In Florida the cost is too great to justify any savings on power over time and the State has no money for incentives (which were not that great) any longer due to budget cuts. The other subject no approached is the cost to remove the panels from your roof when you need to reroof or make repairs from any storms.

Obviously THERE IS a problem with the balance of salaries being paid, IF they are concerned with employee infighting about wages...secretive salaries that may be paying those that don't deserve it would be a good guess, instead of equal pay for equal work ? A Publicly held Utility that has a monopoly on service areas, using consumer rate-hikes to increase returns to stockholders beyond normal market rates and maintaining unrealistic salaries of upper management is both unfair to the consumer and other employees of the utility. "He who hides nothing, has nothing to hide", that goes for utility corporations, too.

This IS good news! Now, if we could only get those who sit at the top of City Halls, Commissions, School Boards, State Colleges and Utilities to 'reform' their salaries to meet the current economic situation, others might be able to retain their jobs.

Mr. Holmes, ...I challenge you to use your term of 'private property rights' and try to get a building permit to redevelop your home to a commercial office building; or, better, yet...put some livestock in your backyard and revert it to the agricultural status it was originally......clue: it's not 1950 anymore.

PS...In case you haven't heard (John Holmes) 1000 Friends of Florida, no longer supports the opposition. However, if you check the website of www.floridahometowndemocracy.com, you will find numerous environmental groups in support of Amendment 4.

Great Article you wrote, Scott!...I would just like to comment on a few misconceptions noted by bloggers... 1. With the current backlog of 'already approved' developments on the books, there is plenty of growth for 'years' without making any new changes to comprehensive plans...thus, Amendment 4 does not put a stop to growth, it can only help contain it within 'reason', within resources and within communities 'desire'. 2. Property Owner's rights are not affected by Amendment 4. Anyone purchasing a property or currently owning property may develop that property under the current comp plan status through the normal building dept. channels. However, Ownership or the Purchase of a property does not come with the 'right to develop it anyway that you chose'....buying property under the guize of using it for a different purpose is called 'speculation'; and, speculation is what had a great deal to do with the collapse of the real estate market.

Interesting...since I was there at the meeting...there seems to be some quotes taken out of context by this reporter, although the 'gist' is that the mayor and two council members were not in favor of Amendment 4, two present members 'said nothing' and two were absent. Also, the so-called resolution to be drawn up was suggested by Robert Stuart to be more detailed because this 'being a complex issue', Mayor Dyer agreed it should be more of an executive summary. Patty Sheehan kept referring to it being a 'zoning issue' giving examples of deteriorating housing being unable to redevelop...Amendment 4 has no bearing on zoning or redevelopment of existing housing. This council, along with others, are actually 'believing' the lies of opposition rhetoric. And, may I say that representatives of Florida Hometown Democracy Amendment 4 were there with the 'facts'; but, were not allowed to speak. If you want a voice on growth...Vote for 4 in 2010! www.floridahometowndemocracy.com

I kinda like Grayson's 'style', he gets right to the point, no beating around the 'bush' (no pun intended here). He says what others are 'afraid' to say, but really 'think'. On the other hand, I think everyone's tired of hearing the 'mush' from Crist ... about how everything is so great and his 'primary focus' is on Floridians...he may have counted his 'chickens before they hatched'.

Mike, perhaps You and other's who have not yet reached 'retirement'...might want to 'walk in the shoes' of those elderly who are trying to live on SS at $500 or $900 per month...even $1200 a month today, barely pays rent and utilities that are ever increasing. Seniors are not going to be 'hired' in today's job market, when there are so many younger prospects available to fill positions that companys want to look at a 'long term' employment relationship. Seniors who have, after 30 years, found they are free of a mortgage payment...the increased insurance and property taxes continue to make it difficult to live within social security income. Most of the Seniors living on social security today, worked during a time when wages were lower than they are today....thus, what they have paid in for many years is not 'what it is today', if they were able to save...most likely that money goes for either supplemental health insurance or the 20% not paid by Medicare or prescription drugs. $250 wouldn't even cover their prescription costs or a supplemental insurance payment. Perhaps you would do good to walk in their shoes, visit a nursing home or talk with your parents or grandparents about how they make ends-meet, because you really don't have a clue. PS...I have a few years before retirement, and I've tried to prepare for it with additional funds, but the best laid plans, somehow, can get doomed.

Have never been a fan of Fox News; but maybe Bob will make it worth watching. Always liked him on channel 6...along with several others that got the axe for no good reason...never have figured how channels keep flippin' anchors for new faces that don't do any better. The games they play makes no sense.

Another example of How we got into this "mess" with continued over-building, dependence on growth Florida cannot sustain. The same groups that got us in this situation (Building, Real Estate and Banking Industrys) continue to pursue 'building more' with the Chamber of Commerce as their "puppetmaster" and Floridians for Smarter Growth, 'the political puppet'...bent on saying anything to make claims that Hometown Democracy Amendment 4 is not good because it would be the downfall of Florida. Hello!?...look in the mirror...what did your growth theory just do to Florida ?! Take back your voice on growth and keep in within boundaries of resources (Comprehensive Plans) Vote 4 in 2010 for Florida, for You! www.floridahometowndemocracy.com

I agree, somewhat, with granny...the technology today with making it 'too easy' to access money is part of the reason the country is in this mess. Using a checkcard or debit card is quik and easy, too easy...you can have money, spend money anytime...then when you forget to record that data and your overdrawn, the banks make big bucks with big fees for overdrawn accts . If your debit card is lost, someone can wipe out your account in a heartbeat with a quik shopping spree with no questions asked....write a check and you have to produce a picture ID or subject to denial from an outsourced banking institution. Banks and Lending institutions previously handing out credit like it was halloween candy, cashing in on bad loans and huge fees that uncreditworthy people couldn't afford...they knew better, but they ignored good conscience and the rest of us are having to pay for the misdeeds with bailout funds.

Thanks, Scott, for 'lightening' up a tense issue with some humor. I don't understand why reforming healthcare (at last) has so many people down-right 'angry'...no healthcare reform in the past has ever developed such a 'stir'...but, maybe its because it's never 'made it this far-almost in-reach'?...so who is REALLY behind all this hoopla??...it should be a nonpartisan issue....search the deep pockets of, possibly, pharmaceutical companies, insurance corporations...BIG campaign contributors from the medical industry? "What a tangled web we weave, when we lie and try to deceive".

I recently attended a PE Commission townhall meeting in Central Florida and Progress Energy was seeking a return on their (?) investment of 13-14%...they call it 'their' investment to stockholders while at the same time the consumer is the one 'investing' up front money but getting no 'return'...much less a return of that magnitude in today's market. It's totally unreasonable to make another rate increase request at this time. Furthermore, no information was furnished regarding what measures were taken within Progress Energy's ranks to 'tighten their belt', all the while CEO and Executives earnings are based on a past lucrative term of high-volume, high earnings which no longer reflect today's economy...where is Progress Energy's effort to cut overhead costs?