go solar florida update march 25, 2015 gold coast association of code enforcement board
TRANSCRIPT
Go Solar Florida Update
March 25, 2015 Gold Coast Association of Code Enforcement Board
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Overview
Part 1• Why Solar is a good idea• Why Solar is not more prevalent in Florida• Overview of Solar Technologies• Regulation of solar installations in FloridaPart 2• Solar RightsPart 3• SunShot• Go Solar Broward (Rooftop Solar Challenge 1)• Go SOLAR Florida (Rooftop Solar Challenge 2)
• Plentiful• Renewable• Clean, Photovoltaics release no greenhouse gases• Creates new jobs• Solar panels increases property values • Silent• Available in rural areas where grid is non-existent• Panels have long lifespan 20-30 years• Panel prices keep dropping
Why is Solar Energy a Good Idea?
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Some Benefits & Incentives of Going SOLAR
1. Utility company rebates (ending)2. Federal tax credit for up to 30% of residential system cost
(expires Dec. 30th 2016)3. Sales Tax Exemption4. Property Tax Exemption5. Save on energy bill 6. Cleaner source of energy, greenhouse gas reductions7. Interconnection/Net Metering
If it’s so great, why not more solar in
Florida? • Installation costs are high• Electricity in S. Florida is cheap
– about 11 cents per kilowatt hour– Compare to Hawaii, can be up to 36 cents per kilowatt hour – Payback period for the investment is much longer in FL than HI
• Substantial market incentives don’t exist– Florida does not have a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) mandating that
utilities incorporate solar energy into its power portfolio– Florida Public Service Commission prohibits investor-owned utilities, solar
vendors and third-party financing groups from using some model financing programs successful in other parts of the country
– Florida offers no tax credit programs– Florida offers no solar rebates
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Solar Technologies & History
• Thermal– Water heating– Pool heating– Process hot water
• Photovoltaic– Ground mount– Rooftop
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Regulation of Solar Installations in Florida
• Quality Control Measures (Costs)– Regulations– Licensing installers– Permit the installation– Inspect
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Public and Private Land Use Restrictions
• Local Ordinances• Historic Preservation• Landscape Controls• Community Associations– Restrictive Covenants– Bylaws and Guidelines
Florida is missing out on a huge opportunity to leverage its natural resources to spur economic development, protect itself from increasingly volatile energy prices, and be more resilient in emergencies.
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Summary Part 1:
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Solar Rights
Landmark case: 1959, Fontainebleau Hotel vs. Forty-Five Twenty-FiveEnglish Common Law, access to light and air flow
repudiated in favor of vertical property rights (need contractual protection)
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Solar Access Laws• Solar Easements: protecting the ability of one
property to continue to receive sunlight across property lines without obstruction from another property (704.07)
• Solar Rights: protecting the ability to install solar energy systems on residential and commercial property that is subject to private restrictions as well as local government ordinances and building codes (163.04)
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Florida’s Solar Rights Law163.04 Energy devices based on renewable resources.—(1)Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter or other provision of general or special law, the adoption of an ordinance by a governing body, as those terms are defined in this chapter, which prohibits or has the effect of prohibiting the installation of solar collectors, clotheslines, or other energy devices based on renewable resources is expressly prohibited.
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Florida’s Solar Rights Law(2)A deed restriction, covenant, declaration, or similar binding agreement may not prohibit or have the effect of prohibiting solar collectors, clotheslines, or other energy devices based on renewable resources from being installed on buildings erected on the lots or parcels covered by the deed restriction, covenant, declaration, or binding agreement. A property owner may not be denied permission to install solar collectors or other energy devices by any entity granted the power or right in any deed restriction, covenant, declaration, or similar binding agreement to approve, forbid, control, or direct alteration of property with respect to residential dwellings and within the boundaries of a condominium unit.
Although Floridians have certain rights to install solar systems, these rights are limited to their property and protection of these rights from the interests of neighboring properties are best maintained through contractual protection.
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Summary Part 2:
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SunShot
Reduce Cost of PV System to where cost for solar equal to cost for conventional electricity
• 75% Cost Reduction by End of Decade• Soft Costs 64% of System Costs (financing,
permitting, inspection, interconnection, etc.)
