How Solar Scored a ‘Game-Changing’ Victory in Florida

Regulatory approval of Sunrun’s solar lease could signal a turning point for the Sunshine State.

Solar energy has a complex history in the Sunshine State, which made a regulatory win for residential installer Sunrun last week feel like a victory for all Floridian solar advocates.

The Florida Public Service Commission voted unanimously last Friday to allow Sunrun to sell its home solar lease product in the state. Up until the petition was granted, households in Florida were unable to lease solar systems due to restrictions on electricity sales from third-party providers.

Why South Miami’s Solar Power Law is Important to Homeowners – and the World

The City of South Miami Mayor and Commission made history in September 2017 by passing a law that requires residential solar power be installed in certain circumstances and, in doing so, they provide residents the promise of saving a significant amount of money while also helping protect our environment.

The mayor and commissioners should be commended for their vision and while I am proud that South Miami’s leaders took this important step, the impact of the law being the first of its kind in Florida, and just the fourth City in the U.S. with such a law, sends a powerful and important message to the world.

Implementing this landmark law took tremendous vision and I am deeply proud of the incredible support that the South Miami Commission and staff offered through the entire process. Over the course of nearly a year and a half of work it was clear that following one 5/0 vote after another in favor of the law during the review process that the commission was committed to lowering residents’ energy costs and for that they are to be commended.

New Homes Will Now Require Solar Panels in South Miami, a First in Florida

Anyone building a new house in South Miami — or in some cases renovating existing ones — will have to install solar panels after the city commission approved a groundbreaking law Tuesday night.

The measure, the first of its kind in Florida, will go into effect in two months on Sept 18.

The ordinance passed 4-1 Tuesday night, with commissioner Josh Liebman dissenting.

New Solar Laws Expected to Boost Florida Commercial Installations

Mike Mahmoudi, owner of the 32-room New Sun Gate Motel on South Federal Highway in Lake Worth, is pleased that he invested $115,000 in a 40.2 kilowatt rooftop solar system that generates power whenever the sun is shining.

“My electric bill was expensive. It’s saving me some money, and I helped create jobs. I feel good. My property value will go up, and I get a federal income tax break,” Mahmoudi said.

AEE Applauds Gov. Rick Scott for Signing Senate Bill 90 and Ensuring the Growth of Solar, Renewable Energy in Florida

Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) applauded Florida Governor Rick Scott for signing into law Senate Bill 90 (SB 90), "Renewable Energy Source Devices," which extends a property tax exemption for renewable energy installations, including solar, wind, and geothermal, on both commercial and residential properties. The legislation implements the Amendment 4 ballot initiative passed by Florida voters in the statewide primary last August, with 73 percent voting for approval, well above the 60 percent needed to adopt an amendment of the state constitution. Gov. Scott's signature follows unanimous approval of SB 90 in both chambers of the Florida legislature. The legislation goes into effect July 1, 2017.

Florida Lawmakers to Tout Renewable Energy Amendment

A group of state lawmakers launched an initiative Tuesday to educate voters on a proposed constitutional amendment that would give commercial property owners a tax break on renewable-energy devices similar to one given to residential property owners.

Part of the education process will be to ensure voters know the proposal on the August primary ballot isn’t tied to a more controversial solar-energy amendment that will go before voters in November.

Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, Florida, Files Bill to Reduce Taxes on Solar Power Systems

A St. Petersburg lawmaker announced Tuesday the filing of a bill that would reduce the taxes on solar power systems for businesses that install them at their facilities.

The legislation, by Republican state Sen. Jeff Brandes, would expand existing law for residential solar installations to include commercial property. The bill would reduce the real estate or personal property tax for installations. In addition, devices that produce renewable energy would be exempt from tangible property tax.

Solar industry experts say the taxes are one of the barriers to expansion of solar in Florida. Those taxes, they say, made it difficult economically for the industry to make a profit.

Editorial: Take Down Barriers to Solar

Florida legislators addicted to campaign contributions by the electric utilities are parroting the industry line that solar power is too expensive and unreliable to count on as a significant energy source. Yet the business community is saving money and reducing carbon emissions by making major investments in solar despite the lack of direction or support from the state. Once again the private sector is ahead of state government, and Florida's next governor should provide stronger leadership with a vigorous renewable energy policy that does more than protect the utilities.

New Poll Shows Bipartisan Support for Rooftop Solar in Florida

A new poll, commissioned by The Alliance for Solar Choice, finds that more than three out of four Florida voters (77%) support net metering, a successful renewable energy policy that gives residents, schools and businesses full retail credit for the excess solar energy they put back on the grid. Utilities sell that clean energy to the customers' neighbors at the retail rate even though they paid nothing to generate, transmit and distribute it.  

Setting an energy standard

When it comes to renewable energy goals, Colorado keeps raising the bar. It was the first state to implement a renewable energy standard (RES) back in 2004 and has twice raised it, now boasting one of the highest in the nation at 30 percent by 2020.

While Colorado and over half of the other states have embraced renewable energy goals and continue to raise and polish them, some have not acted at all. That’s particularly true in the Southeast. While a few southern states have been quietly investigating the possibilities of their own standards, some will likely never adopt an RES, unless they are required by federal law.

