NextEra Energy#Criticism

{{See also|Florida Power & Light#History}}

NextEra Energy traces its origins to 1925 with the formation of Florida Power & Light and the formation of FPL Group in 1984.{{cite web |date=2018 |title=SEC Form 10-K |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/37634/000075330819000039/nee-12312018x10k.htm |accessdate=August 23, 2023 |website=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission |pages=4–5}}{{cite news|url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/business/juno-based-fpl-group-to-become-nextera-energy/nL5ZZ/|title=Juno-based FPL Group to become NextEra Energy|last=Salisbury|first=Susan|date=March 21, 2010|work=The Palm Beach Post|access-date=March 9, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311074744/http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/business/juno-based-fpl-group-to-become-nextera-energy/nL5ZZ/|archive-date=March 11, 2016}}

The company purchased Colonial Penn in 1985{{cite news |last1=Salisbury |first1=Susan |date=March 21, 2010 |title=Juno-based FPL Group to become NextEra Energy |url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/business/juno-based-fpl-group-to-become-nextera-energy/nL5ZZ/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311074744/http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/business/juno-based-fpl-group-to-become-nextera-energy/nL5ZZ/ |archive-date=March 11, 2016 |accessdate=June 8, 2023 |work=The Palm Beach Post}} and sold it in 1991.{{cite news |last1=Kolody |first1=Tracy |date=April 6, 1991 |title=FPL Group finds buyer for insurer Colonial Penn, brings in $150 million |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1991-04-06-9101170690-story.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129010730/https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1991-04-06-9101170690-story.html |archive-date=January 29, 2019 |accessdate=August 22, 2023 |work=Sun Sentinel}} In 1998, FPL Group created FPL Energy, a subsidiary to manage FPL Group efforts outside of FPL's service area. The same year, the company moved to acquire 37 power stations in Maine, Massachusetts, and New Jersey.{{cite news |last1=Langley |first1=Monica |last2=Johannes |first2=Laura |date=January 7, 1998 |title=FPL Acquires Electric-Power Plants To Gain Presence in the Northeast |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB884093215147628000 |accessdate=June 8, 2023 |work=The Wall Street Journal}} After a federal ruling would have limited the company's access to the New England power grid, FPL Group attempted to break off its purchase agreement in Maine,{{cite news |last1=Hillman |first1=Leslie |date=March 11, 1999 |title=FPL in court today |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1999-03-11-9903100991-story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211204054/https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1999-03-11-9903100991-story.html |archive-date=February 11, 2022 |accessdate=June 8, 2023 |work=Sun Sentinel}} but ultimately completed the purchase in March 1999.{{cite news |last1=Norris |first1=John |date=March 15, 1999 |title=FPL Energy Closes on Maine Power Plants |url=https://www.naturalgasintel.com/fpl-energy-closes-on-maine-power-plants/ |accessdate=June 8, 2023 |work=Natural Gas Intelligence}}

Through the early 2000s, FPL Group was the subject of multiple merger discussions, including with Iberdrola,{{cite news |last1=Deogun |first1=Nikhil |last2=Vitzthum |first2=Carlta |last3=Smith |first3=Rebecca |date=March 27, 2000 |title=Spain's Iberdrola Is in Discussions To Acquire Florida Utility Parent |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB954114534563298258 |accessdate=June 8, 2023 |work=The Wall Street Journal}}{{cite news |last1=Deogun |first1=Nikhil |last2=Vitzthum |first2=Carlta |date=April 19, 2000 |title=Effort by Iberdrola to Buy FPL in U.S. Runs Afoul of Board of Spanish Firm |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB956096685878689864 |accessdate=June 8, 2023 |work=The Wall Street Journal}} Entergy,{{cite news |last1=Sidel |first1=Robin |date=April 3, 2001 |title=FPL, Entergy Blame Each Other As They Call Off $8 Billion Merger |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB986215411792232073 |accessdate=June 8, 2023 |work=The Wall Street Journal}} and Constellation Energy.{{cite news |last1=Humer |first1=Caroline |date=January 18, 2007 |title=FPL, Constellation scrap $12.5 billion merger |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/businesspro-utilities-fpl-constellation-idUSN2531170020061025 |accessdate=June 8, 2023 |work=Reuters}}

In 2005, FPL Group acquired Gexa Energy.

