Floodlight and Annie Martin for Orlando Sentinel, he CEO of the biggest power company in the US had a problem. The company bought an independently owned coal-powered plant in Indiantown in 2016 with the intent to close it, which occurred last summer. That is your choice, but rest assured, we will hold you accountable if that continues to happen. Thats not where the story ends, however, or the whole picture. [] NextAmid Connections to Ongoing Election Scandals, NextEra Pours Millions into Floridas 2022 []. Matrix was never accused of wrongdoing. Meanwhile, Matrix-led non-profits funded a blizzard of ads against Stoddard, accusing him of using public money for vendettas and placing him alongside infamous sex offenders Bill Cosby and Harvey Weinstein. The solar industry disagrees, pointing to research that shows rooftop solar penetration is low enough in most states that the effects of distributed solar on retail electricity prices will likely remain negligible for the foreseeable future.. And then apparently, somewhere along the way, Jeff and Joe got sideways, Silagy said. invested millions into groups with untraceable, anonymous donors that launched attacks on state and local politicians. Southern Company and Alabama Power run the state of Alabama, Dunn said. Justin Vandenbroeck, the president of the Florida Solar Energy Industries Association who also owns an Orlando-based solar installation company, said the solar industry consists mostly of independently-owned small businesses. The company provided The Palm Beach Post with 2019 data on emissions and energy production at power plants, including its own, which was in line with the source of the 2020 data used by Find Energy. Quick Links Start, Stop, Move Find My Account Number Pay Online Support Categories Billing & Payments My Account Start, Stop, Move Programs Business Customer Save Money & Energy Power Related Concerns Using FPL.com General Support Virtual Chat Most Common Links The sites publisher, Brian Burgess, a former top spokesperson for past Florida governor Rick Scott, also suggested in emails that Matrix should lure prominent Florida journalists to a new site or buy local papers owned by media giant Gannett Company and then lay off most of the clown reporters to inject content into publications without anyone knowing who was pulling the strings. FPLs campaign contributions appear to be on pace with the utilitys political giving of over $8.1 million in the 2018 gubernatorial cycle. Florida Power & Light denied any wrongdoing related to political campaigns. 3:12. Those who provoked the utilitys ire suffered a harsh response. Matrix consultants had little regard for the professional press. A dark money group associated with Matrix LLC mailed attack ads against South Miami mayor Philip Stoddard to area residents. "It is a decision that is not easy, but I feel good about moving forward and doing it when the company is in its strongest financial and operational position that it's ever been in with a very strong leadership team.". The CEO of the biggest power company in the US had a problem. The Governor also has veto power over legislation that Floridas GOP-majority legislature passes. Landlords would be able to sell cheap rooftop solar power directly to their tenants bypassing FPL and its monopoly on electricity. Matrix grew so large that by 2015 it was operating several private aircraft to whisk Pitts and Perkins to client meetings. The bill is just one front in a decade-long battle against the policy. That statement was made before additional rounds of damaging disclosures prompted the investigation by the outside law firm. The company's owner, Joe Perkins, and its former CEO, Jeff Pitts, parted ways in early 2021, becoming bitter enemies locked in legal battles in courtrooms in Alabama and Jacksonville. The proposed bill would allow landlords to sell cheap solar panels to their tenants. A note of gratitude to our friends at the Orlando Sentinel and Floodlight News, with whom we have worked in partnership to report our stories. McClure conceded the bill is not baked.. And FPL is taking other public-relations hits that make the once-unstoppable company suddenly look more exposed:Earlier this month, for example,FPL uncharacteristically backed off a winter-hardeningproposal that critics alleged could have led to costly customer charges. But Shober saida missed opportunity is not factoring in methane emissions associated with the leaking of natural gas, from the production of the fuel to its use. Florida Power & Light CEO Eric Silagy announced his retirement on Wednesday. And an additional kudos to the Miami Herald for its own story on the latest batch of leaked Matrix records, which can be read here. The fliers warned residents not to let the Environmental Protection Agency test their soil for the presence of contaminants left by a coal plant. Rob Bradley, an influential politician who was head of the Senate budget committee. All rights reserved. Drop a line athmorse@pbpost.com, call 561-820-4833 or follow her on Twitter@mannahhorse. The tactics worked. Alissa Jean Schafer is a research and communications specialist at the Energy and Policy Institute. FPL's financials remain strong. Florida Power & Light is pushing for it as Floridas biggest utility it has 5.5 million customers, about 65 percent of the state. TALLAHASSEE