It goes back to the Legislature, where the amendment was passed with unanimous bipartisan support.
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The Florida Chamber of Commerce, Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, Florida Retail Federation, Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Florida Realtors, Florida Conservation Voters, The Nature Conservancy, Vote Solar and others were among the more than two hundred major endorsements for Amendment 4.
“Now we are producing energy in those places – mostly with solar power”.
Its passing means that property owners and business owners can use solar power without being taxed on the equipment, as well as expand that exemption homeowners already have. With only 60 percent needed to pass, the measure’s overwhelming support suggests, perhaps, a new direction for solar in the Sunshine State, a relatively untapped source of energy.
Next, the Legislature must enact formal enabling legislation that will spell out the details. The amendment builds upon existing law that exempts residential customers from paying property taxes on renewable energy systems, including solar PV, wind turbines, solar water heaters and geothermal heat pumps.
“Eliminating high tax barriers will unleash the potential of the “Sunshine State” to become a leader in solar energy production”, Rodrigues said in a prepared statement.
Some late opposition to the measure came from groups such as the Orlando-based political action committees Stop Playing Favorites and the Advocacy, Action & Accountability Alliance, which claimed the amendment would provide “millions in tax breaks to big corporations” at the expense of money that would otherwise flow into minority communities. “This amendment will spur growth in solar and renewable energy, and create thousands of clean energy jobs for hardworking Floridians”, said St. Petersburg Republican Sen.
The amendment also exempts renewable energy devices from Florida’s tangible personal property tax. Amendment 1 in part, raises the question of who will most easily lead solar expansion in the state, consumers or utilities.
“The passage of Amendment 4 is a victory for Florida’s taxpayers and businesses”.
With Tuesday’s victory, supporters of Amendment 4 are now expected to divide up on what is known as Amendment 1 in November. Solar arrays are getting cheaper but are still costly, so providing more access to leasing for all property owners will increase the sun power generated in the state.
The amendment is being spearheaded by the Consumers for Smart Solar campaign, which has raised more than $16 million in campaign funding, predominantly from utilities, such as Florida Power & Light, Duke Energy Florida, Gulf Power and Tampa Electric.
Backers of the measure also had to overcome some confusion that the proposal was linked to a separate utility-backed solar proposal on the November ballot.
Consumers for Smart Solar was launched in response to Floridians for Solar Choice, a campaign that sought to permit third parties to sell solar directly to customers through power-purchase agreements.
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Supporters spent Monday and Tuesday working the polls and the phone banks, said Susan Glickman, Florida Director at the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, one of 200 organizations backing the measure.
