Florida Senate advances bill to let FPL charge customers for fracking costs

Intended to overturn a 2016 Florida Supreme Court ruling, the legislation will allow FPL to place the financial risk for fracking and exploration on the backs of its costumers. In 2015, FPL lost $5.6 million on a fracking venture in Oklahoma.

Editor’s note: Tuesday, May 9 the Vero Beach City Council is to receive, and presumably accept a letter of intent from FPL to buy Vero Electric.

MARY ELLEN KLAS/MIAMI HERALD

Florida Power & Light’s quest to have customers pay for natural gas fracking projects in other states overcame a key hurdle Tuesday as the Senate Rules Committee passed the controversial measure and overlooked opposition from residential and commercial customers.

The proposal, SB 1238 by Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, now goes to the Senate floor. A similar measure in the House, HB 1043, has made it through one of three committees in that chamber. Continue reading…