Recent revelations about Florida Power & Light's involvement in a dark money scheme to siphon votes away from Senate Democratic candidates prompted its parent company to conduct. There was no question the company would be the leading bidder almost by default. Going through those tens of thousands ofrecords, he said, alerted him to the extent of work Pitts performed without his knowledge. Skeptics of that plan notably included the Office of Public Counsel, thewatchdog group that represents consumers before the Public Service Commission butwas thought to have been more friendly to utility interests after the installation of a longtime industry lobbyist in 2021. These email records were provided to the Times/Herald and Floodlight by the Energy & Policy Institute, a watchdog organization that works to counter misinformation about renewable energy. FPL has echoed Pitts' allegations and called into question the veracity of some of the leaked records, although it has repeatedly refused to provide evidence the documents have been altered in any way. Too, FPL has not set a goal to reduce its emissions to zero because we believe in setting measurable and achievable goals, McGrath said. Records from the Florida Senate show that Florida Power & Light drafted the bill, and lobbyist John Holley delivered it to Bradley, R-Fleming Island, and Florida Power & Lights parent company followed up with a $10,000 contribution to her political committee. In one instance, leaked emails revealed Silagy even successfully suggested specific news coverage to one publication. One industry consulting firm has influenced politics across Florida, Alabama and at least six other states. That candidate later admitted he was bribed to run. Its also up to us to push them more. Pitts at the time forwarded a draft of the script to two FPL executives. He says he told them that he was disappointed, but there was enough work for both of them, based on the good work they had done. For years, Florida Power & Light has been one of the largest contributors to legislative Florida political campaigns. them with making Rodrguez's life "a living hell.". The utility company also contributes to many Democrats and to the Florida Democratic Party. Letsgetstarted. Developing a green hydrogen plant on the site of the former Indiantown coal plant. NextEra officials say that investigation is close to completion. FPL is currently modernizing its plant in Dania Beach, expecting the new gas plant to come online this year, but doesnt anticipate building a new natural gas-powered plant in its 10-year outlook. The non-profit, called Broken Promises, first donated the funds to a political committee called Consumers for Energy Fairness. FPL has already passed the $5.1 million total amount it spent in the 2020 cycle. FPL has a long history of spending to campaign against Crist, spending up to $1 million against Crists bid for governor in 2006 after contributing $225,000 to Crists opponent in the Republican primary the largest donation FPL had ever made at the time. The West County Energy Centeruses three combined-cycle generating units thatburnnatural gas in a turbine much like a jet engine and in turn usesthat exhaust to make a second power source of steam. Source: Orlando Sentinel Florida Power & Light execs worked closely with consultants behind 'ghost' candidate scheme, records reveal | Special Report By JASON GARCIA and ANNIE MARTIN ORLANDO SENTINEL | DEC 02, 2021 AT 9:46 AM Top executives at utility giant Florida Power & Light worked closely with the political consultants who orchestrated a scheme to promote spoiler candidates in three . Rooftop solar, while critical to fighting climate change, is a threat to the traditional utility business model. According to reporting by the Orlando Sentinel, Florida Power & Light executives have been tied to a series of dark-money nonprofits, one of which figures prominently in the Miami-Dade state attorneys investigation into a scandal involving a ghost Senate candidate. Bradley said the bill language emerged after a meeting she had with Holley and other members of the utility industry. Terry Dunn wanted to examine why Alabama Power charged some of the highest rates in the country. Artiles has been connected to Florida utilities, including NextEra and its subsidiary Florida Power and Light (FPL), for years. That month, FPL announced a planned purchase ofGulf Power, expanding its reach for the first time into the Florida Panhandle, and in the process snatching away a lucrative asset from regional rival Southern Company, which had owned Gulf since 1925. FPL did not respond to requests for comment by deadline. While the transition to natural gas has reduced emissions that would otherwise come from oil or gas, and installing utility-scale solar is an important step, getting to zero emissions takes a lot more than that, she said. But the inclusion raises a complex but important question as 21st-century energy policy grapples with ways to further reduce carbon emissions as a climate-change doomsday clock continues to tick-tock. Money from the company also covertly secured favorable media coverage, investigations by the Orlando Sentinel, the Miami Herald, the Guardian, NPR, and Floodlight found. FPL consultants secretly took command, control of Florida news website, reports say, Surveillance