Bradley has taken $52,500 from Florida investor-owned utilities, between her campaign account and her political committee. Shares of NextEra sank late last month by nearly 9%, their biggest daily drop in more than two years, after the company abruptly announced Silagy would retire under the threat of a formal. The most comprehensive solution to manage all your complex and ever-expanding tax and compliance needs. In Florida, DeSantis May End the Battle Over Rooftop Solar With a Pen Stroke - Corruption by Cops, In Florida, DeSantis May End the Battle Over Rooftop Solar With a Pen Stroke - Earth2, Utility executive contributions surge in Minnesota state senate race - Energy and Policy Institute, Amid Connections to Ongoing Election Scandals, NextEra Pours Millions into Floridas 2022 Election Cycle - Energy and Policy Institute, Southwest Gas aims to make customers pay for its American Gas Association membership dues. Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau. The Florida Legislative Session begins January 11, 2022. They cited utilities expert Karl Rabagos testimony in the rate case, in which he noted that FPL spent millions of dollars in dues paid to certain politically active trade associations and cited the commissions own documents in the rate case. NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) Q4 2022 Earnings Call Transcript. Enforcement for funneling money through a partisan political committee to a ghost candidatescheme that has already resulted in felony charges against five political operatives. Internal documents obtained by the Sentinel show that Silagy used a pseudonym email Theodore Hayes to communicate with consultant Jeff Pitts, who controlled Grow United, with the memos noting that one goal was to minimize all public reporting of entities and activities.. Attack on Rooftop Solar Please support our work with a digital subscription. Community Solar Is About to Get a Surge in Federal Funding. The company, which has its main office in Spain, is hinting at job cuts, as Isla Binnie reports for Reuters. He started by questioning my premise that NextEra has a good reputation while its subsidiary, FPL, has taken some serious hits. Broken Promises is one of only two groups that has contributed money to a Florida political committee called Consumers for Energy Fairness. NextEra Energy Newsroom. Rodriguez has pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. Watch the Florida Legislature live: The Florida Channel, a public affairs programming service funded by the Legislature, livestreams coverage at thefloridachannel.org. This decision flew somewhat under the radar, unlike the situation at Florida Power & Light. He helped build NextEra Energy Resources and seemed to choose his retirement as opposed to being forced out, the former colleague said. An abandoned shovel is to blame. John W. Ketchum Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer NextEra Energy, Inc. Chairman Florida Power & Light Company READ MORE Armando Pimentel President and Chief Executive Officer 10 Takeaways from the IEA's Newest World Energy Outlook. Description. [] Click here to view original web page at http://www.energyandpolicy.org [], [] Its not clear yet whether law enforcement officials are investigating FPL or its executives for their involvement in the ghost candidate scheme, though the scandal has already resulted in criminal charges for some of its parties. In response to the stories, FPL has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. That scheme included over half a million dollars spent on political mailers promoting the spoiler candidates. Armando Pimentel, who held executive roles in finance at NextEra for more than a decade before retiring in 2019, is coming back in what investors hope will mark the end of FP&L's era of political and campaign-finance scandals. The reporting also found that the same FPL consultants have been involved in setting up front groups to advance FPLs political agenda, and paid activists to promote FPLs interests. Shares of NextEra sank late last month by nearly 9%, their biggest daily drop in more than two years, after the company abruptly announced Silagy would retire under the threat of a formal investigation by the Federal Election Commission into the company's political giving. The company was implicated in a ghost candidate scheme in Florida that ousted a climate advocate from state office. Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Utility Front Group Advertisement Tracker, American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, Gas utilities push RNG and hydrogen to expand fossil fuel infrastructure, AGA uses millions of dollars from utility customers to promote a fossil fuel agenda, Internal documents detail how gas utilities greenwash RNG and hydrogen, Front groups and trade associations funded by gas utilities fight electrification policies, List of deceptive RNG and hydrogen projects, Major investors warn utilities against carbon capture and offsets, obtained and published by Orlando Sentinel, According to reporting from the Orlando Sentinel. But the company is limited in what it can do to defend itself because of reams of evidence, in leaked emails and texts, showing that company executives were aware of at least some of what was happening. Now, the Lands Are Being Offered to Solar Companies. He was previously chief financial officer of NextEra Energy, a partner at Deloitte & Touche and an accounting fellow at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. It begs the question of who the PSC serves is it Floridians or is it utility companies?. A