| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to solar energy; creating s. 377.707, |
| 3 | F.S.; creating the "Florida Solar Incentive Program"; |
| 4 | providing definitions; establishing the Solar Energy |
| 5 | Development Fund; establishing the Photovoltaic Incentive |
| 6 | Program; providing rebates for the installation of solar |
| 7 | energy systems on commercial and residential buildings; |
| 8 | providing eligibility requirements; directing the Florida |
| 9 | Public Service Commission to adopt rules; providing funds |
| 10 | for certification of certain equipment; providing an |
| 11 | effective date. |
| 12 |
|
| 13 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 14 |
|
| 15 | Section 1. Section 377.707, Florida Statutes, is created |
| 16 | to read: |
| 17 | 377.707 Florida Solar Incentive Program.-- |
| 18 | (1) DEFINITIONS.--As used in this section, unless the |
| 19 | context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the |
| 20 | following meanings: |
| 21 | (a) "Certified" means tested by the Florida Solar Energy |
| 22 | Center to verify rated output or thermal performance. |
| 23 | (b) "Commission" means the Florida Public Service |
| 24 | Commission. |
| 25 | (c) "Interconnected" means connected to a utility's |
| 26 | electrical grid. |
| 27 | (d) "Solar photovoltaic system" means a solar energy |
| 28 | system, including devices and related equipment, with a peak |
| 29 | generating capacity of 100 kilowatts or less used for generating |
| 30 | electricity for use in a residence, place of business, publicly |
| 31 | owned or operated facility, or private, not-for-profit facility. |
| 32 | (e) "Solar thermal system" means: |
| 33 | 1. A solar energy device that provides domestic hot water |
| 34 | for use in connection with a residence, place of business, |
| 35 | publicly owned or operated facility, or private, not-for-profit |
| 36 | facility. |
| 37 | 2. A solar pool heating system installed in connection |
| 38 | with a place of business, publicly owned or operated facility, |
| 39 | or private, not-for-profit facility. |
| 40 | (2) SOLAR ENERGY DEVELOPMENT FUND.--A fund shall be |
| 41 | established to support the development of a solar energy product |
| 42 | market in the state through general revenue at a funding level |
| 43 | of $1.2 million per year for 5 years beginning in the fiscal |
| 44 | year 2006-2007 and continuing through the fiscal year 2010-2011. |
| 45 | (3) PHOTOVOLTAIC INCENTIVE PROGRAM.--To the extent that |
| 46 | funds are available in the fund established in subsection (2), |
| 47 | an owner or tenant of residential, commercial, or publicly owned |
| 48 | property located in the state is entitled to a rebate for |
| 49 | expenditures made by the owner or tenant for a solar |
| 50 | photovoltaic system that is installed in accordance with this |
| 51 | subsection after July 1, 2006, that will be interconnected. |
| 52 | (a) Eligibility requirements.--A solar photovoltaic system |
| 53 | qualifies for a rebate if: |
| 54 | 1. The system is installed by a state licensed master |
| 55 | electrician, electrical contractor, or solar contractor. |
| 56 | 2. The system complies with state interconnection |
| 57 | standards as provided by the commission. |
| 58 | 3. The system complies with all applicable building codes |
| 59 | as defined by the local jurisdictional authority. |
| 60 | 4. The system includes minimum service and warranty |
| 61 | contracts. |
| 62 | (b) Rebate amounts.--The initial rebate amount shall be |
| 63 | set at $4 per watt and decrease by $.50 per watt each year for 5 |
| 64 | years. If the solar equipment is manufactured within the state, |
| 65 | the initial rebate amount shall be set at $5 per watt and |
| 66 | decrease by $.50 per watt each year for 5 years. In the case of |
| 67 | a newly constructed residence, the rebate must be available to |
| 68 | the original owner or occupant using the dwelling as his or her |
| 69 | principal residence. The maximum allowable rebate per solar |
| 70 | energy system installation shall be as follows: |
| 71 | 1. Twenty thousand dollars on a residence. |
| 72 | 2. One hundred thousand dollars on a commercial or public |
| 73 | building. |
| 74 | (c) Rules.--The commission shall adopt rules necessary to |
| 75 | implement the provisions of this section, including amending |
| 76 | current interconnection standards for solar energy systems up to |
| 77 | 100 kilowatts and providing for net metering of solar energy |
| 78 | systems up to 100 kilowatts as defined under this section and in |
| 79 | accordance with current Institute of Electrical and Electronics |
| 80 | Engineers, Inc. standards for solar energy systems. |
| 81 | (d) Performance certification.--The state shall provide |
| 82 | financial support through the Solar Energy Development Fund to |
| 83 | the Florida Solar Energy Center to certify the performance of |
| 84 | solar equipment sold and installed in the state in accordance |
| 85 | with s. 377.705. |
| 86 | Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2006. |