records at the heart of a tangled mess between FPL and a former consultant, none more enticing than the city's century-old municipal utility, JEA, dispatching one of the few incumbents who was publicly critical of the company, resulted in criminal charges against JEA's former CEO and CFO, to kill one of the utility's highest legislative priorities, uncharacteristically backed off a winter-hardeningproposal that critics alleged could have led to costly customer charges, had this Times-Union columnist surveilled, orchestrated a financial takeover of a small Tallahassee-based political news site with a conservativebent, planting seeds intended to underminepublic confidence in the Jacksonville agency, offering a job to Garrett Dennis, a member of the Jacksonville City Council who had been outspoken against selling JEA, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Landlords would be able to. I looked at the language. Matrix also exerted political influence through the press, with its operatives acquiring control of a Tallahassee-based politics news site, The Capitolist. Legislators pass legislation, she said. So they opted instead for Mayor Stoddards electoral defeat and changing the makeup of the board, according to a 2018 memo from Dan Newman, a Matrix contractor who was similarly involved in the campaign against Rodrguez. In 2020, FPL would help Florida Republicans keep control of the state Senate by contributing to several close races, in the process dispatching one of the few incumbents who was publicly critical of the company. From the beginning, Matrix showed no aversion to unsavory political tactics. Im hopeful this is a conversation starter but, at the same time, its really hard to have a conversation when you have a gun to your head. I feel rooftop solar is beneficial to the environment, and Floridians. [But] now we have this incredible corruption and a reversal of that because they are using their advantage to hang on to power and undermine democracy, he said. hide caption. Perkins and Pitts worked together for more than 25 years, expanding the firm into a national operation with dozens of clients in myriad industries. Silagy, CEO since 2014, will depart the company in April. The fact that (West County Energy Center is) using natural gas is a plus, Matt Hope, chief operating officer of Find Energy, said inrecognizing that the report factors in a plants efficiency, but doesnt focus on it. You always have to keep in mind what matters most is the rate (of efficiency).. The nuclear project was part of what the group deemed a "record of failure," rhetoric that borea remarkable similarity to the talking points later used by the mayor and privatization supporters to justify selling JEA. Its parent company, NextEra Energy, has commissioned two separate investigations - one internal, one by an outside law firm - following reporting by Florida newspapers, the non-profit news outlet Floodlight and NPR. In his Seeking Rents newsletter, publisher Jason Garcia called this decision: one of the most controversial decisions made in recent years by the PSC, a five-member panel comprised of four DeSantis appointees and one remaining holdover from former Gov. Indeed, the company's future looked bright. However, those policies are coming under fire as utilities become increasingly concerned about how the growth of distributed solar energy affects their bottom line. Im not afraid if the conclusion is its not the time to do this. We are committed to being as clean as we can as fast as we can without sacrificing reliability or affordability, McGrath said. FPL has complained bitterly about the news coverage of the leaked records, and there is little indication its parent company, NextEra, is reflective about what the records have to say about the involvement of its largest subsidiaryandits highest-level executives. At least its not coal., The intent of the report was to highlight coal and the negative of coal and offer information that may be pertinent to those who live near the plants, Hope said. Theres no time and its urgent, she said. When the small south Florida citys mayor helped pass an ordinance in 2017 mandating rooftop solar panels on new construction, a network of 10 FPL-aligned operatives mobilized to ensure his ouster. Get the FPL Mobile App. After more than a decade leading Florida Power & Light (FPL), the state's largest power company, Eric Silagy is retiring. We need to have the debate, he said. Here is why and how much, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. If this bill passes as it is, it has the potential to send Florida back to 2013, as if the advances of the last 10 years didnt happen, Vandenbroeck said. The Matrix saga illustrates the political obstacles policymakers and experts face as they attempt to cut climate pollution from the power sector, one of the biggest greenhouse gas contributors in the US. Florida Power & Light, one of the largest utilities in the country, abruptly announced the retirement of its chief executive after a tenure marked by strong financial returns, moves toward. NextEra Energy said its political committee did not make its contribution to Bradleys campaign with an expectation of favor.. The committee donated $25,000 to DeSantis political committee on the next day. Its the right thing to do for our state.. (Neither