HB 27C

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to energy efficiency; amending s. 377.806,
3	F.S.; reestablishing a period of time for which residents
4	of the state are eligible to receive rebates for specified
5	solar energy systems under the Solar Energy System
6	Incentives Program; revising the rebate amount for
7	eligible solar photovoltaic systems; providing a schedule
8	for rebate amounts based on the total wattage of the
9	system; revising the maximum allowable rebate amounts for
10	solar photovoltaic systems; clarifying eligibility
11	provisions for the installation of specified thermal
12	roofs; revising provisions relating to the determination
13	and publication of rebate availability information;
14	providing for the issuance of specified rebates; providing
15	appropriations for the Solar Energy System Incentives
16	Program and the Low-income Emergency Home Repair Program;
17	providing an effective date.
18
19	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
20
21	Section 1.  Subsections (1), (2), (3), and (6) of section
22	377.806, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
23	377.806  Solar Energy System Incentives Program.-
24	(1)  PURPOSE.-The Solar Energy System Incentives Program is
25	established within the commission to provide financial
26	incentives for the purchase and installation of solar energy
27	systems. Any resident of the state who purchases and installs a
28	new solar energy system of 2 kilowatts or larger for a solar
29	photovoltaic system, a solar energy system that provides at
30	least 50 percent of a building's hot water consumption for a
31	solar thermal system, or a solar thermal pool heater, from July
32	1, 2011 2006, through June 30, 2015 2010, is eligible for a
33	rebate on a portion of the purchase price of that solar energy
34	system.
35	(2)  SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM INCENTIVE.-
36	(a)  Eligibility requirements.-A solar photovoltaic system
37	qualifies for a rebate if:
38	1.  The system is installed by a state-licensed master
39	electrician, electrical contractor, or solar contractor.
40	2.  The system complies with state interconnection
41	standards as provided by the Florida Public Service Commission.
42	3.  The system complies with all applicable building codes
43	as defined by the Florida Building Code.
44	(b)  Rebate amounts.-The rebate amount shall be set at
45	$2.50 $4 per watt for the first year, $2 per watt for the second
46	and third years, and $1.50 per watt for each subsequent year,
47	based on the total wattage rating of the system. The maximum
48	allowable rebate per solar photovoltaic system installation
49	shall be as follows:
50	1.  Ten Twenty thousand dollars for a residence.
51	2.  Fifty One hundred thousand dollars for a place of
52	business, a publicly owned or operated facility, or a facility
53	owned or operated by a private, not-for-profit organization,
54	including condominiums or apartment buildings.
55	(3)  SOLAR THERMAL SYSTEM INCENTIVE.-
56	(a)  Eligibility requirements.-A solar thermal system
57	qualifies for a rebate if:
58	1.  The system is installed by a state-licensed solar or
59	plumbing contractor or, for the installation of a roofing
60	contractor installing standing seam hybrid thermal roofs, a
61	state-licensed roofing contractor.
62	2.  The system complies with all applicable building codes
63	as defined by the Florida Building Code.
64	(b)  Rebate amounts.-Authorized rebates for installation of
65	solar thermal systems shall be as follows:
66	1.  Five hundred dollars for a residence.
67	2.  Fifteen dollars per 1,000 Btu up to a maximum of $5,000
68	for a place of business, a publicly owned or operated facility,
69	or a facility owned or operated by a private, not-for-profit
70	organization, including condominiums or apartment buildings.
71	(6)  REBATE AVAILABILITY.-
72	(a)  The commission shall determine and publish on a
73	monthly regular basis the total number of rebates issued, the
74	amount of each rebate issued, the amount of rebate funds
75	remaining in the current each fiscal year, and a statement that
76	rebate applications will not be accepted after funds for the
77	current fiscal year are depleted.
78	(b)  The total dollar amount of all rebates issued is
79	subject to the total amount of appropriations in any fiscal year
80	for this program. If funds are insufficient during the current
81	fiscal year, any requests for rebates received during that
82	fiscal year may be processed during the following fiscal year.
83	Requests for rebates received in a fiscal year that are
84	processed during the following fiscal year shall be given
85	priority over requests for rebates received during the following
86	fiscal year.
87	(c)  Before accepting any new rebate applications or
88	issuing any new rebates, the commission shall issue rebates for
89	applications that were approved through June 30, 2010, but were
90	not paid due to insufficient funds. Such rebates shall be issued
91	in the order the applications were approved.
92	Section 2.  (1)  For the 2010-2011 fiscal year, the sum of
93	$130 million in nonrecurring funds is appropriated from the
94	General Revenue Fund to the Florida Energy and Climate
95	Commission for the purpose of administering the Solar Energy
96	System Incentives Program pursuant to s. 377.806, Florida
97	Statutes. The commission shall allocate $30 million of such
98	funds to issue rebates for applications that were approved
99	through June 30, 2010, but were not paid due to insufficient
100	funds.
101	(2)  For the 2010-2011 fiscal year, the sum of $50 million
102	in nonrecurring funds is appropriated from the General Revenue
103	Fund to the Department of Community Affairs for the purpose of
104	administering the Low-income Emergency Home Repair Program
105	pursuant to s. 420.36, Florida Statutes.
106	Section 3.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.