In 2007, Florida's Public Service Commission rejected a plan by NextEra Energy to build a coal-burning power plant on {{convert|5000|acre|km2}} in Moore Haven, Florida, near the Everglades National Park. The National Park Service raised concerns that the coal plant would contaminate Lake Okeechobee with mercury and harm the Everglades.{{Cite web |date=February 18, 2008 |title=State: PSC bars coal-fired plant |url=http://www.sptimes.com/2007/06/06/State/PSC_bars_coal_fired_p.shtml |access-date=March 12, 2022 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080218032532/http://www.sptimes.com/2007/06/06/State/PSC_bars_coal_fired_p.shtml |archive-date=February 18, 2008 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last=Hollis|first=Mark|date=May 18, 2007|title=Groups oppose coal-powered FPL plant|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2007-05-18/news/0705180047_1_power-plant-coal-fired-plants-florida-power|access-date=March 9, 2016|work=Sun-Sentinel|archive-date=March 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311072547/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2007-05-18/news/0705180047_1_power-plant-coal-fired-plants-florida-power|url-status=dead}}

The Environmental Protection Agency recognized FPL Group for achieving its goal to reduce its emissions by 21 percent per kilowatt hour in 2008.{{cite news |last1=Dorschner |first1=John |date=October 10, 2008 |title=FPL Group lauded for lowering greenhouse emissions |url= |accessdate= |work=Miami Herald}} The FPL Group Foundation, the company's philanthropic arm, donated $1 million to the Salvation Army in 2009 to help customers in danger of having service turned off pay their power bills.{{cite news |last1=Mundy |first1=Michelle |date=January 26, 2009 |title=Program helps families facing power shutoff |url= |accessdate= |work=Port St. Lucie News}} The following year, FPL Group rebranded as NextEra Energy. At the time, it provided power in 28 states and Canada.

The 2010s saw additional merger and acquisition attempts by NEE, including with Hawaiian Electric Industries, Oncor Electric Delivery, SCANA, Santee Cooper, and Gulf Power Company.{{Cite web |last=Chidiak |first=Mark |date=December 3, 2014 |title=NextEra Buys Hawaii's Biggest Utility in Green Energy Test |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-12-04/nextera-buys-hawaii-s-biggest-utility-in-green-energy-test-case |access-date= |website=Bloomberg}}{{Cite web |date=2017-07-10 |title=Texas utility formally ends $18.7 billion merger with NextEra Energy |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2017/07/10/texas-utility-formally-ends-187-billion-merger-with-nextera-energy/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=Sun Sentinel |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Pounds |first=Marcia Heroux |date=2019-01-02 |title=FPL's parent company grows with $5.75 billion acquisition of Gulf Power |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2019/01/02/fpls-parent-company-grows-with-575-billion-acquisition-of-gulf-power/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=Sun Sentinel |language=en-US}} Of these, only the Gulf Power acquisition was successful. The acquisition was completed in January 2019 and NEE merged Gulf Power with FPL in January 2022.{{Cite web |last=Pounds |first=Marcia Heroux |date=2019-01-02 |title=FPL's parent company grows with $5.75 billion acquisition of Gulf Power |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2019/01/02/fpls-parent-company-grows-with-575-billion-acquisition-of-gulf-power/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=Sun Sentinel |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Iverson |first=Olivia |date=2023-01-09 |title=Some Northwest Florida FPL customers remain concerned of future rate changes |url=https://weartv.com/news/local/some-northwest-florida-fpl-customers-remain-concerned-of-future-rate-changes |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=WEAR |language=en}} As part of the deal, NEE also acquired Plant Oleander and a 65 percent stake in the Stanton Energy Center natural gas power plants.{{Cite web |last=Proctor |first=Darrell |date=2018-05-21 |title=Cash-Starved Southern Sells Florida Assets to NextEra |url=https://www.powermag.com/cash-starved-southern-sells-florida-assets-to-nextera/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=POWER Magazine |language=en-US}}

In July 2013, NextEra Energy partnered with Spectra Energy in a $3 billion investment for the construction of a natural gas pipeline in Florida.{{Cite web |date=2014-01-30 |title=NextEra Energy, Inc. Earnings: Can This Dividend Stock Soar Another 22%? |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/2014-01-30-nextera-energy-earnings-can-this-dividend-stock-so.html |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=Yahoo Entertainment |language=en-US}}

