1. Go Solar Florida Update
Name
Thank the JB for inviting me to share news about Go SOLAR Florida
March 25, Gold Coast Association of Code Enforcement Board

2. 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 Florida
Part 2
Solar Rights
Part 3
SunShot
Go Solar Broward (Rooftop Solar Challenge 1)
Go SOLAR Florida (Rooftop Solar Challenge 2)

3. Why is Solar Energy a Good Idea?
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 years
Panel prices keep dropping

4. Some Benefits & Incentives of Going SOLAR
Utility company rebates (ending)
Federal tax credit for up to 30% of residential system cost (expires Dec. 30th 2016)
Sales Tax Exemption
Property Tax Exemption
Save on energy bill
Cleaner source of energy, greenhouse gas reductions
Interconnection/Net Metering
What are some of the benefits of going solar?
Our local utility company, FPL, provides rebates annually of up to $20,000 per installation.
FPL offers a rebate of $2 per direct current (DC) Watt nameplate rating of the solar panels up to a maximum rebate per premise of $20,
Federal tax credit for up to 30% of the cost of the qualified property.
Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit on qualified solar electricity equipment. The credit, which runs through 2016, is 30% of the cost of qualified property with no cap on the amount of credit available.
This clean source of energy results in greenhouse gas(GHG) reductions

5. 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
A Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) is a regulation that requires the increased production of energy from renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal.
Florida doesn’t allow Power Purchase Agreements (contracts, under which property owners (hosts) lease power-generating systems, financed by a third party, and use electricity generated by systems onsite)

6. Solar Technologies & History
Thermal
Water heating
Pool heating
Process hot water
Photovoltaic
Ground mount
Rooftop

7. Regulation of Solar Installations in Florida
Quality Control Measures (Costs)
Regulations
Licensing installers
Permit the installation
Inspect
Public and Private Land Use Restrictions
•Local Ordinances
•Historic Preservation
•Landscape Controls
•Community Associations
–Restrictive Covenants
–Bylaws and Guidelines

8. Public and Private Land Use Restrictions
Local Ordinances
Historic Preservation
Landscape Controls
Community Associations
Restrictive Covenants
Bylaws and Guidelines
Local government zoning regulations, development orders and comprehensive plans can impact solar development
Efforts have been made to create solar friendly and even solar ready local codes

9. Summary Part 1:
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.
Pretty discouraging, huh?

10. Solar Rights Landmark case: 1959, Fontainebleau Hotel vs
Solar Rights Landmark case: 1959, Fontainebleau Hotel vs. Forty-Five Twenty-Five English Common Law, access to light and air flow repudiated in favor of vertical property rights (need contractual protection)
In 1962, Fontainebleau developer Ben Novack took his dissatisfaction with former business partner and developer of the Eden Roc hotel to extremes. Novack built a 14-story addition on the northern edge of the Fontainebleau’s property that was positioned to cast a shadow on the Eden Roc’s pool for much of the afternoon. The tower faced the Eden Roc with a vast blank facade that locals nickna
The Fontainebleau is famous for its victory in the landmark 1959 Florida District Courts of Appeal decision, Fontainebleau Hotel Corp. v. Forty-Five Twenty-Five, Inc. 114 So. 2d 357, in which the Fontainebleau Hotel successfully appealed an injunction by the neighboring Eden Roc Hotel, to prevent construction of an expansion that blocked sunlight to the Eden Roc's swimming pool. The Court rejected the Eden Roc's claim to an easement allowing sunlight, in favor of affirming the Fontainebleau's vertical property rights to build on its land. (Wikipedia)med the “spite wall.” The situation spurred a case that went to the Florida Supreme Court.

11. 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)
Solar easements are the prevalent method of assuring solar access.
•Since a land owner owns at least as much of the air space above the ground as he can occupy or use in connection with the land, he has the right to grant an easement for light within that airspace.
Since there is no implied right to light and air (Fontainebleau case), there must be statutory authority to create a solar easement.
•Florida law enables the creation of a solar easement (Section , FS)
•Solar easements are strictly voluntary, meaning you cannot force a property owner to grant one.

12. Florida’s Solar Rights Law
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.

13. 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.

14. Summary Part 2:
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.
Pretty discouraging, huh?

15. 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.)

16. Go SOLAR Broward Rooftop Solar Challenge
$646 thousand grant awarded in 2011 by U.S. DOE
Broward County is grant administrator
14 partner municipalities
Collaborating to make solar rooftop systems easier, faster and cheaper for residents and businesses
Through streamlined, electronic permitting system that utilizes pre-approved design plans
Standardized solar related zoning ordinances
Enhanced availability of financial options
Aggressive marketing and education on solar issues
What is Go SOLAR Florida?:
It’s a US Department of Energy grant awarded in September 2013 to Broward County to find ways to make it easier, faster and cheaper to install rooftop solar systems, also referred to as Photovoltaic Rooftop Systems.

17. Go SOLAR Florida Rooftop Solar Challenge
$2.25 million grant awarded in 2013 by U.S. DOE
Broward County is grant administrator
4 partner counties and the Florida Solar Energy Center
Collaborating to make solar rooftop systems easier, faster and cheaper for residents and businesses
Through streamlined, electronic permitting system that utilizes pre-approved design plans
Standardized solar related zoning ordinances
Enhanced availability of financial options
Aggressive marketing and education on solar issues
What is Go SOLAR Florida?:
It’s a US Department of Energy grant awarded in September 2013 to Broward County to find ways to make it easier, faster and cheaper to install rooftop solar systems, also referred to as Photovoltaic Rooftop Systems.