Go SOLAR Broward Rooftop Solar Challenge
1. $646 thousand grant awarded in 2011 by U.S. DOE2. Broward County is grant administrator
3. 14 partner municipalities4. Collaborating to make solar rooftop systems easier,
faster and cheaper for residents and businessesa. Through streamlined, electronic permitting system that
utilizes pre-approved design plansb. Standardized solar related zoning ordinancesc. Enhanced availability of financial optionsd. Aggressive marketing and education on solar issues
Go SOLAR Florida Rooftop Solar Challenge
1. $2.25 million grant awarded in 2013 by U.S. DOE2. Broward County is grant administrator
3. 4 partner counties and the Florida Solar Energy Center4. Collaborating to make solar rooftop systems easier, faster
and cheaper for residents and businessesa. Through streamlined, electronic permitting system that utilizes
pre-approved design plansb. Standardized solar related zoning ordinancesc. Enhanced availability of financial optionsd. Aggressive marketing and education on solar issues
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Go SOLAR Florida Accomplishments
Main Focus Areas of Grant• Permitting/Plans• Financing• Zoning• Marketing
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Streamlined Permitting / Plans
• Reduce Costs: Permitting fees, lengthy applications, physically driving to permitting jurisdictions, etc. creates major inefficiencies for installers
• Team has created solar permitting and plans generation solution
• Solution will create a single, standardized online permitting system that produces permit ready package (electrical & structural drawings)
Permitting System Design and Plans Generation Goals
• Electronic PV Design Manual (e-PVDM)• Prepare a complete set of plans ready for
permitting with minimal user inputs• Develop a simple, easy to use interface• Standardize the plans set for review, installation,
inspection, and maintenance• Built-in flexibility to remains current and not
subject to limitations of pre-engineered plans
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Permitting System Design and Plans Generation Demo
• User inputs any system of panels, racks and invertors• Algorithms incorporate electrical code checks and
structural computations• 3 line electrical drawing and structural drawings are
created on the fly• User can then either print them out or email them to
their jurisdiction to receive their expedited permit. • Demo given to DOE on 1-29-15• Waiting for decision on Go/No Go to proceed to
Budget Period Two
Go SOLAR Florida Industry Advisory Council
• Recognized need for industry input as we develop plans system
• Formed with industry leaders from around the state
• Already met twice• Enthusiastic response to assist us to create
plans system that meets their needs
Financing Options
• Florida Solar Financing Action Plan created• Pros and Cons Matrix of Financial Options
created• Sample resolution created• Partners adopting Action Plan• Action Plan will be distributed to all 67 Florida
Counties requesting their support
Planning and ZoningModel Zoning Ordinance
• Planning & Zoning Best Practices document created with input from Team
• Model Zoning Ordinance Created• Partners Adopting solar-friendly zoning
ordinances
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Marketing & Education• Website www.gosolarflorida.org • Go SOLAR Fest• Second Annual Go SOLAR & Renewable Energy
Fest• Third Annual Go SOLAR & Renewable Energy Fest • Marketing Plan• 4 Solar Rights workshops• Net Metering/Interconnection Workshop• Newsletters
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Second Annual Go SOLAR & Renewable Energy Fest
• June 6 & 7, 2014• Broward County Convention Center• Attendance was FREE• 65 local, national, and international renewable energy
exhibitors• 42 esteemed speakers• More than 1,700 attendees over the 2-day event
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What is Next for Go SOLAR Florida?• Receive“Go” from DOE for 2nd budget period• Complete the permitting/plans system, go live• Fine-tune the plans system• More component systems entered into database• More permits issued utilizing our system by
jurisdictions in Alachua, Broward, Miami, Monroe and Orange Counties
What’s Next? (cont.)
• Contractors are impressed• Building officials embrace consistent format of plans • Standardize solar permitting within each county• Third Go SOLAR Fest• Conduct at least 2 more workshops on solar rights• Conduct one state-wide financial options workshop• Long term goal: other counties in Florida adopt our
permitting system
Go Solar Florida is creating a one stop solar plans/permitting website and solar best practice education resource for many solar topics, including, financing, zoning and marketing.
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Summary Part 3:
