This item from Julie Kerchner at FlaSEIA

The Energy Bill passed the Florida House and Senate on Thursday, May 3, 2007.  It passed without opposition in both chambers.  It now will go to the Governor for final approval.  It passed as CS/HB 7123.  He has fifteen (15) days from receipt to sign the bill, allow it to become law without his signature or veto it. With the large number of bills passed in the waning days of the session, it normally takes several weeks for bills to be sent from the Legislature to the Governor.

Features of the bill:

• Reinstates the property tax exemption for solar

• Establishes the Energy Policy Governance Task Force to recommend a unified approach to the state energy policy

• Provides for a pre-application for solar Photovoltaic System Incentives

• Directs the state to study and recommend net metering and interconnection standards, as well as a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) and Public Benefits Fund

In addition to the above, the House and Senate approved the budget, SB 2800, on Thursday, May 3, 2007.  The bill:

• Provides $3.5 million for the Solar Energy System Incentives Program (solar rebates)

• Provides $12.5 million for Renewable Energy Technologies Grant Programs (excludes bio-energy grants from this pot of money)

There are other matters as well, but these are the issues of most interest to the FlaSEIA membership.  A more detailed report will follow in the coming weeks.

Special recognition for passage of Florida’s next energy step goes to Representative Bob Allen, Senator Lee Constantine and Representative Adam Hasner for their help in forging a compromise in the final days of the 2007 Legislative Session.