Bill Text: FL S0992 | 2015 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Solar Energy

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2015-05-01 - Died in Communications, Energy, and Public Utilities [S0992 Detail]

Download: Florida-2015-S0992-Introduced.html
       Florida Senate - 2015                                     SB 992
       
       
        
       By Senator Bullard
       
       
       
       
       
       39-00334-15                                            2015992__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to solar energy; reviving, readopting,
    3         and amending s. 377.806, F.S., relating to the Solar
    4         Energy System Incentives Program; authorizing rebates
    5         for a portion of the purchase price of solar energy
    6         systems during a specified period; revising
    7         eligibility requirements; requiring applications for
    8         rebates to include proofs of purchase; requiring the
    9         Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to
   10         give priority to residents who have installed a solar
   11         energy system upon a structure that qualifies as low
   12         income housing; defining the term “low-income
   13         housing”; providing an effective date.
   14          
   15  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   16  
   17         Section 1. Notwithstanding the repeal of section 377.806,
   18  Florida Statutes, in section 9 of chapter 2014-154, Laws of
   19  Florida, section 377.806, Florida Statutes, is revived,
   20  readopted, and amended to read:
   21         377.806 Solar Energy System Incentives Program.—
   22         (1) PURPOSE.—The Solar Energy System Incentives Program is
   23  established within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer
   24  Services to provide financial incentives for the purchase and
   25  installation of solar energy systems. Any resident of the state
   26  who purchases and installs a new solar energy system of 2
   27  kilowatts or larger for a solar photovoltaic system, a solar
   28  energy system that provides at least 50 percent of a building’s
   29  hot water consumption for a solar thermal system, or a solar
   30  thermal pool heater, between July 1, 2015, and June 30, 2020
   31  from July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2010, is eligible for a
   32  rebate on a portion of the purchase price of that solar energy
   33  system.
   34         (2) SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM INCENTIVE.—
   35         (a) Eligibility requirements.—A solar photovoltaic system
   36  qualifies for a rebate if:
   37         1. The system is installed by a state-licensed master
   38  electrician, electrical contractor, or solar contractor.
   39         2. The system complies with state interconnection standards
   40  as provided by the Florida Public Service Commission.
   41         3. The system complies with all applicable building codes
   42  as required defined by the Florida Building Code.
   43         (b) Rebate amounts.—The rebate amount is $4 per watt based
   44  on the total wattage rating of the system. The maximum allowable
   45  rebate per solar photovoltaic system installation is shall be as
   46  follows:
   47         1. Twenty thousand dollars for a residence.
   48         2. One hundred thousand dollars for a place of business, a
   49  publicly owned or operated facility, or a facility owned or
   50  operated by a private, not-for-profit organization, including
   51  condominiums or apartment buildings.
   52         (3) SOLAR THERMAL SYSTEM INCENTIVE.—
   53         (a) Eligibility requirements.—A solar thermal system
   54  qualifies for a rebate if:
   55         1. The system is installed by a state-licensed solar or
   56  plumbing contractor or a roofing contractor installing standing
   57  seam hybrid thermal roofs.
   58         2. The system complies with all applicable building codes
   59  as required defined by the Florida Building Code.
   60         (b) Rebate amounts.—The authorized rebate rebates for
   61  installation of solar thermal systems is shall be as follows:
   62         1. Five hundred dollars for a residence.
   63         2. Fifteen dollars per 1,000 Btu up to a maximum of $5,000
   64  for a place of business, a publicly owned or operated facility,
   65  or a facility owned or operated by a private, not-for-profit
   66  organization, including condominiums or apartment buildings.
   67         (4) SOLAR THERMAL POOL HEATER INCENTIVE.—
   68         (a) Eligibility requirements.—A solar thermal pool heater
   69  qualifies for a rebate if the system is installed by a state
   70  licensed solar or plumbing contractor and the system complies
   71  with all applicable building codes as required defined by the
   72  Florida Building Code.
   73         (b) Rebate amount.—Authorized rebates for installation of
   74  solar thermal pool heaters are shall be $100 per installation.
   75         (5) APPLICATION.—Application for a rebate must be filed
   76  made within 120 days after the purchase of the solar energy
   77  equipment and must include proof of purchase.
   78         (6) REBATE AVAILABILITY.—The department shall determine and
   79  publish on a regular basis the amount of rebate funds remaining
   80  in each fiscal year. The total dollar amount of all rebates
   81  issued is subject to the total amount of appropriations in any
   82  fiscal year for this program.
   83         (a) Priority for low-income residences.—The Department of
   84  Agriculture and Consumer Services shall ensure that 10 percent
   85  of the funds appropriated in a fiscal year is available to
   86  residents eligible for a rebate and who have installed a solar
   87  energy system upon a structure that qualifies as low-income
   88  housing. Such funds, if unexpended, must be used to augment
   89  existing cost-effective energy efficiency measures for low
   90  income housing. The term “low-income housing” means:
   91         1. A residence owned or rented by an individual whose
   92  income is at or below 125 percent of the poverty level; or
   93         2. A residential complex in which at least 20 percent of
   94  the total units are sold or rented to individuals whose income
   95  is at or below 125 percent of the poverty level.
   96         (b)Rebate rollover.—If funds are insufficient during the
   97  current fiscal year, any requests for rebates received during
   98  that fiscal year may be processed during the following fiscal
   99  year. Requests for rebates received in a fiscal year that are
  100  processed during the following fiscal year shall be given
  101  priority over requests for rebates received during the following
  102  fiscal year.
  103         (7) RULES.—The department shall adopt rules pursuant to ss.
  104  120.536(1) and 120.54 to develop rebate applications and
  105  administer the issuance of rebates.
  106         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2015.

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