National Black Chamber, Which Vehemently Opposes FL Solar Build-Out, Funded Largely By Fossil Energy

[hatrack]

The National Black Chamber of Commerce, a leading critic of efforts to expand solar energy production in Florida and nationwide, is funded primarily by fossil fuel energy companies, including Koch Industries and ExxonMobil, according to an analysis by the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting. Founded in 1993 by Harry C. Alford and his wife Kay DeBow, the National Black Chamber of Commerce has been a staunch ally of utility and fossil fuel companies for nearly a quarter century.

EDIT

Last weekend, the organization held its annual convention at the Diplomat Resort and Spa in Hollywood, Fla., where sponsors included Gulf Power, the Florida division of Atlanta-based energy giant Southern Company; Koch Industries and its subsidiary Georgia-Pacific; as well as Chevron and the American Chemistry Council.

On June 23, Alford, the National Black Chamber of Commerce’s president and chief executive officer, submitted a letter to Florida’s Public Service Commission — which regulates utility companies in the Sunshine State — asking commissioners to revise solar net metering policies “to ensure that market forces drive policies that compensate solar users for excess electricity.” The same month, the chamber also submitted a brief to the Florida Supreme Court opposing a proposed constitutional amendment on Florida’s 2016 ballot that would give residents the right to choose solar energy and bypass the utility companies that have locked down the electricity business in the state. The brief alleges that the amendment’s ballot language is misleading and violates the state constitution.

“It’s a front group paid for by industries looking to protect their interests, be it fossil fuel or big utility companies that have government-sponsored monopolies,” Susan Glickman, the Florida director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, said of the National Black Chamber of Commerce.

EDIT

http://fcir.org/2015/08/13/national-black-chamber-of-commerce-solar-energy-critic-rakes-in-cash-from-polluters/

[djean111]

1. A familiar filthy trick here in Florida is to call ballot initiatives by duplicitous names

and word the language so that people think they are voting for one thing, but in fact are voting for the opposite.
Assholes. The real aim is to penalize solar until they can take control of it and make as much or more profit from it. Imagine - the customers generate the electricity, and the utility gets to charge just as much or more for it.
Bring on better and cheaper panels, better and cheaper storage, and local neighborhood grids.

[drm604]

3. Another misleadingly named corporate front group. These people have no shame.

From what I can see the legitimate black COC is here: http://www.usblackchamber.org/

[MisterP]

4. they also infiltrated the FL NAACP (somehow)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026466374

it's the same coy argument they made through Andy Young--conquer and rule

[Zoobs2]

5. Clean economy jobs, FL AG on the Clean Power Plan

Clean economy jobs - Another reason to diversify the tech sector and STEM education. The building trades should be involved too.

Sorry this is off-topic, this is my first post and I couldn't start a new thread:
[link:http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2015/08/14/sierra-club-florida-statement-ag-bondis-move-block-implementation-epas-clean|

"TALLAHASSEE, FLA - Late yesterday, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi joined 14 other state attorneys general seeking to block the EPA’s Clean Power Plan. Finalized earlier this month by our Environmental Protection Agency, the Clean Power Plan will reduce carbon pollution from power plants."

I think there should be a threat of a boycott. Please note: the real reason for this is to hinder the international climate agreement in Paris. This is the climate equivalent of the Iran letter.

[lostnfound]

6. Welcome.

Nice analogy.

[JDPriestly]

7. Welcome to DU. Do you have a link for the article you are quoting?

Thanks.