New Florida law creates renewable energy production tax credit

New legislation, which was allowed to become law without Florida Gov. Rick Scott's signature, contains several provisions relating to renewable energy, energy efficiency and alternative fuels for motor vehicles.

Among these provisions is a renewable energy production credit against the corporate income tax based on $0.01/kWh of renewable energy produced. The cap is $1 million per corporation and $5 million for state fiscal year 2012-2013, which is increased to $10 million for 2013-2014 through 2016-2017, with provisions for prorating credits if claims exceed the annual cap.

Florida energy bill becomes law, includes biofuel tax exemptions

New energy legislation in the state of Florida became law April 14 despite Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s failure to sign the bill. The legislation, HB 7117, contains several measures aimed to encourage the development and expansion of the renewable energy sector within the state, including biofuels production and distribution. The bill also addresses policies and restrictions for growing certain strains of algae and cyanobacteria.

The bill specifically addresses biodiesel, ethanol and renewable fuel, which is defined as a fuel produced from biomass that is used to displace fossil transportation fuels. Under the legislation, a sales tax exemption is established for materials used in the distribution of B10-B100, E10-E100 and other renewables. 

Florida Gov. rejects Tea Party request to veto bill

Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who rode into office with the support of tea party groups and other conservative organizations, rejected their request that he veto a wide-ranging energy bill.

Scott instead announced on Friday that he would allow the bill (HB 7117) to become law without his signature.

The governor also vetoed a courts bill and signed 18 other measures into law including a bill responding to a state Supreme Court ruling from last year that Scott exceeded his authority. Scott also said he would allow another bill dealing with Hillsborough County taxi drivers to become law without his signature.

Florida: Winners and losers - Some bills that passed, failed in the 2012 legislative session

Some bills that passed and failed in the 2012 session. Bills must be approved by Gov. Rick Scott.

RECLAIMED WATER (PASSED): Bans all five water management districts from forcing cities and utilities to give away treated water. (SB 1086/HB 639)

NUMERIC NUTRIENTS (PASSED): Allows Florida to override federal water pollution requirements and provides a flexible "threshold" standard. (SB 2060/HB 7051)

TRAIL ADS (PASSED): Allows private companies to buy ads on state trails. (SB 268/HB 181)

Florida House passes energy bill

After three years attempting to pass a renewable-energy package, the Florida House overwhelming backed the energy plan that has been ushered through the Capitol by Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam.

HB 7117, which passed 113-1 with bipartisan support on Monday, is designed to expand renewable-energy production tax credits, allow local governments to use discretionary sales tax revenue to assist homeowners who make energy-efficiency improvements, and reduce the state’s dependence on natural gas that is pumped into Florida along two pipelines from the Gulf Coast. 

“Florida’s House of Representatives sent a clear message today that Florida is ready to diversify its energy portfolio, expand energy production and create much-needed jobs for Floridians,” Putnam said. 

Florida must get serious about renewable energy

A year later and with only days left in the 2012 session, Florida may once again try to pass a renewable energy bill that will not produce renewable energy. Florida’s HB 7117 and SB 2094 have proven just that, to even include Tea Party rallies in opposition.

Florida Senate panel OKs renewable energy bill

Years of gridlock on renewable energy in the state Capitol could be easing as a bill moves through the Florida Senate that would grant tax breaks and other incentives for alternative power production.

The bill is perhaps even more notable for what it doesn’t include: the potential for power companies to raise rates.

The legislation unanimously passed its second Senate test, the Agriculture Committee, on Monday. The success so far has left renewable energy supporters hopeful of more progress.

“It’s a modest bill but it still moves the issue along” after years of inaction, said Susan Glickman, of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, after the Senate Agriculture Committee’s favorable vote.

Renewable advocates support Florida energy bills

Advocates of conservation and renewable sources such as solar and biomass are supporting what sponsors are calling "modest" energy legislation in the belief that even a small start would cause those efforts to snowball.

A bill (HB 7117) that cleared the House Finance and Tax Committee on Wednesday and a similar measure (SB 2094) that's moving through the Senate wouldn't set specific goals such as the 20 percent level for renewables by 2020 once envisioned by former Gov. Charlie Crist.

Instead, the bills include such provisions as restoring tax exemptions and credits that expired in 2010, consideration of fuel diversity by the Public Service Commission when deciding whether to permit new power plants and a study on the effectiveness of an existing 

Feed in tariffs: Investing in a renewable energy future

Clean energy skeptics have seized on the failure of Solyndra to argue that scaling up renewable sources is a pipe dream.

They should visit Germany.

In the first quarter of 2011, Germany’s renewable energy output accounted for 19.2 percent of its total electricity consumption. Germany installed more solar PV in 2010 than the whole rest of the world and is well on its way to meeting the target of 35 percent of its electricity coming from renewables by 2020. And, in 2010, almost 370,000 people were employed in the renewable energy sector.

Florida State Senator introduces solar bill

A State Senator in Florida recently introduced a bill that would allow private energy companies to begin charging customers to recover the cost of setting up renewable energy infrastructure.

State Senator Mike Bennett of Bradenton introduced the new law, which passed the state's House last year but was struck down in the Senate, according to a report from the Florida Independent. This version of the bill would allow energy concerns to add to consumers' bills for up to 2 percent of their revenues in 2011 and 2012, and as high as 4 percent by 2014.