NextEra Energy subsidiary New Hampshire Transmission (NHT) reached a $6.8 million settlement with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in 2016 after charging customers for the development of an electric power transmission project that was not approved.{{cite web |title=New Hampshire Transmission to Refund New England Ratepayers $6.8 Million |website=Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General |date=May 26, 2016 |access-date=August 30, 2023 |url=https://www.mass.gov/news/new-hampshire-transmission-to-refund-new-england-ratepayers-68-million}}{{cite news |title=Electric customers wrongfully charged can expect refunds |url=https://www.wwlp.com/news/electric-customers-wrongfully-charged-can-expect-refunds/ |last1=Martinez |first1=Joel |date=May 26, 2016 |access-date=August 30, 2023 |work=WWLP}} During the 2016 Republican Party presidential primaries, NextEra Energy donated $1 million to a super PAC supporting Jeb Bush's candidacy.{{cite news |title=Million-Dollar Donors in the 2016 Presidential Race |last1= |first1= |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/us/elections/top-presidential-donors-campaign-money.html |work=The New York Times |date=February 9, 2016 |accessdate=June 8, 2023}}

In August 2016, NextEra Energy sold $1.5 billion in equity to Mizuho Securities, Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs.{{Cite web |date=2016-08-03 |title=NextEra Energy to sell $1.50 billion of equity units |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/business/nextera-energy-to-sell-150-billion-of-equity-units-idUSFWN1AK0MJ/ |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=Reuters}} In June 2024 the company sold $2 billion in equity to BofA Securities and Wells Fargo Securities.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-18 |title=NextEra Energy to sell $2 bln of equity units |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/nextera-energy-sell-2-bln-equity-units-2024-06-17/ |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=Reuters}}{{Cite web |last=Kimball |first=Spencer |date=2024-06-18 |title=Hot utility stock NextEra falls more than 2% after announcing plan to sell $2 billion in equity units |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/06/18/hot-utility-stock-nextera-falls-nearly-5percent-after-announcing-plan-to-sell-2-billion-in-equity-units.html |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=CNBC |language=en}}

In 2018, NextEra Energy and Entergy left the Nuclear Energy Institute.{{cite news |last1=Pierobon |first1=Jim |date=January 18, 2018 |title=Two utilities withdraw from leading nuclear energy trade group |url=http://southeastenergynews.com/2018/01/18/two-utilities-withdraw-from-leading-nuclear-energy-trade-group/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119173118/http://southeastenergynews.com/2018/01/18/two-utilities-withdraw-from-leading-nuclear-energy-trade-group/ |archive-date=January 19, 2018 |accessdate=June 8, 2023 |work=Southeast Energy News |publisher=Energy News Network}} In February of that year, it filed a lawsuit against the Institute alleging that the trade group had inappropriately cut off its access to a database of nuclear power workers. The lawsuit stated NEE disagreed with the Institute's priorities and that the trade group was advocating for policies that would be damaging to NextEra Energy's business; it also alleged the group was extorting NextEra Energy for $860,000 to regain access to the database. The Institute called the allegations "baseless".{{cite news |last1=Pyper |first1=Julia |date=February 5, 2018 |title=NextEra Sues NEI, Citing Efforts to 'Distort Electric Energy Markets' |url=https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/nextera-lawsuit-nei-nuclear-energy-institute#gs.RIpJLZw |access-date=August 30, 2023 |work=Greentech Media}} A judge in Florida rejected NEE's claims in September 2018.{{cite news |date=December 12, 2018 |title=Judge sides with nuclear group in FPL dispute |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2018/09/27/judge-sides-with-nuclear-group-in-fpl-dispute/ |access-date=August 30, 2023}}

In June 2018, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit rejected NextEra Energy's claim for a $97 million tax deduction for $200 million paid in contract fees to the federal government toward the Nuclear Waste Fund. NextEra Energy sought to deduct payments made between 2003 and 2010 for "the disposal of radioactive waste produced by nuclear power plants".{{cite web |first=Katheryn |last=Tucker |date=June 29, 2018 |url=https://www.law.com/dailyreportonline/2018/06/29/11th-circuit-shuts-down-97m-tax-refund-for-nextera/?slreturn=20180602001559 |title=11th Circuit Shuts Down $97M Tax Refund for NextEra |publisher=Fulton County Daily Report |access-date=July 2, 2018 |archive-date=July 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702093155/https://www.law.com/dailyreportonline/2018/06/29/11th-circuit-shuts-down-97m-tax-refund-for-nextera/?slreturn=20180602001559 |url-status=live }}