18. Go SOLAR Florida Accomplishments
Main Focus Areas of Grant
Permitting/Plans
Financing
Zoning
Marketing
With more than 18,000 AHJs in the United States, installers spend an inordinate amount of time and resources learning their local permitting and inspection process and tailoring their business processes accordingly. The lack of process standardization across AHJs creates major inefficiencies for installers and for the AHJs.

19. 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)
With more than 18,000 AHJs in the United States, installers spend an inordinate amount of time and resources learning their local permitting and inspection process and tailoring their business processes accordingly. The lack of process standardization across AHJs creates major inefficiencies for installers and for the AHJs.

20. 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
Our goal was to devise a system that is simple, easy to use and standardizes the applications and plans set for review installation, inspection and maintenance. This needs to work for all of our parnters (Alachua, Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Orange County). They all participated in the design of the system.
streamlining and standardizing requirements and application formats across AHJs and utilities, as well as providing improved training for code officials and utility employees.

21. 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 them to their jurisdiction to receive their expedited permit.
Demo given to DOE on
Demonstration is based on any system of panels, racks and invertors used. Contractor inputs the data and the 3 line electrical drawing and structural drawings will be created on the fly. These will be permit-ready. The user can then either print them out or them to their jurisdiction to receive their expedited permit. This is clearly the better product. It will be replicable everywhere, unlike the Broward System.
incorporating the electrical code checks and structural computations to the design. Some of the inputs will then be reduced (wire size, etc) because they will be calculated.

22. 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
The purpose of the Go SOLAR Florida Industry Advisory Council is to provide feedback to the Go SOLAR Florida partners as they develop the simplified permitting process and related efforts. The goal of the Go SOLAR Florida program is to provide a value added tool that is relevant to the needs of the industry.
The members of the IAC were appointed by the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), with confirmation by the Go SOLAR Florida Project Manager. IAC members are:
Dave Bessette, ETS (Orlando)
Paul Farren, The Energy Store (Hollywood)
Bill Gallagher, Solar Fit (Daytona Beach)
Tom Harriman, Harriman’s Solar (Venice)
Wayne Irwin, Pure Energy Solar (Gainesville)
Barry Jacobson, Solar Impact (Gainesville)
Chris Maingot, Universal Solar (Orlando)
Troy Millar, The Leveredge (Tampa)
Brian Moody, All Solar Solutions
Ed Strobel, Sunshine Solar Services (Ft. Lauderdale)
Bob Zrallack, UMA Solar (Orlando)
The members represent the solar energy industry and may include building officials and representatives from utility companies, the financial industry, and other interested parties. They represent various areas of the State of Florida and have met twice thus far and look forward to interacting with Go SOLAR Florida to create a plans system that meets their needs.

23. 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
The purpose of the Go SOLAR Florida Industry Advisory Council is to provide feedback to the Go SOLAR Florida partners as they develop the simplified permitting process and related efforts. The goal of the Go SOLAR Florida program is to provide a value added tool that is relevant to the needs of the industry.
The members of the IAC were appointed by the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), with confirmation by the Go SOLAR Florida Project Manager. IAC members are:
Dave Bessette, ETS (Orlando)
Paul Farren, The Energy Store (Hollywood)
Bill Gallagher, Solar Fit (Daytona Beach)
Tom Harriman, Harriman’s Solar (Venice)
Wayne Irwin, Pure Energy Solar (Gainesville)
Barry Jacobson, Solar Impact (Gainesville)
Chris Maingot, Universal Solar (Orlando)
Troy Millar, The Leveredge (Tampa)
Brian Moody, All Solar Solutions
Ed Strobel, Sunshine Solar Services (Ft. Lauderdale)
Bob Zrallack, UMA Solar (Orlando)
The members represent the solar energy industry and may include building officials and representatives from utility companies, the financial industry, and other interested parties. They represent various areas of the State of Florida and have met twice thus far and look forward to interacting with Go SOLAR Florida to create a plans system that meets their needs.

24. Planning and Zoning Model Zoning Ordinance
Planning & Zoning Best Practices document created with input from Team
Model Zoning Ordinance Created
Partners Adopting solar-friendly zoning ordinances

25. 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
The Go Solar Outreach team and our Public Communications Office has developed a Go Solar website
The website provides all four components of grant: permitting, financing, zoning and marketing
Go SOLAR Fest, Second Annual Go SOLAR & Renewable Energy Fest, plans for third
Marketing plan
Conducting workshops
Issuing newsletters

26. Third Annual Go SOLAR & Renewable Energy Fest
October 9 & 10, 2015
Broward County Convention Center
Attendance was FREE
67 local, national, and international renewable energy exhibitors
More than 1,700 attendees over the 2-day event
Currently discussing the date and location of our third fest.

27. What is Next for Go SOLAR Florida?
Receive“Go” from DOE for 3rd 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

28. What’s Next? (cont.) Contractors are impressed
Building officials embrace consistent format of plans
Standardize solar permitting within each county
Conduct at least 1 more workshops on solar rights
Conduct one state-wide financial options workshop
Long term goal: other counties in Florida adopt our permitting system

29. Summary Part 3:
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.
Pretty discouraging, huh?

30. For more information: Web: or
In summary: Broward County and the Partner Counties are committed to making solar energy easy!
For more information visit our website