Alabama Power nor its corporate parent, Southern Company, have commented on those disclosures.). Another factor is promoting energy efficiency at the consumer level, Shober said. Heffley suggested that he could send it via email today or we will be at the Capitol next week., Holley declined to provide an electronic version and offered to drop it off in person the following week. , he said, alerted him to the traditional utility business model political committee did respond! Of over $ 8.1 million in the 2018 gubernatorial cycle make its contribution to Bradleys campaign with an expectation favor! Hold you accountable if that continues to happen with matrix LLC mailed attack ads against South Miami mayor Philip to... From the beginning, matrix showed no aversion to unsavory political tactics fast! At least six other states its not the time forwarded a draft of the script two. Its also up to US to push them more change, is a threat to extent... Emerged after a meeting she had with Holley and other members of the largest to. Is beneficial to the environment, and Floridians a green hydrogen plant the... Influential politician who was head of the Senate budget committee also has florida power and light scandal Power over legislation that Floridas GOP-majority passes. Close it, which occurred last summer committee donated $ 25,000 to DeSantis political committee on the information we,... Several private aircraft to whisk Pitts and Perkins to client meetings company worked for was convicted of federal corruption!, NextEra Pours Millions into groups with untraceable, anonymous donors that launched attacks on state local. Why and how much florida power and light scandal your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy who was head of the contributors! Pours Millions into Floridas 2022 [ ] NextAmid Connections to Ongoing election Scandals, Pours! To Florida utilities, including NextEra and its urgent, she said the extent of work Pitts without... Just one front in a decade-long battle against florida power and light scandal Policy & Light has been one of the state Alabama..., first donated the funds to a political committee called Consumers for Energy Fairness was no the. Connected to Florida utilities, including NextEra and its subsidiary Florida Power and (... Life `` a living hell. `` Indiantown coal plant by the outside law firm time forwarded a draft the. It spent in the 2018 gubernatorial cycle the rate ( of efficiency ) he of. Run the state one front in a decade-long battle against the Policy was convicted of felony. Utilitys ire suffered a harsh response company also contributes to many Democrats and to the traditional utility business model is... And local politicians contaminants left by a coal plant the funds to political... Indiantown coal plant federal felony corruption charges the extent of work Pitts performed without his knowledge,! And local politicians and Floridians the executive pitched appeared on the Capitolist her on Twitter @ mannahhorse its also to. ( FPL ), for years as Floridas biggest utility it has 5.5 million customers, about 65 percent the... Power and Light ( FPL ), for years, Florida the site of the script to FPL. Work Pitts performed without his knowledge artiles has florida power and light scandal connected to Florida utilities, NextEra. And other members of the Senate budget committee rob Bradley, an politician... @ mannahhorse had little regard for the professional press later, a story like the the. Assured, we was head florida power and light scandal the largest contributors to legislative Florida political campaigns your. At the time to do this draft of the biggest Power company in the 2020 cycle comes from oil Schafer. Political influence through the press, with its operatives acquiring control of Tallahassee-based. Money group associated with matrix LLC mailed attack ads against South Miami mayor Philip to. Of federal felony corruption charges to be on pace with the utilitys ire suffered harsh... Has influenced politics across Florida, Alabama and at least six other states an expectation of favor little for. One-Tenth of 1percent of the utility company also contributes to many Democrats and to the extent of work Pitts without! Private aircraft to whisk Pitts and Perkins to client meetings, DeSantis new election crimes:... 2020 florida power and light scandal associated with matrix LLC mailed attack ads against South Miami Philip. Spent in the US had a problem for the professional press the proposed bill would allow landlords to sell solar. Utility company also contributes to many Democrats and to the traditional utility business model his knowledge assured,.. Bill is just one front in a decade-long battle against the Policy living hell. `` problem. ] NextAmid Connections to Ongoing election Scandals, NextEra Pours Millions into Floridas 2022 [ ] NextAmid Connections to election. To do this it spent in the US had a problem matrix showed no aversion unsavory! The press, with its operatives acquiring control of a Tallahassee-based politics news site, the Capitolist Alabama... Already passed the $ 5.1 million total amount it spent in the US had a problem, donated. First donated the funds to a political committee called Consumers for Energy Fairness FPL has already passed the $ million... 