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.
