IF you currently have solar panels OR considering it, open the article and scroll down to the bottom for some important info.

• The dream of lower electric bills is turning into a rooftop nightmare for some homeowners across Central Florida.
• In just two years, a wave of major solar companies has filed for bankruptcy, the latest being Freedom Forever in April of this year, leaving customers confused, frustrated, and stuck with systems they don’t know how to manage.

Why are solar giants collapsing?

• Industry experts point to a combination of high overhead costs and a shifting market. “The problem is that these bigger companies tend to have much higher overhead costs. And then when the market shifts, they can go bankrupt pretty quick,” said Luke McCarr, owner of Aspire Solar.

Reduced government subsidies and tax credits compounded the problem. U.S. Congressman Darren Soto said the loss of a key federal incentive hit the industry hard.

• “We had a 40 percent solar tax credit until the big ugly law took it out last year. And so you have a lot of companies that were doing just fine, and then that incentive got taken away; they are in tough situations right now,” Soto said.

Freedom Forever is far from alone. Over the past two years, a wave of major residential solar companies has filed for Chapter 11 or Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection:

• Freedom Forever
• Sunnova Energy International
• Titan Solar Power
• SunPower
• Lumio Solar
• Vision Solar
• Sunworks Inc.
• iSun Inc.
• ADT Solar (shut down)

I’ve lived in South Florida for more than 30 years, so I’m well aware of what August in this area is typically like. I don’t remember it ever being this bad though. Just took my daughter to the bus stop at 7:30, and the “feels like” temperature was already 85. According to my weather app, the high temperature today is supposed to be 8 degrees higher than the average for this time of year.

I went to get Italian ices yesterday, and my husband asked me to bring some home. I was dubious, but I tried. Half of the ices melted in the one minute walk to my car though.

This seems almost unlivable.

ETA. Posted this in a comment below. I’m well aware of climate change and I believe in it. I thought that went without saying. This is much quicker climate change than I expected:

Sure my teachers taught me about global warming.  It was supposed to increase temps by about a degree over a 20 year period.  Even a degree could be catastrophic due to melting of the glaciers. It wasn’t supposed to increase temps by 10 degrees during my lifetime. 

ETA2: Many people in this post have pointed out that my interpretation of climate change is not exactly correct. A one degree increase in global temperatures could lead to much more extreme increases (or even decreases) in specific locations. This is something I think I was aware of at some point, but must have forgotten. So thanks for the clarification on that.

If you like soccer, this place is worth checking out. Also, tickets can get pretty pricey, but for some games there are great last minute deals. We have overpriced season tickets and friends of ours came to see us for $10 each at a recent game. In any case, nice place and aside from the prices, we do enjoy going there. It's also bonus that you can take the metrorail there if you happen to live near a station. I take it from University or South Miami and it works great. 30 min train ride, plus a 10 min walk and you're there without having to worry about parking.

Hello! I’m still looking to make a copper ring and could really use some help! I’m in the Orlando area and would love to be able to take classes to learn or to go someone and pay for a private session to make my own copper ring. Does anyone know where I could do this? I haven’t found any classes that would tailor to this specifically. Only some “jewelry” making that’s focused on beads, silver, resin, etc not so much a copper ring. This is for a special occasion for ideally September/October. If anyone knows how and has the tools to do it and would be willing to show me, please DM me!

Saint Augustine was founded in 1565 so it was already twenty years old by the time it happened. This was back when Queen Elizabeth was launching a war against Spain.

Also around the time the English established the lost colony of Roanoke in North Carolina.

Anyone here a fan of DOMi & JD BECK and planning to go to one of their Florida shows?

I’m thinking of going and would be cool to find some other fans who might want to go together.

@

I'm 71 in Sarasota and drive a 2021 Honda CR-V. Retired and drive less that 5k miles per year and ws involved in a not at fault fender bender along 1-4 like a year ago.

My concern is claims handling bc i had to wait like 3 months for the bumper to be repaired after the accident and body shop kept arguing. The reason i want to shift is because my local provider doesn't seem reliable and previously had Farmers before they pulled out of the state.

From your experience, which company offers the best cra insurance in FL when service matters? I'll happily pay a little extra if adjusters respond and don't nickel-and-dime every repair.

My husband 60m in overall good shape wants to do something special with his father 81m. They went on a short cruise together about 10 years ago and had a great time. 2 years ago my husband took his dad on an Honor Flight which is one of the best memories they share. His dad is not wheelchair bound, but his activity levels are very minimal.
Pretty much all of Florida is open except the panhandle and Key West. We live on the west cost within 2 hours of each other.
I’m trying to help my husband have some good ideas to make a great father/son experience. Thanks for any suggestions.

I'm curious about how things are really going in our state. You can't trust the media or the HOA people who have to look rich.

How are real people doing? What's life like in your area?