In August 2018, NextEra Energy received a cease and desist order by Oklahoma state officials concerning the construction of wind turbines violating a state law intended to protect open air space. The law requires that developers obtain appropriate permitting from the Federal Aviation Administration or the United States Department of Defense. NextEra Energy had filed obstruction evaluation cases for the construction of wind turbines in Oklahoma with the FAA in March 2018, but the FAA had yet to issue determinations at the time that the cease and desist order was issued.{{cite web |last=Cameron |first=Alex |date=September 7, 2018 |title=NextEra Energy Receives Cease and Desist Order After Violating OK Law |url=http://www.news9.com/story/39005217/nextera-energy-receives-cease-and-desist-order-after-violating-ok-law |publisher=News 9 Now |access-date=September 25, 2018 |archive-date=September 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925104433/http://www.news9.com/story/39005217/nextera-energy-receives-cease-and-desist-order-after-violating-ok-law |url-status=live }} The construction of the wind farm was cancelled in May 2019.{{Cite news |last=Money |first=Jack |date=2019-05-18 |title=NextEra Energy Resources scraps wind farm plans because of airspace concerns |url=https://eu.oklahoman.com/story/business/columns/2019/05/18/nextera-energy-resources-scraps-wind-farm-plans-because-of-airspace-concerns/60455216007/ |access-date=2024-06-18 |work=The Oklahoman}}

In 2022, NextEra paid $8 million for the deaths of over 150 eagles at wind farms missing eagle permits.{{Cite news |date=April 6, 2022 |title=A wind energy company has pleaded guilty after killing at least 150 eagles |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/04/06/1091250692/esi-energy-bald-eagles |access-date=September 2, 2024 |work=NPR}}

• John W. Ketchum – Chairman, President and CEO{{Cite web |title=Our Leadership |url=https://www.nexteraenergy.com/about-us/leadership.html |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=www.nexteraenergy.com}}

In 2021, NextEra lobbied heavily against a transmission line project proposed by Avangrid, Inc. The 145-mile line, to be known as New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC), would have delivered hydroelectric power from Quebec to utilities in Massachusetts and Maine.{{cite web |last1=Kovaleski |first1=Dave |title=Maine voters reject plan to complete transmission line, Avangrid subsidiaries file suit |url=https://dailyenergyinsider.com/featured/32568-maine-voters-reject-plan-to-complete-transmission-line-avangrid-subsidiaries-file-suit/ |website=Daily Energy Insider |date=November 3, 2021 |access-date=February 11, 2022 |archive-date=February 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211164358/https://dailyenergyinsider.com/featured/32568-maine-voters-reject-plan-to-complete-transmission-line-avangrid-subsidiaries-file-suit/ |url-status=live }} The hydropower would have provided competition to NextEra's oil-fired power plant in Yarmouth.{{Cite web|last=Piper|first=Jessica|date=October 18, 2021|title=Fact-checking the most misleading claims on both sides of the CMP corridor debate|url=http://bangordailynews.com/2021/10/18/politics/fact-checking-the-most-misleading-claims-on-both-sides-of-the-cmp-corridor-debate-joam40zk0w/|access-date=October 18, 2021|website=Bangor Daily News|language=en-US|archive-date=October 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018114021/https://bangordailynews.com/2021/10/18/politics/fact-checking-the-most-misleading-claims-on-both-sides-of-the-cmp-corridor-debate-joam40zk0w/|url-status=live}} “In doing so,” Avangrid wrote, “NextEra is purposely trying to thwart the goals of Maine and Massachusetts to obtain more renewable power.”{{Cite web|last=Baker|first=David R.|title=America's Greenest Energy Giant Isn't Trying to Save the Planet|url=https://www.bloombergquint.com/technology/nextera-nee-the-greenest-u-s-energy-giant-isn-t-trying-to-save-the-planet|access-date=February 11, 2022|website=BloombergQuint|date=December 3, 2020 |language=en|archive-date=February 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211093635/https://www.bloombergquint.com/technology/nextera-nee-the-greenest-u-s-energy-giant-isn-t-trying-to-save-the-planet|url-status=live}} According to [https://dailyenergyinsider.com/about/daily-energy-insider/ Daily Energy Insider], Avangrid had obtained every regulatory approval required at the state and federal levels, and the project was supported by Maine Gov. Janet Mills, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, and the stateʻs major newspapers.{{cite news |title=Kovaleski op cit}} In November 2021, the voters of Maine approved a ballot initiative to prohibit construction of the $1 billion transmission line project, which had been represented as a choice between clean energy and the protection of pristine woodlands.{{Cite news|date=November 3, 2021|title=Maine voters reject Quebec hydropower transmission line|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/maine-voters-reject-quebec-hydropower-transmission-line-2021-11-03/|access-date=February 11, 2022|archive-date=February 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211100832/https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/maine-voters-reject-quebec-hydropower-transmission-line-2021-11-03/|url-status=live}}