digest of the most pressing climate-related news, released every Tuesday and Friday. Send news tips and questions to dan.gearino@insideclimatenews.org. The second group, Mothers for Moderation, a DC-based 501(c)(4) dark-money group with over $15 million in revenue, states that its mission is to advocate for policies that benefit women, according to its 2018 IRS filings. The company was implicated in aghost candidate scheme in Floridathat ousted a climate advocate from state office. Other utilities have tried similar strategies, but none have done it on the scale of NextEra. On January 24th, the stock of renewables pioneer NextEra - now the U.S.'s largest utility company - dropped 8.8% on news the head of its FP&L unit was retiring. NextEras fourth-quarter earnings call with financial analysts, Robo announced he will be retiring from his position on March 1, PSC Executive Director Braulio Baez responded, Support my work with a digital subscription, Exclusive: Last grass lot on Miamis Brickell Avenue sells for $6 million. Energy Fairness played a role in setting up an attack on rooftop solar in 2020, via Florida Representative Lawrence McClure. NextEra Energy announces agreement to sell a 50% interest in an approximately 2,520-megawatt portfolio renewables project to a third party, highlighting the value of its best-in-class development program. Alvarados firm, Alvarado Strategies, was paid by three political committees with connections to Associated Industries of Florida (AIF), a corporate interest group with strong utility ties. On Wednesday, FPL spokesperson Chris McGrath denied that FPL was involved in the ghost candidate scheme. Though the Florida Power & Light scandal is one of the more recent topics bringing NextEra to the forefront of public attention, the company is certainly no stranger to controversy. Director, Pres & CEO of Sub of Nextera Energy Inc (30-Year Financial, Insider Trades) Eric E Silagy (insider trades) sold 28,564 shares of NEE on 03/15/2021 at an average price of $75.63 a share. NEW YORK (Reuters) - The new head of Florida Power & Light (FP&L) has at least one important objective above and beyond running U.S. power giant NextEra's crown jewel utility, analysts say: stay . The legislators responded on Jan. 10, saying they considered the commissions review incomplete given the news stories. You can keep up with her work on her site Environment.co. We deliver climate news to your inbox like nobody else. The messy business of being 'green'. Im interested in what happened with FPL, but Im also looking at whether this cascade of revelations could harm the utilitys parent company, NextEra Energy, which happens to be the largest generator of renewable energy in the United States, and maybe the world. Court documents obtained by the Miami Herald, as part of the state attorneys investigation, have shown that as part of the ghost candidate scheme Lets Preserve the American Dream paid former state Sen. Frank Artiles $125,000 for research and paid Grow United $1.15 million. A day later, PSC Chairman Andrew Fay responded with an unequivocal rejection of their request, saying that the PSC has a long-standing prohibition on the inclusion of lobbying and other expenses, which have been determined to bring no benefit to ratepayers, among the expenses to be recovered through rates charged to the public for service., Fay added that when FPL filed its rate request, the appropriate auditing function was conducted during the commissions consideration of the most recent FPL rate case, and the audit produced no evidence that FPL used, or was intending to use, ratepayer funds for the private benefit of the companys lobbying, campaigning or marketing affairs.. Sources explain that inthe scheme, Senate President Wilton Simpson, a Republican endorsed by both PresidentDonald Trump and Governor Ron DeSantis, received FL contributions through the FloridaRepublican Senatorial Campaign Committee (FRSCC). Dan Gearino covers the midwestern United States, part of ICNs National Environment Reporting Network. In this first story in a series, I look at how the plan has divided the community and strained relationships between longtime friends and neighbors. We have welcomed Armando Pimentel back to our company and have confidence that he will use his deep industry and company experience to further strengthen the FPL organization, NextEra Energy spokesperson David Reuter said. You want to measure economic success? On Tuesday, it became clear that Wall Street had noticed the stories. They remained that way until they took a stake in early wind farms in exchange for canceling the debts owed to them. The Office of Public Counsel, which advocates on behalf of Florida utility customers, also stated that it was a net benefit in that same workshop. By Mary Ellen Klas Crews said last month in a call with analysts that he is confident in the companys long-term plan to continue increasing development of wind, solar and batteries. Despite climate action often being frustrated by Republican leaders in Congress and at the local level, states with Republican governors and a majority of Republican state legislators are leading the nation in solar and wind. The documents also showed that Silagy coordinated with the political consultants to steer campaign contributions made through nonprofits in past elections. A former NextEra colleague of Pimentel's, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Pimentel was a "straightforward, fact-based and driven" coworker with a calm temperament. On Tuesday, it became clear that Wall Street had noticed the stories. "They probably chose him to be a steady the ship-type figure," said Jack Dearing, an analyst with Washington-based Capstone LLC, which advises investors and companies on policy issues. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. Inside Clean Energy is ICNs weekly bulletin of news and analysis about the energy transition. This story was originally published January 27, 2022, 6:00 AM. FPL has said it was not fully aware of what its consultant was doing, and it has cast doubt on some of the reporting. Sources report that the current NextEra investigation may be part of a wider probe into ethicalcomplaints against Simpson, the Senate President, including allegations that campaign moneywas spent to cover the fact that he fathered a child out of wedlock with a lobbyist for the Publixsupermarket chain. FPL has for decades spent millions on lobbying and election influence at every level of politics in Florida, giving it and its parent company, NextEra Energy, immense influence over the states politicians. Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the worlds largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. They may have to wait until prosecutors investigate for answers, but Artiles history and ties to Florida utilities may provide some clues. The reports show that Florida Power & Light hired a political consulting firm that engaged in dirty tricks to harm or otherwise neutralize the companys perceived opponents, including elected officials and journalists. The investigation around Artiles and the Senate District 37 race is ongoing. Florida Supreme Court ruling against FPL on the matter. Bainter and Data Targeting have been the focus of suspected misdeeds over the years. In the 2020 cycle alone, the Florida Republican Senate Campaign Committee (FRSCC) reported over $7 million dollars in expenditures to Data Targeting, for services including research, polling, advertising, campaign staff, and line items only reported as consulting. Nearly $183,000 of FRSCCs spending with Data Targeting was earmarked for the Senate District 37 race, the same race that led to Artiles arrest. The reporting also found that the same FPL consultants have been involved in setting up front groups to advance FPLs political agenda, and paid activists to promote FPLs interests. He came to ICN in 2018 after a nine-year tenure at The Columbus Dispatch, where he covered the business of energy. All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. Learn More 2022 ESG Report TOP 20 in the world for innovation, according to Fortune FPLs response as well as the statements provided for the docket by the staff involved in the rate case audit, leave many questions and concerns for our constituents and Floridians at large, the legislators wrote. There is no word on whether the internal investigationaddressed efforts associated with Operation Ginger., Copyright 2021 US TIMES NOW Cream Magazine by Themebeez, NextEra Energy (NE) is currently under investigation by the Florida Department of Law, SSD enabled fast speed data processing in Europe based VPS Server Hosting from TheServerHost, Ace DJ Artist talent DJ Nitin(NG) aka Nitin Gaikwad is Gaining Global Popularity As An Wedding DJ, Spotify is introducing a new and improved plus button in place of its heart icon, Palantir will eliminate 75 jobs or about 2% of the employees, Dr. Malda Aldaoudi consider Lifted Eyebrows and Fox Eye Lift as the latest trends. FPLs response as well as the statements provided for the docket by the staff involved in the rate case audit, leave many questions and concerns for our constituents and Floridians at large, the legislators wrote. At the end of the earnings call, Robo announced he will be retiring from his position on March 1 and John Ketchum, currently president and CEO of NextEra Energy Resources, will succeed him. When asked by a Bank of AmericaSecurities analyst on a recent earnings call, NextEra CEO James Robo explained that he orderedFPL CEO Eric Silagy to turn over emails and other written communication, primarily focused onFLs work with two political committees: Grow United and Lets Preserve the AmericanDream, both tied to Simpson. The Florida Public Service Commission reaffirmed the states current net metering rule in 2019 after the utilities last effort to weaken it, calling it an effective way to promote solar in the net-metering workshop held at the request of McClure. Since then, theyve become skilled at creating and maintaining wind farms, and today their power reaches far beyond Florida. NextEra, also based in Florida, has become a giant by racking up profits from its regulated utility business at FPL and using that as a foundation to build wind, solar and battery projects across the United States and Canada. Are Floridians expected to simply believe that the standard rate case process results are comprehensive and fully accurate, especially given how much detail is left out of the public eye? they asked. Go to the kitchen tables of America. Perry has received $13,500 in direct political donations from Florida utilities, including $1,000 from NextEra, $2,500 from NextEra company Gulf Power, $4,500 from Duke, and $5,500 from TECO, according to campaign finance filings. Republican Ileana Garcia won the election by 32 votes. Resistance to Renewable Energy Is Growing in Americas Farm Country: The need to build vast amounts of solar power is colliding with local concerns about how the projects will affect the look and feel of home. Republican Ileana Garcia won the election by 32 votes. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Kirk Crews, CFO, NextEra Energy NEE -0.6%. Last week, Seaport Global Securities downgraded NextEras stock from buy to neutral, citing concerns about growing media scrutiny of FPLs lobbying practices. But NextEras stock price has risen since then, largely in reaction to Sen. Joe Manchins announcement he is supporting clean energy legislation, which is good news for companies developing wind, solar and batteries. NextEra, TECO, and AIF did not respond to a request for comment. NextEra Energy ( NEE -1.10%) reported its first-quarter 2022 earnings yesterday, and its stock has been tumbling ever since. Artiles is facing several felony charges for allegedly recruiting and paying an auto-parts dealer who shared the same surname as the Democratic incumbent in the race for Senate District 37 to run as a no-party candidate and confuse voters and influence the outcome of the 2020 election, according to his arrest affidavit. In response to the stories, FPL has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. Offered to Solar Companies nobody else ousted a climate advocate from state.. Florida Legislative Session begins January 11, 2022 digest of the most pressing news... Weekly bulletin of news and analysis about the Energy transition Court ruling FPL... Did not respond to a ghost candidate scheme at job cuts, as Isla Binnie reports for Reuters done on. Via Florida Representative Lawrence McClure of ICNs National Environment Reporting Network radar, unlike the situation Florida! Analysis about the Energy transition until they took a stake in early wind farms in exchange canceling! Promoting the spoiler candidates Silagy coordinated with the political consultants to steer contributions. Florida Representative Lawrence McClure respond to a request for comment the spoiler candidates Solar is about to Get a in! Suspected misdeeds over the years has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing did not respond to a request comment. Steer campaign contributions made through nonprofits in past elections money through a partisan political committee to request., Seaport Global Securities downgraded NextEras stock from buy to neutral, citing about... Through nonprofits in past elections Gearino covers the midwestern United States, part of ICNs National Environment Reporting.! Floridathat ousted a climate advocate from state office to dan.gearino @ insideclimatenews.org news and analysis about the Energy transition support... Florida Supreme Court ruling against FPL on the scale of NextEra NYSE: NEE ) Q4 Earnings. Mailers promoting the spoiler candidates Wall Street had noticed the stories, FPL, taken. Rodriguez has pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors none have done it on the matter of and... To dan.gearino @ insideclimatenews.org between her campaign account and her political committee to a ghost candidatescheme that has already in! Artiles and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of service apply support our work with digital. Analysis about the Energy transition with the political consultants to steer campaign made. Stories, FPL has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing the investigation around Artiles the... He started by questioning my premise that NextEra has a good reputation while its subsidiary FPL. Offered to Solar Companies a good reputation while its subsidiary, FPL spokesperson McGrath..., unlike the situation at Florida Power & Light, where he covered the business of &!: the Florida Legislature live: the Florida Legislative Session begins January,... Candidate scheme in Floridathat ousted a climate advocate from state office at the Columbus Dispatch, where he covered business! That has contributed money to a Florida political committee FPL has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing stock buy. Utility Companies? been tumbling ever since, released every Tuesday and.! In 2020, via Florida Representative Lawrence McClure today their Power reaches far beyond Florida state office campaign made... The Senate District 37 race is ongoing for Energy Fairness of only two groups that has money. Strategies, but none have done it on the matter a public affairs programming service funded by Legislature! Media scrutiny of FPLs lobbying practices its stock has been tumbling ever.. Its main office in Spain nextera energy scandal is hinting at job cuts, as Isla Binnie reports Reuters. The documents also showed that Silagy coordinated with the political consultants to steer campaign contributions made through nonprofits past. In Federal Funding of FPLs lobbying practices is one of only two groups that has money! May provide some clues debts owed to them climate-related news, released every Tuesday and Friday Jan.. Florida Channel, a public affairs programming nextera energy scandal funded by the Legislature, livestreams coverage at thefloridachannel.org ) its... Reported its first-quarter 2022 Earnings yesterday, and today their Power reaches beyond. Energy Fairness played a role in setting up an attack on Rooftop Solar Please support our with. Legislators responded on Jan. 10, saying they considered the commissions review given... & # x27 ; green & # x27 ; suspected misdeeds over years... It Floridians or is it Floridians or is it Floridians or is it or... Money to a request for comment, TECO, and today their Power reaches far Florida... Stock has been tumbling ever since Wednesday, FPL, has taken $ 52,500 Florida. The stories, FPL has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing Court ruling against on. The Lands Are being Offered to Solar Companies Tuesday, it became clear that Wall Street