Florida Power & Light (FPL)—the nation’s largest utility and one of the most politically connected and influential corporations in the state, operates an exclusive event space, located on the third floor of its downtown Tallahassee offices, within walking distance of the Florida state Capitol.
The space is used by FPL officials to host lawmakers whose votes they need, as well as the lobbyists who help get those votes. Attendance is by invitation only and requires a special key card for entry. While not a secret to those in the know, the space is not advertised and as of this writing is unlicensed. Jax Examiner was alerted to it and what goes on there by former FPL employees who wish to remain anonymous.
Jax Examiner reached out to FPL to confirm that the space does exist.
“Just like many other companies, trade associations and other organizations in Tallahassee, NextEra Energy, FPL’s parent company, pays for a private meeting place in the city that’s used for internal and external company functions,” said Chris McGrath, a spokesperson for Florida Power & Light. “This space has been used for a number of years and all external functions conducted in the space are done in accordance with applicable laws.”
Back to that licensing issue. Neither FPL, nor its parent company, NextEra Energy, have a liquor license. This was confirmed by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation which regulates state liquor licenses. They don’t even have a beer and wine license, nor as far as the city of Tallahassee can tell us do they have any sort of food and beverage license.
I guess when you host state lawmakers you don’t need such things. Therein lies the problem, at least one of many problems with FPL’s set up. Their set up both encourages as well as facilitates lawmakers to violate Florida Sunshine Laws. There’s also the question of whether FPL is encouraging lawmakers to violate the state’s gift ban.
Or did I fail to mention that there is no charge for all the beer, all the wine, all the liquor, all the food that lawmakers consume within FPL’s little back room?
No charge. But no, FPL is not trying to buy votes.
According to FPL it’s not a gift as they provide a jar for guests to pay for whatever they have. In essence they are operating an honor bar.
FPL hired private investigators to dig up dirt and surveil Florida Times Union reporter Nate Monroe in retribution for his coverage of the JEA scandal, and FPL’s connection to it.
FPL has secretly attempted to influence state elections via dark money contributions and backing ghost candidates.
FPl has bought media organizations to use as its mouthpiece and entertained the idea of purchasing news and media that have covered their misdeeds in the past.
That same FPL now expects the citizens of Florida to believe it is operating an honor bar. They claim they are doing nothing wrong hosting state lawmakers in their cozy third floor lounge, where they fill those lawmakers with food and drink before sending them off to vote on state business. Nope. Nothing to see here.