NextEra Energy has backed failed ballot amendment campaigns to impose fees and barriers to installations of rooftop solar panels. In 2016, Florida Power & Light, which is a subsidiary of NextEra Energy, partnered with Devon Energy, and Tampa Electric Company.{{Cite web|title=Blocking Rooftop Solar {{!}} U.S. PIRG|url=https://uspirg.org/reports/usp/blocking-rooftop-solar|access-date=February 11, 2022|website=uspirg.org|date=June 17, 2021 |archive-date=February 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211135311/https://uspirg.org/reports/usp/blocking-rooftop-solar|url-status=live}} Together, they spent $20 million promoting a failed ballot initiative in Florida that would have restricted rooftop solar installations. “Over the last several years, NextEra has been very aggressive against customer-owned solar,” says Alissa Schafer, a researcher with the Energy and Policy Institute, a clean energy advocacy group.

In 2021, investigative reporting by the Miami Herald revealed that NextEra Energy had lobbied Florida legislators to undermine rooftop solar by preventing homeowners and businesses to engage in net metering (selling excess power back to FPL).{{Cite web|title=Florida's largest electric utility conspired against solar power, documents show|url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2021/12/20/floridas-largest-electric-utility-conspired-against-solar-power-documents-show/|access-date=January 28, 2022|website=Tampa Bay Times|language=en|archive-date=January 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128210038/https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2021/12/20/floridas-largest-electric-utility-conspired-against-solar-power-documents-show/|url-status=live}} NextEra Energy made a $10,000 donation to Women Building the Future, drafted a bill, had their lobbyist deliver the bill to Florida legislator Jennifer Bradley, and subsequently donated $10,000 to her re-election campaign.{{Cite web|last=Floodlight|first=Mary Ellen Klas for the Miami Herald and Mario Alejandro Ariza for|date=December 20, 2021|title=Revealed: the Florida power company pushing legislation to slow rooftop solar|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/dec/20/revealed-the-florida-power-company-pushing-legislation-to-slow-rooftop-solar|access-date=February 11, 2022|website=The Guardian|language=en|archive-date=February 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210215719/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/dec/20/revealed-the-florida-power-company-pushing-legislation-to-slow-rooftop-solar|url-status=live}} “This is a tired tactic that utilities have used to maintain their monopoly grip on electricity markets,” said Will Giese, southeast regional director for the Solar Energy Industries Association.{{Cite web|title=Florida's largest electric utility conspired against solar power, documents show|url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2021/12/20/floridas-largest-electric-utility-conspired-against-solar-power-documents-show/|access-date=February 11, 2022|website=Tampa Bay Times|language=en|archive-date=February 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202134924/https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2021/12/20/floridas-largest-electric-utility-conspired-against-solar-power-documents-show/|url-status=live}} Opponents of the legislation claim that if such bills pass, the fast-growing green power industry would quickly start to collapse.{{Cite web|author=Steve Contorno|title=Could Florida turn off the sun? Advocates say a utility-backed bill imperils rooftop solar in the Sunshine State|url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/23/politics/florida-solar-industry/index.html|access-date=February 11, 2022|website=CNN|date=January 23, 2022 |archive-date=February 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211140647/https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/23/politics/florida-solar-industry/index.html|url-status=live}}

