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RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE FLORIDIANS FOR SOLAR CHOICE BALLOT INITIATIVE WHICH IF SUCCESSFUL WOULD PRESENT BEFORE THE VOTERS OF FLORIDA THE OPPORTUNITY TO DECIDE IF THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION SHOULD BE AMENDED TO ALLOW NON-UTILITY COMPANIES TO PROVIDE SOLAR ENERGY DIRECTLY TO CUSTOMERS [SEE ORIGINAL ITEM UNDER FILE NO. 152794]

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WHEREAS, solar energy is an abundant, clean, and carbon-free energy source; and
WHEREAS, unlike fossil-fuel-derived power generation, rooftop solar photovoltaic power generates electricity with zero air emissions and no water use; and
WHEREAS, according to the Florida Solar Energy Association, the State of Florida has the third greatest solar rooftop energy generation potential, but is 13th in installed capacity; and
WHEREAS, Florida is�one of only four�states that prohibits residents�from buying electricity from anyone other than a utility company; and
WHEREAS, this prohibition limits customer choice and restricts the growth of solar energy; and
WHEREAS, a Solar Power Purchase Agreement (�SPPA�) is a financial arrangement in which a third-party developer owns, operates and maintains a solar power system, and a host customer agrees to site the system on its roof or elsewhere on its property and purchases the system�s electric output from the solar services provider for a predetermined period; and
WHEREAS, permitting non-utility solar energy providers to enter into SPPAs with customers could remove the cost-barrier to entry for many homeowners by reducing or eliminating the upfront cost to install solar energy systems on homes and businesses; and
WHEREAS, the Floridians for Solar Choice Coalition was founded by Christian Coalition of America, Conservatives for Energy Freedom, Florida Alliance for Renewable Energy, Florida Retail Federation, Florida Solar Energy Industries Association, Libertarian Party of Florida, Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida, Republican Liberty Caucus of Tampa Bay, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, and WTEC, and is supported by at least 53 environmental, civic, religious, and business organizations; and
WHEREAS, the Floridians for Solar Choice ballot initiative seeks to place a question on the 2016 general election ballot asking voters to decide on expanding solar choice to Florida�s families and businesses; and
WHEREAS, the municipalities of North Bay Village, Pinecrest, South Miami, and Surfside in Miami-Dade County have passed supporting resolutions for the Floridians for Solar Choice ballot initiative; and
WHEREAS, the petition, if passed, will�expand solar choice�by allowing Floridians the option to power their homes or businesses with solar power and decide who provides it to them; and
WHEREAS, according to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute and the Solar Foundation, more than 173,000 Americans are employed in the solar energy industry, which is experiencing greater than 20 percent growth with nearly 90 percent of the new jobs in the installation sector; and
WHEREAS, United States Military Veterans comprise 10 percent of the solar energy workforce in this country; and
WHEREAS, a significant source of industry growth is due to >>solar power purchase agreements<<1 [[third-party financing and lease arrangements]] now prohibited in Florida; and
WHEREAS, Miami-Dade�s economy would benefit greatly by tapping into this growing industry through new business opportunities already available in 46 other states; and
WHEREAS, this Board supports the Floridians for Solar Choice ballot initiative,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board supports the Floridians for Solar Choice ballot initiative which if successful would present before the voters of Florida the opportunity to decide if the Florida Constitution should be amended to allow non-utility companies to provide solar energy directly to customers.

1 Committee amendments are indicated as follows: Words stricken through and/or [[double bracketed]] are deleted, words underscored and/or >>double arrowed<< are added.

This item was amended at the 12-8-15 Unincorporated Municipal Service Area Committee to replace the term �third party financing and lease arrangements� with the term �solar power purchase agreements� in the third to last �whereas� clause to accurately describe the sale of solar power directly to a customer.