1. Go Solar Florida
Spanish Delegation to Renewable Energy Forum, November 14, 2014
Matthew R Anderson, Outreach/Marketing Chair- Go Solar Florida

2. Big Picture of Solar in Florida
3rd in the nation for solar potential (California & Texas)
12th for cumulative solar capacity installed (223 MW)
Enough solar energy installed in the state to power 25,600 homes
311 solar companies, employing 4,000 people
Challenges
Florida has no renewable portfolio standard and does not allow power purchase agreements, two policies that have driven investments in solar in other states.
Low cost for electricity (12 cents/kWh Residential and 10 cents Commercial)
All statistics are courtesy of Solar Energy Industry Association and US Energy Information Administration
Renewable Portfolio Standard
The Florida Legislature could join over 30 other states and the District of Columbia in establishing a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) for the electric utility sector in the state. An RPS sets a minimum level of electric generation which must come from renewable sources (usually including solar PV, solar thermal, wind, biomass, hydroelectric, geothermal, landfill gas, and other technologies) by a certain date.
Power Purchase Agreements
At present, according to Section , Florida Statutes, any private entity selling electricity in Florida is considered to be a “public utility” subject to regulation by the Florida Public Service Commission. In practice, this prevents the use of power purchase agreements (PPAs), a financing strategy used in many other states. Under a PPA, a developer installs a solar PV system on a property and sells the electricity generated by the system to the property owner. This sale generally takes the form of a long-term contract, which provides both the solar developer with a predictable income stream and the property owner with a fixed price for electricity. In many markets, this electricity price is lower than the retail rate of electricity offered by utilities, which provides a powerful financial incentive for participation.
To allow power purchase agreements in Florida, the Legislature can amend Florida statutes to permit limited third-party sales of electricity.

3. Incentives Federal- State Florida Renewable Energy
Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit (30%)- Expires 12/16
Corporate Renewable Energy Tax Credit (30%)- Drops to 10% for systems installed after 12/31/16
State Florida Renewable Energy
Technology Sales Tax Refund
Florida Renewable Energy Production Credit
Climate Change and sea level rise make solar a high priority
List of Federal & State’s Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency visit
Federal Incentives
Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit -The federal government currently provides a 30 percent investment tax credit for solar PV systems (and other renewable energy equipment) installed on property owned by and used as a residence by an individual taxpayer, but this tax credit is set to expire on December 30, 2016.
Corporate Renewable Energy Tax Credit- Similarly, the federal government grants corporate taxpayers a 30 percent investment tax credit for solar PV (and other renewable energy) systems they place into service. However, this tax credit will drop to 10 percent for systems installed after December 31, 2016.
State of Florida Renewable Energy
Sales Tax Refund - provides a refund of previously paid Florida sales tax  -on materials used in the distribution, including fueling infrastructure, transportation and storage, of biodiesel (B10-B100), ethanol (E10-E100) and other renewable fuels. To date, none issued
Production Credit - provides an annual corporate tax credit equal to $0.01/kWh of electricity produced  For the purposes of this credit, renewable energy is defined as electrical, mechanical, or thermal energy produced from a method that uses one or more of the following fuels or energy sources: hydrogen, biomass, solar energy, geothermal energy, wind energy, ocean energy, waste heat, or hydroelectric power. 

4. ~ Currently at 13 cents/kWh (2014 in Florida)
When the price of solar electricity reaches about $0.06 per kilowatt-hour over its lifetime, it will be cost-competitive with other non-renewable forms of electricity.
with the income tax credit for residential solar the average cost of electricity created by solar PV in Florida is currently 13 cents per kilowatt hour.
A future in which the goals of the SunShot Initiative are met would ultimately benefit every American by:
Making clean, low-cost, reliable solar energy available for home owners, communities, businesses, and government
Reducing emissions of greenhouse gas (GHG) and other pollutants
Creating U.S. jobs through domestic solar manufacturing and distribution

5. Panel Prices Plummeted
Caused by global oversupply
prices were falling because the sector was expanding rapidly, doubling every one to two years
Chinese manufacturers underestimated local demand so supply rose
Source: Mints, P. (2011). Photovoltaic Manufacturer Shipments, Capacity, & Competitive Analysis 20010/2011. Report # NPS-Supply6. Palo Alto, CA: Navigant Consulting Photovoltaic Service Program.

6. So what are these soft costs?

7. Soft Costs
Maintenance
Installation
Customer Acquisition
Permitting
Financing
Briefly review each of these soft costs
Our grant with DOE is to specifically address permitting soft costs.
Think about a small business that wants to install solar in in the tri-county area. They need to take 3 counties, and how many municipalities into account? 31 in Broward. How many more in Miami-Dade (34)? Palm Beach (38) Each one has a different process to issue a solar permit. Some cost more than a $1000, some less than $500. Some may take weeks to obtain, others can take months. Each city may require a different number and type of inspections.
The purpose of Go Solar Florida is to work together with as many of our partners as possible and try to devise an easier system that all of us can live with.
Over 64% of the cost of solar installations are due to soft costs.
Go Solar Florida is working on reducing permitting soft costs.

8. Go SOLAR Florida Rooftop Solar Challenge II
2013 U.S. Department of Energy Grant
Broward County is administering the grant with
5 partner counties
The City of Venice
Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) and Florida Atlantic University
9 additional BC cities
Collaborating to make solar rooftop systems easier, faster and cheaper for residents and businesses
Through streamlined permitting, engineering and regulation
In September 2013, Broward County was awarded another grant of $1,575,000 from the U.S. Department of Energy (RSCII).

9. Go SOLAR Florida In conjunction with partners, working on
Improved Permitting
Solar Financing Action Plan
Planning & Zoning Best Practices
Outreach, education, legislation
Four key issues of our grant are the leaves on a 4-leaf clover

10. Go SOLAR Florida Improved Permitting
Develop uniform ePermit application (electronic)
Apply on Go SOLAR Florida website
Electrical module includes on-demand specs for panels, inverters
Structural module to include a wind load and anchoring algorithm continued

11. Go SOLAR Florida Improved Permitting. . . continued
System will be automated with built-in code checking & validation
Licensed contractors end up with electrical and structural design plans to upload with final permit package
Next, directed to jurisdiction who collects fees and issues permits
Go SOLAR Florida will have a system where you input data and end up with on-demand electrical and structural design plans to upload with final permit package. These plans are created under the appropriate, legislatively –granted authority with the goal of needing minimal additional review by the AHJ (Authorities Having Jurisdiction). Then you are directed to your jurisdiction to complete the process to obtain your permit.

12. For more information on these topics, please go to gosolarflorida
For more information on these topics, please go to gosolarflorida.org and click on solar talking points
Go Solar Broward 2012

13. Go SOLAR Fest 2014
June 6-7
1700 attendees, 65 local, national, and international exhibitors, 42 speakers
Free to attend, Only $200 to exhibit, Sponsorships as low as $500
You are invited to participate in 2016

14. Ms. Paola Isaac
Economic Development Specialist-International Trade
Broward County Office of Economic and Small Business Development

15. Go SOLAR Florida www.GoSolarFlorida.org Matthew R Anderson
Any questions?