In 2021, investigative reporting by the Orlando Sun Sentinel revealed that FPL funded political consultants more than $3 million to promote "ghost" spoiler candidates in key Florida legislature races. The spoiler candidates were on the ballot as a no-party option and were intended to confuse voters and dilute support for the Democratic candidate in each race.{{Cite news|date=2021|title=Florida Power & Light execs worked closely with consultants behind 'ghost' candidate scheme, records reveal {{!}} Special Report|work=Orlando Sun Sentinel|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/politics/os-ne-florida-power-and-light-senate-ghost-candidates-20211202-szjhv7ox6vcmphm6pgd437y52i-htmlstory.html|access-date=February 11, 2022|archive-date=February 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211201047/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/politics/os-ne-florida-power-and-light-senate-ghost-candidates-20211202-szjhv7ox6vcmphm6pgd437y52i-htmlstory.html|url-status=live}} The accomplice named "Rodriguez" ran as a sham candidate and siphoned away votes from the Democratic candidate, also named Rodriguez. The mailing campaign employed the language of the Democratic candidate and had the accomplice focusing on fixing health care, and fighting climate change, all paid for by new, out-of-state political committees.{{Cite web|date=March 26, 2021|title=NextEra, Florida utilities closely aligned with election fraud suspect Frank Artiles|url=https://www.energyandpolicy.org/nextera-florida-utilities-closely-aligned-with-election-fraud-suspect-frank-artiles/|access-date=February 11, 2022|website=Energy and Policy Institute|language=en-US|archive-date=February 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211191938/https://www.energyandpolicy.org/nextera-florida-utilities-closely-aligned-with-election-fraud-suspect-frank-artiles/|url-status=live}} 50px Text was copied from this source, which is available under a [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 (CC BY 3.0)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110223101209/http://creativecommons.org//licenses//by//3.0// |date=February 23, 2011 }} license. The Democrats lost by a mere thirty two votes.{{Cite web|title=Ex-Florida senator Artiles paid no-party candidate more than $40K, arrest warrant charges|url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2021/03/18/former-senator-artiles-paid-no-party-candidate-more-than-40k-arrest-warrant-charges/|access-date=February 11, 2022|website=Tampa Bay Times|language=en|archive-date=February 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211220253/https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2021/03/18/former-senator-artiles-paid-no-party-candidate-more-than-40k-arrest-warrant-charges/|url-status=live}} Former senator Frank Artiles and his accomplice were each charged with three third-degree felony charges related to violating campaign finance law, conspiracy to make campaign contributions in excess of legal limits, also making these excess contributions, and false swearing in connection to an election.{{Cite web |date=March 31, 2021 |title=Frank Artiles Charged with Campaign Finance Violations |url=http://www.floridapoliticalreview.com/frank-artiles-charged-with-campaign-finance-violations/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211193440/http://www.floridapoliticalreview.com/frank-artiles-charged-with-campaign-finance-violations/ |archive-date=February 11, 2022 |access-date=February 11, 2022 |website=Florida Political Review |language=en-US}}

Artiles has for years associated with Florida utilities, including NextEra and its subsidiary FPL. Artiles obtained over $30,000 in political contributions from Florida utilities throughout his time in office, which included a direct contribution of $6,000 from NextEra. Veterans for Conservative Principles, his political committee, accepted close to $13,000 from NextEra. Prior to his resignation from the Florida Senate in April 2017,{{Cite web |last=Iannelli |first=Jerry |title=Artiles Still Spending Campaign Money After Resigning for Racial Slur |url=https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/frank-artiles-spending-campaign-money-after-resigning-for-n-word-slur-9760468 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211191939/https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/frank-artiles-spending-campaign-money-after-resigning-for-n-word-slur-9760468 |archive-date=February 11, 2022 |access-date=February 11, 2022 |website=Miami New Times |language=en}} Artiles fast-tracked pro-utility bills as former chairman of the Florida Senate’s Communications, Energy and Public Utilities Committee, including a bill that would have permitted NextEra to charge its fracking costs to Florida ratepayers.

In 2018, Senator Keith Perry won re-election against Democrat Kayser Enneking by around 2,000 votes, due to independent Charles Goston pulling votes away from Enneking. According to the Sentinel, FPL donated $14.15 million to a political ad nonprofit whose consultants were connected to one of the groups that paid for Goston's ads.{{Cite web|last=Skolnik|first=Jon|date=December 11, 2021|title=Mystery of Florida's "ghost" candidates grows: Major energy company linked to GOP scheme|url=https://www.salon.com/2021/12/11/mystery-of-floridas-ghost-candidates-grows-major-energy-company-linked-to-scheme/|access-date=February 11, 2022|website=Salon|language=en|archive-date=February 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211150515/https://www.salon.com/2021/12/11/mystery-of-floridas-ghost-candidates-grows-major-energy-company-linked-to-scheme/|url-status=live}} FPL has also donated $20,000 to Perry’s political committee, Building a Prosperous Florida. The year before, Perry voted in support of NextEra’s exploratory fracking legislation while serving on the committee chaired by Artiles. Perry has accepted $13,500 in direct political donations from Florida utilities, including $1,000 from NextEra, according to campaign finance filings.

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Category:Electric power companies of the United States

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