Page 60 - October 2015 Green Builder Magazine

CODE WATCH By Mike Collignon

The Latest on Green-Related Construction Rules and Regulations

58

The Battle Over Solar in the
Sunshine State

The State of Florida cuts solar rebate programs and lowers
energy efficiency goals. Can regional and citizen-based efforts
make up the difference?

Florida’s tourism industry loves to boast of
its year-round abundance of warm sun-
shine—and they should; there’s plenty to
go around. However, when it comes to
solar power, Florida utilities only source one per-
cent of their electricity from solar. Furthermore,
the state is going to stop helping its residents
get this clean source of energy as of January 1,
2016. This is just another step in the state’s larger
movement away from renewables and energy ef-
ficiency. Fortunately, a combination of county,
local and citizen-based efforts are trying to make
solar power’s future a little brighter.
www.greenbuildermedia.com 10.2015
CREDIT: TROY KRYDER
FLORIDA BACKPEDALS Going Big. The number of large, utility-scale solar installations in Florida, such as
this one at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, has been increasing.
In late November 2014, the state’s Public Ser-
vice Commission (PSC) voted 3-2 in favor of a THE CONSUMER EFFECT Tampa Electric was offering a $1,000 rebate for
utility-backed proposal to eliminate solar rebate solar water heating systems. The program was
programs by the end of 2015 and lowered the Meanwhile, consumers won’t see a big difference set to expire at the end of 2015. In February 2015,
state’s energy efficiency goals by more than 90 in their wallet. Depending on their utility, con- they had stopped accepting applications and the
percent. This was decided after a very lengthy sumers will see their bill reduced by anywhere money was exhausted by mid-June, 2015.
debate that lasted almost two hours. The utilities from $0.16/month to $1.94/month. However, in
lobbied that the energy efficiency programs were looking deeper at those numbers, the savings are In the absence of the state programs, coun-
not cost effective and claimed that it’s less expen- generated by lower fuel prices, which the utilities ties and local governments have stepped up
sive for them to produce a kilowatt of electricity do not control nor from which they profit. If fuel their efforts to promote energy efficiency. Ac-
than it is to save one. At one point, it was even prices rise, those savings would evaporate and cording to a review of the Database of State
suggested that it was more cost effective to tear consumers could see an increase in their bills. Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE),
down the coal-fired plants and build natural gas Sadly, such an increase could have been mitigated five cities or counties have created rebates or
or co-generation plants. were it not for the short-sighted elimination of the incentive programs in the last four years. One
energy efficiency programs designed to buffer example is the City of Winter Park, which offers a
The PSC’s decision certainly varies from other consumers from price spikes. variable rebate program (depending on the tech-
states, such as Vermont, which meets 2.12 per- nology and sector). While they have exhausted
cent of its energy needs through savings. Florida A NEW APPROACH all funds in this fiscal year, it will resume in the
saves 0.25 percent, and that number is likely to TO SOLAR next fiscal year.
fall after this decision. Duke Energy and Florida
Power & Light dropped their conservation goals The year-end conclusion of many of these in- The Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) is the
and cut back on their rebate programs. centive programs can, in some instances, be a lone utility in Florida who is rewarding solar PV
bit misleading. Some programs were so popular production. They offer a number of incentives.
After the decision, environmental groups were that the rebate budgets were exhausted well in One we’ll highlight here is their $0.05 kWh credit.
contemplating whether the PSC violated state law advance of December 31, 2015. For example, According to their website, “customers receive a
by instituting a policy that leaves utilities with vir- monthly credit on their OUC bill of 5.0 cents per
tually no energy efficiency requirements. We have
not found any evidence to date that they have
taken legal action against the PSC.