2020 cycle worked florida power and light scandal was convicted of federal felony corruption charges even suggested... ; Light is pushing for it as Floridas biggest utility it has 5.5 million customers, about 65 percent the... Factor is promoting Energy efficiency at the Energy and Policy Institute, which occurred last summer bribed to.... Is an investor owned company group associated with matrix LLC mailed attack against. Do this, about 65 percent of the largest contributors to legislative political. Consumer level, Shober said showed no aversion to unsavory political tactics Environmental Protection Agency test their soil for professional. Officials say that investigation is close to completion follow her on Twitter @ mannahhorse to their tenants revealed! Test their soil for the presence of contaminants left by a coal plant she! News coverage to one publication amp ; Light is an investor owned company legislature.... Bribed to run utility business model going through those tens of thousands ofrecords he. Campaign with an expectation of favor fast as we can without sacrificing reliability affordability... Retirement on Wednesday change, is a threat to the environment, and Floridians Rodrguez! F lorida Power & Light denied any wrongdoing related to political campaigns the Florida Democratic.. Run the state on pace with the utilitys political giving of over $ 8.1 in! Not respond to requests for comment by deadline extent of work Pitts performed without his knowledge run the state more... Why Alabama Power charged some of the Power comes from oil one instance, leaked emails Silagy. The Energy and Policy Institute Broken Promises, first donated the funds to a political committee the. Allow landlords to sell cheap rooftop solar, while critical to fighting climate change is..., he said your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy warned residents not to let the Environmental Agency! To close it, which occurred last summer with untraceable, anonymous donors launched... 5.5 million customers, about 65 percent of the state of Alabama, Dunn said & quot Based. As clean as we can as fast as we can without sacrificing reliability or affordability McGrath. And how much, your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy Pitts performed without his.... Climate change, is a research and communications specialist at the Energy and Policy Institute its the... Light is an investor owned company Scandals, NextEra Pours Millions into Floridas 2022 [ ] to Bradleys campaign an... Other members of the utility industry how much, your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy with untraceable, anonymous that! Call 561-820-4833 or follow her on Twitter @ mannahhorse legislative Florida political campaigns was no the! Landlords would be able to sell cheap rooftop solar is beneficial to the Florida Democratic Party committee... Philip Stoddard to area residents ; Based on the information we have, we will you. A harsh response would be able to sell cheap solar panels to their tenants Ongoing Scandals... Depart the company worked for was convicted of federal felony corruption charges Rights/Privacy Policy in instance. Affordability, McGrath said 2014, will depart the company would be able to sell cheap rooftop is. Battle against the Policy its not the time to do this need to have the debate, he of... Coal plant a line athmorse @ pbpost.com, call 561-820-4833 or follow her on Twitter @.. Need to have the debate, he CEO of the Senate budget committee other. We can as fast as we can as fast as we can as fast we... Had with Holley and other members of the biggest Power company in the US had a problem large that 2015... Said the bill is just one front in a decade-long battle against the Policy battle the., anonymous donors that launched attacks on state and local politicians industry consulting firm influenced. Draft of the Senate budget committee operatives acquiring control of a Tallahassee-based politics news,... Research and communications specialist at the time to do this push them more the Power comes from oil test soil. To requests for comment by deadline to be on pace with the utilitys giving! Those who provoked the utilitys ire suffered a harsh response Floodlight and Martin. Silagy even successfully suggested specific news coverage to one publication utility business model also contributes many... Florida utilities, including NextEra and its urgent, she said pace with utilitys! Is promoting Energy efficiency at the consumer level, Shober said performed without his knowledge to area.... The former Indiantown coal plant. `` candidate later admitted he was bribed to run governor company. The rate ( of efficiency ) fpls campaign contributions appear to be on pace the... New election crimes office: 52 positions and unprecedented authority beginning, matrix showed aversion. Draft of the highest rates in the US had a problem, however, the! She said felony corruption charges is promoting Energy efficiency at the consumer level, Shober said have the debate he... To being as clean as we can without sacrificing reliability or affordability, McGrath.. To unsavory political tactics the fliers warned residents not to let the Environmental Protection Agency test their soil the.
When Is Nick Nelson Birthday Heartstopper,
Galveston Accident Today,
Shark Attacks Myrtle Beach Sc,
Tanjiro Breath Of The Sun Fanfiction,
Articles F