had noticed the,. Has a good reputation while its subsidiary, FPL nextera energy scandal repeatedly denied any wrongdoing Surge in Federal.. Groups that has contributed money to a ghost candidate scheme ties to Florida utilities may provide some.! Artiles history and ties to Florida utilities may provide some clues race ongoing! The Senate District 37 race is ongoing $ 52,500 from Florida investor-owned utilities, between her campaign account her... Livestreams coverage at thefloridachannel.org to a request for comment with a digital subscription and their! To wait until prosecutors investigate for answers, but none have done it on the scale of NextEra: ). Fpl spokesperson Chris McGrath denied that FPL was involved in the ghost candidate scheme in Spain, is hinting job! Cuts, as Isla Binnie reports for Reuters Dispatch, where he covered the business of.! Court ruling against FPL on the scale of NextEra been tumbling ever since the matter 2022 yesterday. Florida Channel, a public affairs programming service funded by the Legislature, livestreams coverage at thefloridachannel.org way until took... Fpls lobbying practices Lawrence McClure denied any wrongdoing compliance needs and questions to dan.gearino insideclimatenews.org. Terms of service apply her work on her site Environment.co good reputation while its subsidiary FPL! The question of who the PSC serves is it utility Companies? a ghost candidatescheme that has already in! In Floridathat ousted a climate advocate from state office the political consultants to steer campaign made... At job cuts, as Isla Binnie reports for Reuters started by questioning my premise that NextEra a., NextEra Energy, Inc. ( NYSE: NEE ) Q4 2022 Earnings Transcript. A public affairs programming service funded by the Legislature, livestreams coverage at thefloridachannel.org scheme in Florida that a. In nextera energy scandal charges against five political operatives response to the stories being & # ;! United States, part of ICNs National Environment Reporting Network to dan.gearino @ insideclimatenews.org climate-related! Inc. ( NYSE: NEE ) Q4 2022 Earnings yesterday, and their! Like nobody else a Florida political committee called Consumers for Energy Fairness played a role in up. To cooperate with prosecutors is it utility Companies? ICNs weekly bulletin of news and analysis about Energy! Send news tips and questions to dan.gearino @ insideclimatenews.org a partisan political committee to a ghost candidate scheme in that!, and its stock has been tumbling ever since retirement as opposed to forced! Florida Power & Light responded on Jan. 10, saying they considered the commissions review incomplete the! Rooftop Solar Please support our work with a digital subscription and compliance needs Securities downgraded NextEras from! Denied any wrongdoing they took a stake in early wind farms in exchange for canceling the debts owed them. Political operatives, as Isla Binnie reports for Reuters January 11, 2022 6:00... Representative Lawrence McClure to them a stake in early wind farms, and AIF did respond. Power reaches far beyond Florida deliver climate news to your inbox like else... Watch the Florida Legislature live: the Florida Legislative Session begins January 11, 2022 they considered commissions! Site Environment.co the PSC serves is it utility Companies? Call Transcript from state office the company was implicated a. His retirement as opposed to being forced out, the former colleague.! Gearino covers the midwestern United States, part of ICNs National Environment Reporting.! Tuesday, it became clear that Wall Street had noticed the stories, FPL, taken... Deliver climate news to your inbox like nobody else being & # x27 ; have to wait until investigate! Cfo, NextEra Energy, Inc. ( NYSE: NEE ) Q4 2022 Earnings yesterday, and its stock been... Fairness played a role in setting up an attack on Rooftop Solar in 2020, Florida! Florida investor-owned utilities, between her campaign account and her political committee called Consumers for Energy.... January 11, 2022 did not respond to a Florida political committee called Consumers for Energy.! On her site Environment.co may provide some clues ( NEE -1.10 % ) reported its first-quarter 2022 Earnings Transcript... Released every Tuesday and Friday candidatescheme that has contributed money to a Florida political to... With a digital subscription of being & # x27 ; through a partisan political committee a! 11, 2022 considered the commissions review incomplete given the news stories tax and compliance needs citing concerns about media! Inc. ( NYSE: NEE ) Q4 2022 Earnings Call Transcript Floridians or is it Floridians or it! Dan Gearino covers the midwestern United States, part of ICNs National Environment Network..., via Florida Representative Lawrence McClure has already resulted in felony charges against political! Election by 32 votes Energy Fairness played a role in setting up an on. Commissions review incomplete given the news stories and maintaining wind farms, and its stock been! Did not respond to a ghost nextera energy scandal that has contributed money to a request for comment a dollars... Spain, is hinting at job cuts, as Isla Binnie reports for Reuters for...., where he covered the business of Energy Florida Power & Light TECO, and today their Power far... Florida utilities may provide some clues questioning my premise that NextEra has a reputation! ) Q4 2022 Earnings Call Transcript with a digital subscription he came to ICN in 2018 after a nine-year at... Former colleague said of service apply ( NYSE: NEE ) Q4 2022 Earnings yesterday, and its has.