Senate Bill sb2478c1
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Florida Senate - 2006 CS for SB 2478
By the Committee on Environmental Preservation; and Senator
Dockery
592-2444-06
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to solar energy; creating s.
3 377.707, F.S.; creating the Florida Solar
4 Energy Incentives Program; providing
5 definitions; providing for a continuing
6 appropriation to support solar energy product
7 development and fund incentive programs;
8 providing rebates for the installation of
9 certain solar energy systems on commercial and
10 residential buildings; providing eligibility
11 requirements; providing rebate amounts;
12 directing the Florida Public Service Commission
13 to adopt rules; requiring the Florida Solar
14 Energy Center to certify the performance of
15 certain solar equipment; providing an effective
16 date.
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18 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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20 Section 1. Section 377.707, Florida Statutes, is
21 created to read:
22 377.707 Florida Solar Energy Incentives Program.--
23 (1) DEFINITIONS.--As used in this section, unless the
24 context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the
25 following meanings:
26 (a) "Approved metering equipment" means a device
27 capable of measuring the energy output of a solar thermal
28 system either in BTU or KWH equivalents that has been approved
29 by the commission.
30 (b) "Certified" means tested by the Florida Solar
31 Energy Center to verify rated output or thermal performance.
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Florida Senate - 2006 CS for SB 2478
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1 (c) "Commission" means the Florida Public Service
2 Commission.
3 (d) "Interconnected" means connected to a utility's
4 electrical grid.
5 (e) "Solar photovoltaic system" means a solar energy
6 system, including devices and related equipment, with a peak
7 generating capacity of 100 kilowatts or less used for
8 generating electricity for use in a residence, a place of
9 business, a publicly owned or operated facility, or a facility
10 owned or operated by a private, not-for-profit organization.
11 (f) "Solar thermal system" means a solar energy device
12 that provides domestic hot water for use in a residence, a
13 place of business, a publicly owned or operated facility, or a
14 facility owned or operated by a private, not-for-profit
15 organization.
16 (2) SOLAR ENERGY DEVELOPMENT FUNDING.--The sum of $1.2
17 million in recurring general revenue is appropriated to the
18 Grants and Donations Trust Fund of the Board of Governors each
19 year for 5 years beginning with the 2006-2007 fiscal year and
20 continuing through the 2010-2011 fiscal year for the purposes
21 of supporting the development of a solar energy product market
22 in the state and implementing this section.
23 (3) SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC INCENTIVE PROGRAM.--To the
24 extent that funds are available pursuant to subsection (2), an
25 owner or tenant of property in this state that is a residence,
26 a place of business, a publicly owned or operated facility, or
27 a facility owned or operated by a private, not-for-profit
28 organization is entitled to a rebate for expenditures made by
29 the owner or tenant for a solar photovoltaic system that is
30 installed in accordance with this subsection after July 1,
31 2006, and that will be interconnected.
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Florida Senate - 2006 CS for SB 2478
592-2444-06
1 (a) Eligibility requirements.--A solar photovoltaic
2 system qualifies for a rebate if:
3 1. The system is installed by a state-licensed master
4 electrician, electrical contractor, or solar contractor.
5 2. The system complies with state interconnection
6 standards as provided by the commission.
7 3. The system complies with all applicable building
8 codes as defined by the local jurisdictional authority.
9 4. The system includes minimum service and warranty
10 contracts.
11 (b) Rebate amounts.--The initial rebate amount shall
12 be set at $4 per watt and decrease by 50 cents per watt each
13 year for 5 years. If the solar equipment is manufactured
14 within the state, the initial rebate amount shall be set at $5
15 per watt and decrease by 50 cents per watt each year for 5
16 years. In the case of a newly constructed residence, the
17 rebate must be available to the original owner or occupant
18 using the dwelling as his or her principal residence. The
19 maximum allowable rebate per solar photovoltaic system
20 installation shall be as follows:
21 1. For a residence, $20,000.
22 2. For a place of business, a publicly owned or
23 operated facility, or a facility owned or operated by a
24 private, not-for-profit organization, $100,000.
25 (4) SOLAR THERMAL INCENTIVE PROGRAM.--To the extent
26 that funds are available pursuant to subsection (2), an owner
27 or tenant of property in this state that is a residence, a
28 place of business, a publicly owned or operated facility, or a
29 facility owned or operated by a private, not-for-profit
30 organization is entitled to a rebate for expenditures made by
31 the owner or tenant for a solar thermal system that is
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Florida Senate - 2006 CS for SB 2478
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1 installed in accordance with this subsection after July 1,
2 2006.
3 (a) Eligibility requirements.--A solar thermal system
4 qualifies for a rebate if:
5 1. The system is installed by a state-licensed solar
6 or plumbing contractor.
7 2. The system complies with all applicable building
8 codes as defined by the local jurisdictional authority.
9 3. The system includes minimum service and warranty
10 contracts.
11 (b) Rebate amounts.--Authorized rebates for
12 installation of solar thermal systems shall be as follows:
13 1. For a residence, the rebate amount is $300. If the
14 solar collector is manufactured within the state, the rebate
15 amount is $500.
16 2. For a place of business, a publicly owned or
17 operated facility, or a facility owned or operated by a
18 private, not-for-profit organization, the rebate amount is $15
19 per 1,000 BTU as certified by the Florida Solar Energy Center.
20 The maximum rebate amount is $5,000. An approved metering
21 system is required.
22 (5) RULES.--The commission shall adopt rules pursuant
23 to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 necessary to implement this
24 section, including amending current interconnection standards
25 for solar energy systems up to 100 kilowatts.
26 (6) PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATION.--The Florida Solar
27 Energy Center shall certify the performance of solar equipment
28 sold and installed in the state in accordance with this
29 section and s. 377.705.
30 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2006.
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Florida Senate - 2006 CS for SB 2478
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1 STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
2 Senate Bill 2478
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4 The committee substitute amends the definition of "approved
metering equipment" to mean a device capable of measuring the
5 energy output of a solar thermal system either in BTU or KWH
equivalents. The rebate for a place of business, a publicly
6 owned or operated facility, or a facility owned or operated by
a private, nonprofit corporation is $15 per 1,000 BTU as
7 verified by the Florida Energy Center. The provision
authorizing the Public Service Commission to adopt rules for
8 net metering for certain solar energy systems is deleted.
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