Coalition to push for solar energy in Florida

Solar proponents say a new coalition that will push for increased use of renewable energy in Florida.

The Tampa Bay Times reports (http://bit.ly/YzNtXS) the coalition includes three major renewable and clean energy organizations: the Florida Solar Energy Industries Association and the Florida Alliance for Renewable Energy, as well as the nonprofit Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.

The organizations say Florida laws and the state’s investor-owned utilities have hampered the growth of solar power in the Sunshine State.

Florida’s largest utilities want to reduce conservation goals by more than 90 percent and have attacked solar as unreliable and costly.

The utilities say intermittent cloud cover and zero production at night hinders solar without an efficient battery system.